Published
October 3, 2026
People who were sexually assaulted by a religious member of the Marist Brothers congregation anywhere in Quebec may qualify to claim up to $300,000 CAD from the $24.95 million CAD Marist Brothers class action settlement. Claims close December 17, 2026.
Current Status
Claims are open. The deadline to submit a claim form is December 17, 2026; the official documents give a date only, with no time of day or timezone. The Superior Court of Québec approved the settlement on June 8, 2026. Payment amounts will not be known until every claim has been decided, and the approved process gives the claims adjudicator three months after the deadline to issue decisions and distribute compensation.Free settlement alerts
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Status
Claims Open
Claim Deadline
December 17, 2026
Estimated Payout
Up to $300,000 CAD
Three compensation categories · amounts set after all claims are decided
Proof Required
Yes
Government-issued ID · proof of school attendance if available
What Changed Recently?
The claim period opened after the Superior Court of Québec approved the settlement on June 8, 2026. Under the agreement, the Marist Brothers congregation (Les Frères Maristes) and related entities will pay a total of $24,950,000 CAD to resolve a class action that alleged sexual assaults by religious members of the congregation were committed systemically over decades at several locations in Quebec.The case was authorized as a class action by the Superior Court, and on May 17, 2023 a judge of the Quebec Court of Appeal refused the congregation's request for permission to appeal that authorization. A trial was scheduled to begin April 7, 2026. The parties signed a settlement agreement in April 2026, shortly before trial, and the court held the approval hearing on May 25, 2026.
The settlement agreement states that the payment, and the defendants' decision not to take part in the claims process, is not an admission that the allegations are true. No court has made findings against the defendants in this case.
Who Qualifies?
The approved class includes all people who were sexually assaulted by a religious member of the congregation known as the Marist Brothers anywhere in Quebec. The class definition is not limited to one institution or time period: it covers schools, colleges, training institutions, recreation and youth centres, camps, residences and places of worship, among other locations.The liquidator of the estate of a class member who died on or after June 2, 2019 may also file on the estate's behalf.
One group is carved out. People who belong to the separate Patro Lokal de St-Hyacinthe class action, which covers people abused by Marist Brothers members or employees while attending or staying at the Patro Lokal residence in St-Hyacinthe between 1970 and 1986, are excluded from this class unless they opted out of that case.
How Much Compensation Is Available?
The $24.95 million CAD fund is all-inclusive. Before compensation is paid, it covers class counsel's fees and disbursements as approved by the court, the adjudicator's fees and other administration costs, the cost of publishing notices, and $300,000 CAD to the representative plaintiff, which the agreement describes as the maximum amount any member can receive.The adjudicator places each accepted claim into one of three categories, using the claimant's sworn testimony, claim form and any supporting documents, and considering the effects the assaults had on the claimant's life:
- Basic compensation, which serves as the base amount.
- Extraordinary compensation, level 1, paid at 1.5 times the base amount. No more than 20% of accepted claimants can be placed in this category.
- Extraordinary compensation, level 2, paid at twice the base amount, up to a maximum of $300,000 CAD. No more than 20% of accepted claimants can be placed in this category.
No dollar figure has been set for any category. The base amount depends on how much remains in the fund after fees and costs and on how many claims are accepted in each category, so it can only be calculated after the adjudicator has decided every claim. The agreement notes the $300,000 CAD maximum could be lower depending on the number of accepted claims. Any money left after distribution is subject to the levy of Quebec's Fonds d'aide aux actions collectives.
What Proof Is Required?
Proof is required. The claim form must be accompanied by a copy of government-issued identification, such as a health insurance card, driver's licence or passport.Where the assault happened at an educational institution, the form asks for proof of attendance if it is available, such as a report card, a yearbook excerpt or a dated letter from the institution. A claimant who cannot provide it is asked to explain why. Documents about the harm suffered are optional.
The form also asks for a written account of what happened, its circumstances and its effects, and ends with a solemn declaration that carries the same legal force as an oath. The claim form says claimants are not expected to recall every detail precisely.
An estate liquidator must also attach the death certificate, will searches from the Barreau du Québec and the Chambre des notaires du Québec, proof of appointment as liquidator, and the liquidator's own government-issued identification.
What Is the Deadline?
The claim form and supporting documents must be submitted no later than December 17, 2026. The claim form allows submission by email, fax or registered mail; a registered-mail filing needs proof of the mailing date. The official documents do not specify a time of day or timezone for the deadline.How Are Claims Filed?
The claim form, the approved claims process and the approval notice are posted on class counsel's Marist Brothers settlement page. Submission instructions are on page 1 of the claim form. The claims process and notices are published in French; the claim form is also available in English.After a completed form is received, the adjudicator contacts the claimant to schedule a private, confidential meeting, held by videoconference or, where that is not possible, in person in Montréal or Québec City. The meeting lasts no more than an hour and a half, and the adjudicator takes the claimant's testimony under oath. A claimant may bring a support person, such as a therapist, social worker or family member, and may bring a witness, but neither is required.
The adjudicator accepts a claim if satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that the claimant was sexually assaulted by a religious member of the Marist Brothers in Quebec, and checks that the person has not already been compensated for the same events. The defendants have no right to contest, take part in or review the claims process.
What Happens Next?
Claims are accepted until December 17, 2026. After the deadline, the adjudicator and class counsel calculate the amount for each category, and the approved process gives the adjudicator three months after the deadline to issue decisions and send payments by cheque or bank transfer. The adjudicator then files a closing report with the court. No payment has been issued yet, and no individual amounts have been announced as of October 3, 2026.Separately, the defendants' anticipated recourse claims against school service centres and the Attorney General of Québec were split off into their own court files and are not part of this settlement.
Sources and Verification
- Marist Brothers (across Québec) class action — class counsel's case page, with the claim form, approval notice, approval judgment and claims process
- Claim form (Schedule 2 of the settlement agreement)
- Notice of settlement approval (French)
- Settlement agreement, signed April 2026 (French)
- Judgment approving the settlement, June 8, 2026 (French)
Questions
Does a person who already contacted class counsel still need to file a claim form?
Yes. Class counsel states that earlier contact with the firm does not replace the claim form. Every class member, including people who registered with or spoke to class counsel before the settlement, must submit a completed claim form by December 17, 2026 to be considered for compensation.
Will the Marist Brothers learn who filed a claim?
The settlement agreement says only the adjudicator and class counsel will know the identity of claimants, and the defendants have no right to contest, take part in or review the claims process. Meetings with the adjudicator are private and confidential.
What if the claimant cannot remember exact dates or names?
The claim form states that claimants are not expected to remember precise details, and that imperfect recollection will not by itself prevent compensation. The form asks claimants to answer to the best of their knowledge, including giving a brother's role or function when his name is not known.
Who is excluded from the Marist Brothers settlement?
People who are members of the separate Patro Lokal de St-Hyacinthe class action, covering people abused by Marist Brothers members or employees while attending or living at the Patro Lokal residence in St-Hyacinthe between 1970 and 1986, are excluded from this class unless they opted out of that case.
Can an adjudicator's decision be appealed?
No. Under the approved claims process, the adjudicator's decisions are final, binding and not subject to appeal.
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
$24,950,000 CAD
Case Title
B. v. Les Frères Maristes et al.
Case Number
200-06-000264-252
Court
Superior Court of Québec, District of Québec
Final Approval Hearing
Settlement approved June 8, 2026
Approval hearing held May 25, 2026
Administrator
Benoît Moulin, retired Superior Court judge (claims adjudicator)
Official Website
Kugler Kandestin — Marist Brothers Settlement
