Community Legal Education Association Manitoba (CLEA): What Kinship Caregivers Should Know

What CLEA Does

The Community Legal Education Association — universally known as CLEA — is Manitoba's primary source of free legal information for the public. They don't represent you in court (that's Legal Aid Manitoba's role), but they fill a gap that matters just as much: explaining how the legal system works in plain language before you're standing in front of a judge.

For kinship caregivers — grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives who've taken on a child — CLEA provides three services that come up repeatedly during the benefit and court navigation process.

The Law Phone-In and Lawyer Referral Program

This is CLEA's most used service. You call, describe your situation, and a staff member provides legal information — what the law says, which forms you need, where to file, what the process looks like.

If your question needs more than information — if you need actual legal advice about your specific situation — they'll refer you to a private lawyer for a free 30-minute consultation. That consultation alone can save you hundreds of dollars in initial legal fees.

When to use it as a kinship caregiver:

• You're unsure whether you need a court order or whether the In Loco Parentis agreement is enough
• You want to understand what "decision-making responsibility" and "parenting time" mean under The Family Law Act (these replaced the old "custody" and "access" language)
• You've received a court document from a parent and need to understand your obligations
• You're considering applying for a contact order to maintain a relationship with a grandchild

Contact: 204-943-2382 or toll-free 1-800-262-8800. Website: communitylegal.mb.ca

Family Law Fact Sheets

CLEA publishes plain-language fact sheets and handouts on Manitoba family law topics. Their materials on parenting arrangements and extended family cases are particularly relevant for kinship caregivers.

These fact sheets explain:

• How Manitoba's Family Law Act structures guardianship and parenting orders
• The difference between parenting time and decision-making responsibility
• How extended family members (non-parents) can apply for court orders
• Child support obligations and enforcement

The handouts are free to download from CLEA's website and are updated as legislation changes. They're a solid starting point before you meet with Legal Aid or attend a Family Resolution Service triage session.

What CLEA Can't Help With

CLEA provides legal education and information — they don't provide representation, fill out forms for you, or advocate on your behalf in court or at a government office.

For those needs, here's where to go instead:

• Legal Aid Manitoba (1-800-261-2960) — free legal representation for qualifying low-income Manitobans in family law matters, including guardianship applications
• The Legal Help Centre (204-258-3096) — drop-in legal clinics and summary advice for self-represented people with household income under $50,000
• Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) — challenges to government benefit decisions, including EIA denials and Social Services Appeal Board hearings

How CLEA Fits Into Your Benefit Navigation

Many kinship caregivers start at CLEA before they realize they need Legal Aid or the Appeal Board. A typical path looks like this:

1. You call CLEA to understand whether you need a guardianship order to enroll the child in school or claim benefits
2. CLEA explains the In Loco Parentis pathway and the court pathway, and refers you to a lawyer for a free consultation
3. The lawyer confirms which route fits your situation
4. If you need legal representation, you apply to Legal Aid Manitoba
5. Meanwhile, you proceed with EIA and CRA applications using the non-court In Loco Parentis form

The Manitoba Kinship Financial Help Guide maps this entire sequence — from first phone call to benefit approval — with specific instructions for each pathway. It covers the same ground CLEA's fact sheets do, but in an integrated format that connects the legal steps to the financial benefit applications.

See more Manitoba guides →