In March 2024, LABC announced enhancements to family legal aid services which are aimed at providing improved support for eligible clients who are experiencing family violence.
The enhancements include an additional 25 General Preparation hours for eligible clients with contracts issued after April 1, 2024. To receive the additional hours, lawyers must make an authorization request and submit a form via the Lawyer Portal to certify that:
- the lawyer is not aware of the client having improved their financial situation since their most recent financial eligibility determination by LABC
- the client is experiencing Family Violence and one or more additional family law issues covered by LABC’s standard representation services
- the client needs these additional hours to achieve stabilization of their family law matters
To further clarify the process for lawyers, the Family Legal Aid Expansion Hours Certification form has been updated. The form now specifies that the additional family law issues covered by LABC’s standard representation services for the purpose of this certification, and as identified on the client’s contract, are as follows:
- cases in which a protection order may be needed (protection order)
- clients experiencing a denial of parenting time (denial of parenting time)
- cases requiring an order to prohibit relocation outside of the province (relocation)
- cases where the client is the respondent in a maintenance enforcement committal proceeding (maintenance enforcement)
More information regarding the enhancements is available in the Notice to Counsel #123 which was posted on our website in March 2024.
