Guide to completing Civil Certificate Account Form (Form 51)

The following is only a guide. For complete information and instructions on billing and the legal aid tariff, please refer to the Tariff and Billing Handbook.

Most of the sections in the new Form 51 have not changed. The major change in the new Form 51 is found in Section 12 – Additional Maximums for Specifically Authorized Court Attendances. The information in this section will allow Legal Aid Ontario to determine the tariff maximum and process your account based on a summary of your services rather than a line by line examination of the account details. Your account details will be kept on file.

Completing Section 12

Before submitting your account, ensure that you have obtained the area director’s authorization for all the issues (e.g.: custody, access, support), proceeding (e.g.: RPD hearing, appeal) or stages in the proceeding (e.g.: status review, temporary care and custody hearing, pretrial, trial) for which you are billing.

If you are at risk of missing the billing deadline, submit your account rather than wait for the area director’s authorization.

Certain authorizations under a certificate include an allowance for the time attending at a pretrial, settlement or case conference, examination for discovery, hearing, trial or appeal. Other authorizations provide for additional preparation time for each day of attendance at hearing or trial.

If the authorizations under the certificate on which you are billing provides for attendance and/or preparation for each day of attendance please complete this section.

Number of Days of Attendance:

The number of days in court for authorized attendance(s). To be considered a court day, evidence must be led or substantive submissions made. A court day does not include an attendance at court for an adjournment or set date.

Total Number of Hours for Attendance:

The total of the actual time spent at an authorized attendance(s). To be considered a court day, evidence must be led or substantive submissions made. A court day does not include an attendance for an adjournment or set date.