Need an interpreter? We help you get one for court

Court and tribunal hearings in Ontario run in English or French. NEO's principal, Mo. Farooqui, represents clients in English. If you are more comfortable in another language, that should not stop you from understanding your case or telling your side of it: we help you arrange an interpreter.

Interpreters in most languages

Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General works with about 700 accredited freelance court interpreters covering more than 80 spoken languages, plus American Sign Language and Langue des signes québécoise. When you are a NEO client, we tell the court you need one and in which language, as early as possible.

When the interpreter is free

The province pays for a court interpreter:

• in any language in criminal and child protection matters;

• in French in all civil, family and Small Claims Court matters;

• in sign language in every court matter;

• in any language in civil, family and Small Claims Court matters when the person qualifies for a court fee waiver (for people with a low income);

• in any language when the court orders it.

If your income is low, we help you apply for the fee waiver, so the court can provide the interpreter at no cost to you.

Tribunals are different

Tribunals set their own rules. The Landlord and Tenant Board, for example, provides French and sign language interpreters on request, but for other languages you usually need to bring your own. We tell you early what your hearing allows and help you plan for it.

Why a trained interpreter matters

A friend or relative may mean well, but a court interpreter is trained to interpret every word accurately and neutrally, which protects your evidence. Ask early: interpreters are booked ahead of the hearing date.

Sources

• Get a court interpreter (Ontario)

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Photos from Pexels: Antoni Shkraba · Kevin Malik.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.