Where can I find free or low-cost legal help in Quebec?
Short answer
In Quebec, legal aid has a free component, reserved for people whose financial situation meets the thresholds set by law, and a contributory component where the person pays between $100 and $800 depending on their situation; people receiving social assistance or social solidarity benefits are automatically eligible on financial grounds.
In detail
Eligibility is determined on the basis of annual income from all sources, family situation, the value of certain property and liquid assets. The assessment is done only at the legal aid office for your region, by appointment. Minor children are eligible free of charge.
Alongside legal aid, the Info Justice centres offer legal information, support and referrals free of charge, to anyone, regardless of income. Since 2026, jurists from those centres have been deployed directly in courthouses in several regions, with the goal of extending the service to all 43 courthouses in Quebec.
Finally, in the Small Claims Division of the Court of Quebec, the court clerk assists the parties with the procedure and the forms (art. 543 of the Code of Civil Procedure), and the court itself explains the rules of evidence at the hearing (art. 560).
What to document
Before your appointment, prepare the chronology of your case, the list of documents you already have, and the deadlines that are coming up. An organized file lets a jurist answer you faster and more precisely.
Put your facts in writing, free. Writing your version down early, keeping your documents dated and preparing your questions for a lawyer: the tool is there to document, never to advise.
Open the application Up to 3 files, no card · see the plans
Official sources
- Legal aid eligibility (Aide juridique du Québec — Commission des services juridiques)
- Rollout of the Juristes en palais de justice project (Government of Quebec, April 8, 2026)
- Code of Civil Procedure, arts. 543 and 560 (Légis Québec)
Related questions
- Do I have to send a formal notice before suing?
- What should I write in a formal notice and how do I send it?
- How much does it cost to file a small claims application?
- When do I have to file my evidence with the court?
- How do I identify and number my exhibits?
See all the answers · the full guide collection · Lire en français
What this page is not
This is general legal information about the law of Quebec and Canada, dated and sourced. It is not legal advice, not a strategy, and not a prediction about the outcome of a case. In Quebec, only lawyers and notaries may give legal advice (Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, ss. 128 and 133). Laws and amounts change: the official source always prevails over us.