(1) Any action in the High Court of Justice with the exception of -
(a) Defamation
(b) Relator Actions
(c) Election Petitions
(d) High Court proceedings for or consequent on the issue of Judgment summons, and in the case of defendant proceedings where the only question to be brought to the Court is as to the time or mode of payment by him of a debt (including liquidated damages) and costs.
(1) Indictable Offences - These are offences which may be tried by a Judge and Jury.
(2) All offences where the person charged in a Court of Summary Jurisdiction is a child or young person.
(3) All applications under the Family Law (Guardianship of Minors) Act, 1981.
(4) Proceedings under the Summary Ejectment Ordinance, Ch. 27, No.17.
(5) Proceedings before a Coroner's Court under the Coroner's Act, Chap. 6:04.
A person desirous of obtaining legal aid or advice must fill out a simple form. The applicant is then interviewed by a Legal Officer to determine whether or not he/she may be eligible for legal aid.
If eligible, an application form is given to the applicant. This form is an affidavit and requires the applicant to go before either a Justice of the Peace or a Commissioner of Affidavits to swear to the information given being true and correct.
In the case of civil actions, you are required to return the application form together with certain required documents to the office from where it was obtained and be interviewed by an investigator.
An investigator will then examine the documents and may ask for further information. The investigator will visit the applicant at his/her home and submit a report on his findings to the Authority.
This report is considered by the Authority at its monthly meeting and the applicant is subsequently informed in writing whether or not legal aid has been granted or refused.
Before an application is approved, the Authority must have reasonable grounds for taking, defending, continuing or being a party to any proceedings, and that the applicant is not possessed or entitled to disposable capital of approximately five thousand dollars ($5,000) or that the disposable income of the applicant does not exceed four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) a year.
The objective of the Old Age pension is to help needy senior citizens to maintain a minimum standard of living. An applicant for Old Age Pension must be sixty-five (65) years and over and in receipt of an income of less than $5000.00 per year. This also applies to certified blind persons who are forty (40) years and over. The applicant must have been resident in the country at least twenty (20) years preceding the date of the claim for pension. However the applicant could be absent from the country for a continuous period not exceeding two (2) years. Payments are made by cheque cashable at any Post Office or Commercial Bank, some District Revenue Offices, and in rural areas at the Paymaster of the Social Welfare Division.
A person may apply by letter or in person, to the Social Welfare Office in his/her district. Applicants are required to fill out an Old Age Pension form available at the Social Welfare Office with supporting documents, such as Birth Certificate, Citizenship. The Welfare Officer will visit the applicant to certify the validity of the statements made on the form. Satisfactory documentary proof of age must be furnished. The results of the investigation is submitted to the local Board which decides whether the applicant should be given a pension.
If a pensioner is unable to collect his/her pension, he/she can nominate someone to collect it. This should be discussed with the Social Welfare Adviser.
A pensioner must visit the Social Welfare District Office and make a request for a transfer from one district to another. A computer input document will be prepared and the relevant information sent to the district to which the pensioner has transferred his/her residence.
If an applicant's claim for pension is refused, he/she has the option to appeal to the Central Board within 30 days of the refusal. This appeal should be made in writing.
An applicant for Public Assistance must be over 18 years of age, unable to earn a living because of illness or injury and destitute. Applications can be made in writing or in person to the nearest Social Welfare District Office. The letter can be written by a person on behalf of the applicant, however the prescribed application form must be signed by the applicant.
Dependents of persons in hospitals and inmates of prisons are provided with facilities for applying in writing for assistance.
A Social Welfare Officer will visit the applicant, the case will be assessed and if it is approved, the applicant will qualify to receive public assistance.
Grants are given to the elderly and the indigent in certain cases of emergency such as: fire, flood or hurricane. Recipients of old age pension and public assistance may also receive emergency grants to repair homes, purchase clothing or for any other circumstance which justifies an emergency grant.
Grants are also made for-
Necessitous/special children
Burial Assistance
Prescribed drugs not available at public dispensaries.
In addition to providing financial assistance, the Social Welfare Division also rehabilitates clients with psycho-social problems. This service is provided by the Case Work Section situated at 4th Floor, Salvatori Building, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain.
The Ministry of Social Development, administers funds which are available to voluntary organisations and provides subventions to Senior Citizen's Homes.
The Adoption Board is the sole agency authorised to arrange for the adoption of children.
Any commonwealth citizen under eighteen (18) years of age and had never been married is legally free for adoption, under the provision of the Act.
Married couples making a joint application, a single female, and in exceptional circumstances, a single male may adopt.
The applicant must be over twenty-five (25) years of age, and twenty-one (21) years older than the person to be adopted.
The applicant must be resident and domiciled in Trinidad and Tobago.
The applicant must be certified as being in good physical health.
Persons who already have a child in their care and wish to legalise the arrangement, as well as persons who wish a child to be placed with them by the Adoption Board for adoption, may also approach the Board for assistance.
If circumstances make it necessary for you to think of offering your child for adoption, you may call at any of the offices of the Social Welfare Division listed below -
San Juan
Telephones: 675-9608
Open: Monday - Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
82, Independence Avenue,
San Fernando
Telephone: 657-5866 / 5868
Complete an application form available from any Social Welfare Office on request.
Have a qualified Medical Practitioner, complete the medical certificates of physical and mental fitness required.
Submit the relevant documents: birth, marriage, death certificate, etc., to any of the offices of the Adoption Board.
N.B. - The Board must obtain a signed consent on the prescribed forms, from the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the person to be adopted. Consent, however can be dispensed with under special circumstances.
After the application is made it will be considered by the Adoption Board. A detailed case history and home study report of the parties concerned are made by the welfare officers and submitted to the Board accompanied by relevant certificates and documents. The Board then considers this data. Should the reports indicate that conditions are suitable for adoption and that this is in the child's interest, the Board would then decide on the commencement of the Probationary period of six (6) months during which period the child is kept under close supervision by the Board.
If for any reason during this period, the adopter no longer wishes to proceed with the adoption, the Board should be informed in writing. Within three (3) months after the expiry date of a successfull probationary period, the adopter must apply to the Court for an Adoption Order. When this is granted, an Adoption Certificate is issued. This is available from the Registrar General's Office, within six (6) to eight (8) weeks after an Order is granted.
Courtesy Ministry of Public Administration and Information