Searching for Community Legal Services

Community legal clinic offering:

• free legal advice
• social work services
• staffed by lawyers, law students, social workers and social work students
• specializes in areas of law that are particularly important to low income clients including entitlements to public and government benefits, tenant protection, criminal injuries compensation, immigration/refugee, advocacy, counseling and crisis intervention
• information and referral, law reform, public legal education, research and community development
• legal resource guide available to public

Legal Health Check Up

• an online check-up to help people who are living in poverty identify legal problems and get help
• this check-up helps people who are living in povertyidentify legal and get help. Click Here for more information

An interdisciplinary clinic combining legal and social work professions to meet the multi-faceted needs of the low-income community.

Services include:

• free legal advice and representation to University of Windsor undergraduate students in all our areas of practice including notarizations and commissions
• criminal law and provincial offences
• family law
• housing law
• employment law
• elder law
• consumer rights

Superior Court of Justice:

• issues and processes applications for family matters
• handles divorce filings and hearings, annulments, all civil actions, jury selection process, estate wills, conferences, trials and motions
• Issues a copy of Divorce papers
• small claims court forms, family guides and pamphlets and self-help packages available
• enforcements, solicitor/client assessments
• executes tribunal orders such as evictions via Sheriff's Office
• collects judgments under writs of seizure and sale
• accepts filings for all small claims and civil matters * small claim suits should not exceed $25,000
• court issues garnishments

COVID-19 Service Delivery Update: The physical Windsor District Office of Legal Aid Ontario remains temporarily closed and staff continue to work remotely.

Questions for the Windsor District Office you may send an email to GenDOWindsor@lao.on.ca, clients can also call 519-255-7822×26, messages are monitored and clients can expect a response within 24 business hours.



Legal aid services for persons seeking legal advice

• representation mainly in areas of family law, criminal, immigration, mental health
• office provides a lawyer of the client's choice
• clients may be required to contribute to the cost of legal services depending on financial assessment
• legal representation for eligible clients who appear in court without a lawyer
• legal resources and referrals to other social assistance agencies

Access to wide range of Ontario government services and information, staff assistance, information and referral

Driver and Vehicle

• Driver's licence renewal
• Get an accessible parking permit
• Renew, replace or change an accessible parking permit
• Driver records (Driver's Abstract)
• Change address: driver's licence
• Renew a driver's licence
• Replace a driver's licence
• Vehicle registration: plate/permit
• Personalized licence plates
• Used vehicle information package (UVIP)
• Buy/sell a used vehicle in Ontario
• Register a farm vehicle
• Vehicle records
• Special permit
• Change address: vehicle permit
• Get vintage licence plates for classic cars
• Demerit Point Inquires (Drivers Abstract)

Identification and certificates

• Ontario Photo Card
• Birth certificate (online or by mail)
• Marriage certificate (online or by mail)
• Death certificate (online or by mail)
• Change your last name
• Change a child's name
• Change name (for adults)
• Sex designation change

Other Services

• Health Card and Insurance (OHIP)
• Ontario Photo Card
• Organ and tissue donation registration
• Fishing, hunting and camping licenses
• Newborn registration
• Business services, taxes
• Housing and property (filing of Landlord and Tenant applications)
• Authentication of documents (Commissioner of Oaths available to sign various forms - call ahead, limited to certain forms, depending on requirements requested)

Online services

• Many services can now be done online including applications, registrations and renewals. Click here for more information.

An area in the family courthouse where one can receive free information about divorce, separation and related family law issues (child custody, access, support, property division and child protection),referrals to community resources, family justice services, alternative forms of dispute resolution, court processes.

• publications available, as well as guides to court procedures
• staff and advice lawyers are also available at designated hours

Provides class members summary advice, assistance with filing claims in settlement distribution processes, and representation in court proceedings

• also dedicated to creating greater awareness about class actions, through public education, outreach, and research
• maintains a central class action repository of Ontario cases
• does not initiate or conduct class actions, but can provide referrals to class action firms

Provides free and confidential services (advice, education and representation) in workplace insurance matters (formerly called workers' compensation) to non-unionized workers and their survivors

Offers Black Canadian parents, guardians and caregivers across Windsor and Essex County the support they need to navigate the education system.

Offers workshops and one-to-one coaching to those who are interested in the following:

• strengthening the bond between themselves and their children
• participating in their children's education
• increasing their confidence in navigating the school system
• increasing knowledge and tools to provide better support for their children
• accessing information independently
• increasing a sense of belonging in the community
• being recognized as supportive and contributing members of Windsor & Essex County
• help your children make decisions about their education
• help your children through racism and harassment
• reducing stress
• advocacy through Family Fuse

Parking Enforcement - information regarding parking enforcement, ticket payment options, and how to dispute a parking ticket

• On/off Street Parking - information regarding parking meters, municipal parking lots and garages, residential permit parking, and accessible parking.
• Traffic Signals - the City's traffic signal system and intersection controls.
• Signs And Markings - the City of Windsor's Sign Shop and Operations unit is responsible for traffic sign and pavement marking maintenance.
• Traffic Control Issues - information regarding common traffic control issues and how they can be addressed.
• Transportation Planning - information regarding various transportation studies, transportation policies, and data available through the City's Transportation Planning Division.
• Roundabouts - the rules and proper use of modern roundabouts.

Click Here For a more comprehensive description of each service

Clinic offers advice, representation and referrals in both French and English. The services are provided by staff lawyers experienced in administrative law. They represent clients, give legal opinions or make appropriate referrals. All information is kept strictly confidential.

• also engages in law reform activities, community outreach and public legal education

French Legal Summary Advice Line • Areas of Law:

• Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program
• Housing/LTB (evictions only)
• Immigration
• Canada Pension Plan
• Small Claims Court

Legal Health Check Up

• an online check-up available in both English and French to help people who are living in poverty identify legal problems and get help
• Community Legal Services has created this check-up to help people who are living in poverty so they can identify legal problems and get help

Click Here for more information

Providing an alternative to an adversarial Court System for Windsor-Essex County.

• Free family mediation on site services available at the courthouses for those who have started a family law application
• OFF SITE mediation is available at the local office by appointment with very affordable sliding fees scale
• Free Mandatory Information Program (MIP): provides information about family law, separation and divorce
• addresses both the legal and emotional components of the process (presented 3 times monthly)
• Free Information and Referral Services: for those thinking of or dealing with separation and divorce

All family law issues can be mediated, including custody, access, child and spousal support, property, grandparents claims, sale of property etc.
Family Information & Referral Coordinator
Available to answer questions about:

• Separation
• Parenting
• Housing, Addictions and Community Programs

Assists people who live with a developmental disability and their families to figure out how they want to be part of their community.

• focus is on all the possible roles people play in neighbourhoods - friend, employee, student, athlete, volunteer & more.
• Independent facilitation, sharing conversations that discover people's dreams, likes, ideas for the future and talk about much more.
• Looks for places in your community where the person can share their gifts and learn new things.
• Independent facilitators can mediate between the person requiring services and those offering them.
• Assistance with the formal and informal contractual agreements for services purchased when asked to help.
• Independent Facilitators work various hours and mostly when it is convenient for the person and their family.

Advocacy and assistance with all Ontario provincial ministries and programs e.g. Ontario Works, ODSP, Health and Long Term Care

• consultation on matters of local interest
• congratulatory messages/scrolls for significant milestones
• commissioner of oath and notary services available

Provides Ontario employers with expert, free and confidential advice, representation and education on all workers' compensation issues under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, and on unjust reprisal issues under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

• assists with Workplace Safety and Insurance policies, procedures, appeals, claims, rehabilitation issues, etc
• advice on assessment, re-classification, collection issues

Liberal Party representative for federal riding of Windsor-Tecumseh offering help with federal government services and issues including commissioner of oath services and notarizations.

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) provides a range of services for low-income residents in the Chatham-Kent community.

Chatham's Legal Aid Ontario Family Law Service Centre provides low-income Chatham-area residents assistance with family law matters including child custody, access, child support and Children's Aid matters.

Legal Aid Ontario continues to offer other services in Chatham-Kent. Family and criminal legal assistance is available through legal aid certificates and at the Chatham courthouse duty counsel office 519-352-4245. Duty counsel are lawyers employed by Legal Aid Ontario, who can give immediate, legal assistance to low-income people who appear in court without a lawyer.

Legal aid services continue to be available at the Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic located at 6 Harvey St, Chatham 519-351-6771. The clinic provides referrals, legal advice, legal representation, tenant duty counsel services, and public legal education and community outreach.

COVID-19 - Both the 24 hour crisis/support line and the emergency shelter remain open. All Outreach counselling services can be done in person or by phone. For support counselling call 519 354-6360.

• 24 hour crisis lines
• emergency shelter
• group and individual counselling for abused women and their children
• advocacy
• transitional housing and support
• affiliation with other organizations: Family Service Kent, Crown Attorney's Office and Police
• Family Court Support Worker Program -- information on the family court process * assistance in documenting the history of abuse for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)
• referral to specialized services and supports in the community
• safety planning
• court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate
• school based individual and group support provided to youth (male & female) across Chatham Kent.

Provide housing support services to help prevent homelessness and provide assistance to those in need of adequate, affordable, permanent housing.

• Assists clients with: homelessness
• eviction notices
• landlord/tenant mediatio
• landlord registry
• rental listings
• information on tenant rights
• advocacy
• transportation to emergency shelters
• utility assistance

COVID-19 - The office is now open to the public on a part-time, appointments-only basis. Clients must call first to make an appointment. We also continue to assist clients by working remotely.

Provides referrals, legal advice, legal representation, Tenant Duty Counsel services, public legal education and community outreach.

Areas of law include:

• Tenant rights
• Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan and CPP Disability
• Disability issues
• Employment law including the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights in the Workplace and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
• Wills and powers of attorney

Does not assist with matters relating to criminal, family, or property law.

Part-time satellite offices (by appointment only):

Wallaceburg Community Resource Centre
939 Dufferin Ave, Wallaceburg

Blenheim Municipal Building
35 Talbot St, Blenheim

Tilbury Information and Help Centre
20 Queen St N, Tilbury

Access to Government of Ontario services and documentation at various counter and kiosk locations. Services available at each location vary and some services are available online.

Services include:

• birth, marriage and death certificates
• health card registration Ontario photo card
• driver and vehicle licensing
• accessible parking permits
• fishing and hunting licenses
• employment standards claims
• business registration
• provincial tax returns and payments
• Ontario government publications
• Landlord and Tenant Board

COVID-19 - The office is currently closed for in-person meetings, however, all services are still being provided by phone and mail.

Provides legal representation, advice and information on

• housing
• criminal injuries compensation
• human rights
• income support (EI, OW, ODSP, CPP, OAS)
• employment law

Provides Aboriginal Outreach services, public legal education sessions, law reform and community organizing.

This office does not assist with criminal law, family law or refugee law.

Funded by Legal Aid Ontario, staffed by lawyers, paralegals, community legal workers and administrative staff.