Courts and the Law
Can I still apply for and receive legal aid during COVID-19?
Can I still start a High Court action?
I’m running out of time to file a claim. What do I do?
How do I pay the filing fee when I’m filing a document in Court?
What about the Registrar General’s Department?
Q: Can I still apply for and receive legal aid during COVID-19?
A: Yes, if you’re eligible. This is up to the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority. They are still working but have adapted their services, as many have, to contain the spread of COVID-19. To find out more, visit the website or contact them by phone: https://laaa.org.tt.
Q: Are the Courts still open?
A: Yes. All Courts are open. Matters are being heard, now both virtually and sometimes in person, and should not be postponed. If you don't have a lawyer, you can contact the relevant court to find out your matter. You can find the contact information for each court here, or the Judiciary's helpline here. The contact information for each court You can contact the relevant court to find out about your matter. If you do not have a lawyer, you can contact court office to get the link to the virtual hearing for your matter.
Q: Can I still start a High Court action?
A: Yes. The Judiciary has switched to a digital filing platform and this can be used to file an action in High Court. This also applies to Court of Appeal, Petty Civil Courts and Traffic Court. See more at www.ttlawcourts.org.
Q: I’m running out of time to file a claim. What do I do?
A: Most claims are subject to a four-year limitation period. The Government stopped the period of 27 March 2020 to 02 May 2022 from being included in that four-year period.
However, limitation periods differ depending on the type of claim being brought. For example, some matters relating to land, such as adverse possession are subject to a longer limitation period which has not been affected by COVID-19. To find out if you can benefit from this suspension and the latest date on which you may file your claim, speak with your lawyer immediately.
You can read more about the suspension of some limitation periods here.
Q: How do I pay the filing fee when I’m filing a document in Court?
A: The most recent practice direction has waived filing fees until further notice.
Q: What about the Registrar General’s Department?
A: Many of the RGD’s services have started running online! This includes incorporating companies, registering birth's and land searches. Take a look at the available services at https://agla.gov.tt/home/online-services/.
Last updated: 31 July 2022.