Elder Law Resources
Here are some helpful links to websites and resources related to common questions for seniors:
Income Support Programs
Steps to Justice Income Information (includes links to information for OAS, CPP, and CPP-D): https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/income-assistance/
Elder Abuse
Steps to Justice Elder Abuse Information (includes links for reporting abuse in retirement or long term care homes): https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/abuse-and-family-violence/elder-abuse/?utm_source=Keep+in+touch+with+CLEO+-+Email+Updates&utm_campaign=8d24f31aa4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_18_08_27_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d3ebfd2663-8d24f31aa4-100249721
Substitute Decision-Making and Wills
Steps to Justice Explaining POA for Personal Care: https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/power-attorney-personal-care/
Steps to Justice Explaining POA for Property: https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/power-of-attorney-for-property/
Steps to Justice Guided Pathways for Wills and POAs: https://stepstojustice.ca/guided-pathways/wills-and-powers-of-attorney-about/
Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (information about decision-making capacity, substitute decision-making, and wills): https://www.ontario.ca/page/office-public-guardian-and-trustee
Advance Care Planning Ontario (information about health care consent, substitute decision-making, and living wills): https://www.advancecareplanningontario.ca/
Steps to Justice Explaining Wills: https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/wills/make-will/all/
Government of Ontario Estate Planning and Wills: https://www.ontario.ca/page/estate-planning-and-wills
Law Society of Ontario (how to find a will): https://lso.ca/Public-Resources/Locating-wills-and-documents#finding-a-will-or-power-of-attorney-4
Steps to Justice Challenging a Will: https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/what-can-i-do-if-someone-died-and-i-dont-agree-what-im-getting-estate/
Medical Assistance in Dying
Federal government website on medical assistance in dying: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html
Provincial website about medical assistance in dying for patients (https://www.ontario.ca/page/medical-assistance-dying-and-end-life-decisions) and for health practitioners (https://www.ontario.ca/page/medical-assistance-dying-and-end-life-decisions-support-medical-professionals)
Burial
Government of Ontario Consumer Protection for Funerals and Burials: https://www.ontario.ca/page/consumer-protection-when-planning-funeral-burial-cremation-or-scattering
Bereavement Authority of Ontario (information about funeral and burial regulations in Ontario): https://thebao.ca/
Mount Pleasant Group (internment rights):
https://www.mountpleasantgroup.com/en-CA/FAQs/interment-rights-faqs.aspx
Estate Administration
Government of Ontario General Information about Estate Administration: https://www.ontario.ca/page/administering-estates
Government of Ontario Probate Process: https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-probate-estate
Government of Ontario Probate of a Small Estate: https://www.ontario.ca/page/probate-small-estate#:~:text=If%20the%20estate%20is%20valued,of%20Appointment%20of%20Estate%20Trustee).
Steps to Justice Duties of Estate Trustees: https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/ive-been-named-estate-trustee-will-what-do-i-have-do/
Steps to Justice Becoming an Estate Trustee: https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/my-loved-one-died-without-will-can-i-apply-be-their-estate/ and
https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/how-do-i-apply-be-estate-trustee-without-will/ and https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/wills-and-powers-of-attorney/ive-been-named-estate-trustee-in-a-will-how-do-i-apply-for-a-certificate/
Health Care
Steps to Justice Information about Canadian Dental Care Program: https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/income-assistance/am-i-eligible-for-the-canadian-dental-care-plan/
CAMH website (licence revocation for medical reasons):
Ontario Health atHome (differences between long term care and other settings): https://healthcareathome.ca/long-term-care/
Tax Credits
Canada Revenue Agency video of the tax credits available to seniors: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/cra-multimedia-library/individuals-video-gallery/webinar-adults-65.html
Canada Revenue Agency video about eligibility for the disability tax credit, the process to apply for the credit, and the other credits people can access once they are approved for the disability tax credit: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/cra-multimedia-library/individuals-video-gallery/webinar-persons-disabilities.html
Consumer Rights — Legal Rights Related to Purchase of Common Products and Services
- Used cars: https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/debt-and-consumer-rights/buying-used-car/
- Vehicle repairs: https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/debt-and-consumer-rights/motor-vehicle-repairs/
- Cellphones: https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/debt-and-consumer-rights/cellphones/
- Payday loans : https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/debt-and-consumer-rights/payday-loans/
- Debt settlement/credit counselling : https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/debt-and-consumer-rights/can-i-get-out-debt-settlement-or-credit-counselling-agreement/
- Credit repair companies : https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/debt-and-consumer-rights/i-hired-credit-repair-company-what-can-i-do-if-im-having-problems/
Consumer Rights — Legal Rights Related to Method of Purchase
- Door to door sales: https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/debt-and-consumer-rights/door-door-sales/
- Online purchases: https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/debt-and-consumer-rights/i-bought-something-online-can-i-cancel-my-order-or-return-it/
- Telephone purchases: https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/debt-and-consumer-rights/i-bought-something-telephone-can-i-cancel-order-or-return-it/
- Purchases through regular mail: https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/debt-and-consumer-rights/i-bought-something-mail-order-can-i-cancel-order-or-return-it/
Consumer Rights — Legal Rights Related to Debt
- Activities of collection agencies: https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/debt-and-consumer-rights/collection-agencies/
- Content of credit reports: https://www.cleo.on.ca/en/publications/credit
Consumer Rights — Starting a Lawsuit Against a Business
Steps to Justice Information Re: Process to Sue in Small Claims Court: https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/tribunals-and-courts/how-can-i-sue-in-small-claims-court/
Government of Ontario Process to Sue in Superior Court: https://www.ontario.ca/page/civil-claims-suing-and-being-sued
Consumer Protection
Steps to Justice How to Write a Consumer Complaint Letter: https://stepstojustice.ca/resource/consumer-complaint-letter/
Consumer Beware List for Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/search-consumer-beware-list
Human Rights
HelpAge International (how older people are included and excluded in international human rights framework): https://rightsofolderpeople.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Strengthening-Rights-English-Low-Res.pdf
Human Rights Legal Support Centre: https://hrlsc.on.ca/homepage/
Professionals to Assist with Elder Law Issues
Law Society of Ontario (difference between lawyers and paralegals – need lawyers for most elder law issues): https://lso.ca/public-resources/choosing-the-right-legal-professional#what-are-the-general-guidelines-for-choosing-a-legal-professional–4 Here is more detailed information about the work of paralegals: https://lso.ca/public-resources/choosing-the-right-legal-professional/about-paralegals
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly: https://www.acelaw.ca/
Ontario Association of Family Mediators (search for intergenerational family mediators):
Government of Ontario Capacity Assessors: https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-capacity-assessors