Glossary
A trial is a court hearing to determine whether the crown has proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Trials result in findings of guilt or acquittals. If found guilty, the accused is sentenced. If they are acquitted, they are considered innocent of the offence and the case is over.
In Family Law
A trial management conference is a meeting between a judge and you and your partner, and your lawyers if you have any. The purposes of a trial management conference include:
- talking about ways to solve those issues without going to a trial
- deciding how the trial will proceed if you cannot solve your issues
- setting a trial date, if this has not already been done
An agency that makes decisions about applying a set of laws to disputes between people. It is like a court but less formal. The Landlord and Tenant Board is an example of a tribunal. Another example is the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
When a court holds money in trust, it keeps the money safe for specific purpose. For example, it holds money paid by a debtor because of a court order until it is time to give that money to the creditor.
In Criminal Law
An undertaking is a piece of paper that an accused signs instead of being held for a bail hearing. Usually it will contain conditions you agree to comply with as part of your release from custody. If you don’t follow the conditions of your undertaking you can be charged with failing to comply.
In Criminal Law
After you’ve been charged with a criminal offence, a police officer may give you an “undertaking to an officer in charge”, along with a promise to appear. The undertaking to an officer in charge is also known as Form 11.1. It includes conditions similar to those required for bail. For example, you may be required to pledge up to $500 security before you are released.
In Employment and Work, Housing Law, Human Rights, Tribunals and Courts
There are times when Ontario’s Human Rights Code does not require accommodation. But there must be proof that it will cause undue hardship. For example, it would be undue hardship if the only option would:
- cost too much
- cause a serious risk to the health or safety of others
In Family Law
Undue hardship means a payor parent does not have enough money to pay the child support they have to pay according to the Child Support Guidelines.
It can also mean that the parent receiving child support is finding it very hard to support the child with the amount they get according to the Child Support Guidelines.
Undue hardship is difficult to prove. If a parent can prove undue hardship, the court can order an amount that is more or less than what the payor would have usually paid according to the Child Support Guidelines.
In Criminal Law
Temporary absences are a type of release you might get if you’re serving a sentence in jail. Temporary absences may be escorted or unescorted. You might be allowed to have a temporary absence for:
- work on a community service project
- contact with family
- personal development
- medical reasons
In Debt and Consumer Rights, Tribunals and Courts
Unfair business practices are any dishonest way a company gets your business. This includes a company:
- making false or misleading promises to you
- overcharging you for goods
- taking advantage of your disability, languages you don’t understand, or challenges you have with reading
- pressuring you to buy their goods or services