Quebec Legal Glossary
Plain-language definitions of terms you meet in judicial and administrative documents in Quebec. This glossary explains what the words mean; it does not tell you what to do and is not a substitute for legal advice.
- Appeal
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A proceeding in which a party asks a higher court to review a decision.
- Arbitration
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A dispute resolution method in which the parties give the decision to an arbitrator rather than a court.
- Assessment (tax)
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The tax administration's determination of the amounts a taxpayer owes.
- Bailiff
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A court officer responsible for serving judicial documents and enforcing judgments, among other duties.
- Bureau d'évaluation médicale (BEM)
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A Quebec body that issues medical opinions in certain compensation files.
- Certificate of location
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A document prepared by a land surveyor describing a property's situation with respect to titles and regulations.
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- Child custody
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The set of questions concerning the care of a child and parenting time.
- Claim
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An application made to a scheme or insurer to obtain a benefit or indemnity.
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- Class action
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A proceeding brought by one person on behalf of a group of people in a similar situation. In Quebec, the court must first authorise it.
- Consolidation (of an injury)
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A term used in compensation to designate the point at which a person's condition is considered medically stabilised.
- Consumer proposal
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A federal insolvency mechanism by which a person proposes an arrangement to creditors, administered by a licensed trustee.
- Contempt of court
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Conduct that undermines the authority or proper functioning of the court.
- Court registry
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The service of a court responsible for keeping files and receiving documents.
- De facto (common-law) spouses
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People living as a couple without being married or in a civil union. The applicable property regime differs from that of married people.
- Deed of sale
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The document, generally notarial for immovable property in Quebec, recording the sale of property.
- Defendant
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The person against whom a court claim is directed.
- Demand letter
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A letter formally demanding that someone fulfil an obligation, often sent before starting court proceedings.
- Divided co-ownership (condominium)
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A regime in which a building is divided into private and common portions, governed by a declaration of co-ownership.
- Employment injury
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A work-related injury or illness covered by Quebec's compensation scheme.
- Eviction
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Where a tenant must leave a dwelling, notably following a decision of the competent tribunal.
- Expert witness
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A person whose specialised knowledge assists the court on a technical question.
- Family patrimony
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The set of assets covered by Quebec's rules on division between spouses or civil union partners on separation.
- Group insurance
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An insurance contract taken out for a group, often by an employer, whose terms appear in the policy and benefits summary.
- Hearing
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A session in which a court hears the parties.
- Homologation
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A procedure by which a court or notary confirms the validity or effect of a document.
- Hypothec
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A real right granted over property to secure an obligation, registered in the appropriate register.
- Income replacement indemnity (IRI)
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A benefit paid by a public scheme to compensate a loss of income resulting from an injury or accident.
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- Incorporation
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The creation of a legal person distinct from its founders, under the Quebec or federal regime.
- Injunction
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A court order requiring a person to do or refrain from doing something.
- Judgment
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A decision by a court that determines all or part of a dispute.
- Latent defect
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A defect in property that was not apparent and that the buyer could not reasonably have discovered at the time of purchase.
- Lease
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A contract by which one person gives another the use of property for an agreed time and price.
- Legal aid
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Quebec's scheme providing legal services to people who qualify based on income and the nature of the matter.
- Licensed insolvency trustee
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A professional licensed by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy to administer insolvency files.
- Limitation period
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A period set by law after which a right can no longer be exercised in court. Periods vary by type of claim.
- Liquidator of a succession
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The person responsible for administering and settling an estate, including the inventory and rendering of account.
- Mediation
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A process in which an impartial third party helps the parties look for an agreement. The mediator does not decide the matter.
- Medical assessment / expert medical examination
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An examination carried out by a physician at the request of a party or a body, to produce a written report.
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- Notice of objection
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The document by which a taxpayer formally contests an assessment with the tax administration.
- Patent
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An exclusive right granted for an invention, issued in Canada by CIPO.
- Permanent impairment
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A lasting after-effect assessed under a compensation scheme, distinct from temporary incapacity.
- Plaintiff / applicant
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The person who starts a court application or claim.
- Protection mandate
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A document by which a person designates in advance who will look after their property and person in case of incapacity.
- Repossession of a dwelling
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Where a landlord takes back a dwelling to live in it themselves or house a relative, under the conditions set by law.
- Roll of the order
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The public register of a professional order's members, allowing verification of the right to practise.
- Service (of documents)
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The official delivery of a court document to a party, by the methods provided by law.
- Shareholder agreement
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An agreement among shareholders organising their relations, notably governance and share transfers.
- Small Claims Division
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A division of the Court of Québec that hears certain lower-value civil claims under simplified rules.
- Support payments
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An amount paid by one person to another to contribute to their needs or those of a child.
- Total disability
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A concept defined by the insurance contract or applicable plan; the definition varies between contracts.
- Trademark
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A sign used to distinguish one person's goods or services from those of others, which may be registered with CIPO.
- Will search
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A check with the professional registers to establish whether a will exists.
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