3. Get other free legal services if you qualify

There are other places that offer free legal help. Some are open to all Ontario residents, while others are for specific groups.

Legal help for everyone in Ontario

If you live in Ontario, you can get legal information or advice from these programs. You do not need to have a low income.

Law Society Referral Service

The Law Society of Ontario offers a free online Referral Service. It gives you the name of a lawyer or paralegal who will give up to 30 minutes of free legal advice in any area of law. You can ask for a lawyer that speaks your language.

Ontario Legal Information Centre

The Centre offers a free 30-minute meeting with a lawyer, online or by phone in English or French. Get legal information on any area of law and referrals to services. Book online or call 1-844-343-7462.

CLEO’s Guided Pathways

Community Legal Education Ontario's Guided Pathways are free online interviews that: ask you questions give you legal information create legal documents based on your answers You can use Guided Pathways to:

• create a simple will and name an estate trustee for that will
• make a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property
• make a Power of Attorney for Personal Care
• cancel an old power of attorney

When you're finished, you can save or print your documents. You will get instructions and information about what to do next.

Legal help for specific groups

You may be able to get help from one of these programs if you meet certain conditions.

Pro Bono Ontario (PBO)

If you have a low income, call PBO's free legal advice hotline to speak with a lawyer. They can answer questions about powers of attorney and help you make one. PBO does not help with wills. Call 1-855-255-7256, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pro Bono Students Canada’s Wills Clinic

This Clinic helps people with low incomes in York Region draft wills and powers of attorney. Law students provide these services from October to November and January to March. They're supervised by lawyers.

Call and leave a message at 905-508-5018 or toll-free at 1-888-365-5226.

Queen’s University Elder Law Clinic

In Kingston, this Clinic offers free legal services to seniors with a low income. Services include help with wills and powers of attorney. Call 613-533-2102.

The 519

The 519’s Legal Clinic provides 30 minutes of free legal advice to 2SLGBTQ+ community members across Ontario, including help with wills and powers of attorney. Services are by phone or videoconference.

The Muslim Legal Support Centre

This Centre offers free legal advice for Muslims with low to modest incomes, including about wills, estates, and powers of attorney. Fill out their online form, or call 416-350-2914 and leave a message.

ABLE2

If you live in the Ottawa or Champlain region and have a disability, ABLE2's Reach Legal Referral Services may be able to help. They can refer you to a lawyer or paralegal for up to 3 hours of free legal advice in any area of law. But they cannot help with urgent legal issues. If ABLE2 cannot help, they may refer you to community resources. Book a meeting online, or call 613-761-9522 extension 452 or 453. You can also email reachlegalreferral@able2.org.