Office of the Children's Lawyer

April 15, 2008 10:52 AM

I've just recieved a letter that the Ministry of the Attorney General in Canada has set up some kind of account for me. What does this mean?

I don't live in Canada but am a Canadian citizen, soon to be 17 years old, and I just recieved a letter to my home abroad that the Office of the Children's Lawyer has recieved $500 and set up a trust. What is this trust? What is the Office of the Children's Lawyer? What is the money used for? From where did they recieve it?
Either I'm really stupid or their site is really unhelpful in explaining what the hell is going on.

posted by alona to law & government (5 comments total)

Where they received the money would be the question I'd most want to know. Guessing you can't access the money until you're 18. Easiest to just phone them and ask exactly these questions.
posted by meerkatty at 10:56 AM on April 15

Yeah, I can't access it until I'm 18.
About where it came from, the letter just says: "We have received $500.00, and which will be held in trust for you."

It also says "Money held in trust is carefully invested for the benefit of the children we serve," and it goes on tot alk about their investment plan, interest, administration fees, etc. So I guess another question is, who are the children they serve? Me? Kids who need lawyers but don't have money? (As in, the governement uses this money to help these kids and returns it to me minus the interest when I'm 18?)

I think I'll phone, thanks for the tip.
posted by alona at 11:08 AM on April 15

From a quick look at this page, I'm guessing you had some money coming to you from a will, insurance, a court settlement, or something similar. With you out of the country - and presumably your parents, or other adult who could stand in your stead as guardian for the money, the government has stepped in to ensure the safekeeping of the money until you are of age.

It's nothing overly sinister; every province has something similar in place to this office. The purpose behind it is to act as an advocate for children who for one reason or another end up involved with legal proceedings. Because they aren't legally adults, these offices can act as their representatives and ensure their rights and interests are represented. I have usually encountered them in child welfare matters, but it makes sense that they also deal with property rights.
posted by never used baby shoes at 11:41 AM on April 15

What government is it from? (I thought Office of The Children's Lawyer was a provincial government thing, not federal)
posted by winston at 5:40 PM on April 15

Not quite sure which government it is from. However, I did call them and they said I received money from a court settlement. I was completely confused as I've never been involved in any legal case, but after checking with my parents I apparently received compensation for an incident my mother had with medical malpractice a few years ago...
posted by alona at 5:01 PM on April 16