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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):

https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/guides-and-publications/what-to-do-when-your-drivers-licence-is-suspended

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

Consumer Rights — Legal Rights Related to Method of Purchase

Consumer Rights — Legal Rights Related to Debt

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