Many of the families I work with live in Montreal itself. A parent in a Côte-des-Neiges apartment. A spouse just admitted to hospital. A mother in a residence in Villeray whose children live elsewhere. I prepare the psychosocial assessment that the court needs to decide on a protection mandate homologation or a tutorship. This page explains how that works for a Montreal family.
When the question comes up in hospital
Many Montreal files start in a hospital or a CHSLD. During discharge planning, the care team may raise the question of who can legally make decisions for your loved one. That can be a lot to take in.
If this happens, start with the hospital social worker. Ask three things:
- Is the team proposing a homologation, a tutorship, or something else?
- Will the medical assessment be done by the hospital physician?
- Can the psychosocial assessment be done in the public network, and when?
Some families go ahead with the public network. Others choose a private social worker. Either way, the hospital team stays an important partner.
Assessments in hospitals and residences
I meet your loved one where they are. In Montreal, that can be a home or apartment, a private seniors' residence (RPA), a CHSLD or a hospital room.
In a hospital or residence, I coordinate with the staff so the visit fits the care schedule. I choose a time when your loved one is likely to be at their best. With their consent, I can also review relevant information from the care team.
The visit usually takes 45 to 90 minutes. I spend part of it alone with your loved one and part with family. For a step-by-step picture, see what to expect at a psychosocial evaluation.
The legal side in Montreal
An uncontested application can go through a notary, under the non-contentious procedure. The notary meets with your loved one, gathers the medical and psychosocial reports and files the application. In these files, families often do not need to go to the courthouse. The court still makes the decision.
The application is usually filed in the judicial district where your loved one lives. For a Montreal resident, that is the district of Montreal, with its courthouse on Notre-Dame Street East. One detail matters here: when someone is staying in a hospital or residence, other districts may be possible, such as the district of their former home. So the hospital where I meet your loved one is not always the district where the file is filed. Your notary will confirm.
If someone contests the application, a lawyer is usually involved and a hearing may be held.
Neighbourhoods and nearby municipalities I serve
I am based in Dollard-des-Ormeaux and travel across the city, including:
- Villeray, Rosemont and the Plateau
- Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Saint-Laurent
- Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Mercier and Saint-Léonard
- Côte-des-Neiges and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
- Downtown and Ville-Marie
- Verdun, LaSalle and Lachine
- the nearby municipalities of Westmount, Hampstead, Côte-Saint-Luc and the Town of Mount Royal
If your area is not listed, ask. I serve families on and off the island.
Public or private, and what it costs
In the public network, a psychosocial assessment may be available at no charge. Your loved one's care team or your CLSC can explain how to access it and the current wait. Wait times vary. Some families choose a private social worker instead.
With a notary and a private psychosocial assessment, an uncontested homologation usually costs $3,000 to $7,000 in total. I give you a written estimate of my fees before we start. After the visit, my report is usually ready within two to four weeks. See the cost of homologation in Quebec for the breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
Can the assessment happen in hospital?
Yes. I coordinate with the care team so the visit fits your loved one's schedule and condition.
Will the file be filed in Montreal if my parent is in a Montreal hospital?
Not always. The application is usually filed where your parent lives. When someone is staying in a hospital or residence, other districts may be possible. Your notary will confirm.
Does our family have to go to the courthouse?
Often not, when the file is uncontested and handled by a notary. The court still makes the decision. If someone contests, a hearing may be held.
Ready to take the next step? I prepare the psychosocial assessment for both homologation of a mandate of protection and tutorship to a person of full age. Each page explains how the process works with me.