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COVID-19 updates
All visitors to legal aid offices must wear a mask until further notice.
We’ve temporarily changed some of our services.

Legal Aid Ontario offices closed for Victoria Day
Please note that all Legal Aid Ontario offices will be closed on Monday, May 23, 2022 for the Victoria Day holiday weekend. All offices and our call centre will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, May 24.

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Français LAO Client Portal
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  • Services
    • Temporary service changes due to COVID-19
    • COVID-19 and the courts: Answers to frequently asked questions
    • Criminal legal issues
    • Domestic Violence
    • Family legal issues
    • Mental health legal issues
    • Refugee and immigration legal issues
    • All services
    • Legal clinics
    • How to apply
    • Find a lawyer
      • Finding the right legal aid lawyer
    • What do you think about our services?
  • For legal professionals
    • COVID-19: Ongoing list of supports for lawyers
    • LASA, 2020 process updates for lawyers
    • Changes to policies and certificate coverage
    • Roster resources
      • Audit & Compliance
      • Billing
      • Case management
      • Forms library
      • Legal Aid Services Act, 2020 policies
      • Legal Aid Online
      • LAO LAW
      • Resources by area of law
    • Do legal aid work
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    • Test case funding
    • News for lawyers
    • B3 Newsletters
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  • FAQ

Contribution agreements

If you have available assets or own property, you may qualify for a certificate with a contribution agreement. This means you will be required to repay LAO some or all of your legal fees, based on your asset level.

A contribution agreement outlines how much you will repay LAO.

How do contribution agreements work?

You must take a financial test to determine if you are eligible for Legal Aid Ontario’s certificate program. If you qualify for a certificate, you might be required to sign a contribution agreement, depending on your asset level. A contribution agreement may include liens or lump sum payments. If you agree to the contribution agreement, Legal Aid Ontario will give you a certificate that will help you retain a lawyer.

How much will I have to repay?

LAO implemented the second of three annual six per cent financial eligibility increases for all the certificate and duty counsel services it provides, including the amount of asset level that requires you to sign a contribution agreement.

The chart below provides guidelines for the asset levels needed to qualify for services. Generally, if your assets are outlined in the chart below, you will be asked to sign a contribution agreement. Some exceptions do apply, and the legal aid staff person who takes your application will be able to give you more information.

Number of family members Asset maximum
1 $1,504
2 $2,255
3 $3,007

What if I don’t want a contribution agreement?

You can only request a review of a contribution agreement for two reasons:

  1. You are in debt
  2. You have high medical expenses

To request a review, you must go through the eligibility review process.

How do I make payments to Legal Aid Ontario?

There are several ways for you to make payments to your contribution agreement:

At the bank

  • Take your most recent client statement into any bank or credit union
  • Be sure to bring the bottom portion of the statement
  • Make your payment at the bank counter, by cash or cheque
  • Retain any receipts or verification of payment for your records
  • You do not need a bank account to make a payment, and this payment method is free for clients.

Telephone banking, Internet banking, Instabank

  • You can also pay through telephone and Internet banking, and Instabank (paying at an ATM/ABM), at most Canadian banks
  • To use one of these payment methods, you need to contact your bank to see if these options are available, and to register. Once registered, you:

    1. Need to choose “Legal Aid Ontario” as the payee
    2. Enter your client number as reference, and the amount you would like to pay.


How do I apply for legal aid?


  • This form is feedback only.

Further reading

Will Legal Aid pay for my lawyer?
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