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Family & Matrimonial
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Legal Aid

We may be able to offer Legal Aid to those clients eligible. We are the only Firm locally that can still offer you Legal Aid.

We have undertaken Legal Aid work in family cases for a significant period of time and continue to do so.

From the 1st April 2013 major changes were made to the Legal Aid system which affects whether you can obtain Legal Aid to fund your case.

If you are already in receipt of Legal Help or a Legal Aid Certificate then you will continue to receive Legal Aid.  The new rules apply to applications for Legal Aid made after 1st April 2013.

Our Services

Eligibility

From 1 April 2013 Legal Aid is only available to individuals who satisfy the Legal Aid Agency’s criteria and Legal Aid is only available if your case relates to the following:-

  • Care Proceedings – when Social Services become involved with your family.  This is not means tested which means Legal Aid can be granted to you regardless of your financial position.
  • Contact to children in care. 
  • Discharge or variation of care orders.
  • Private Family Law e.g. contact, residence, special guardianship orders where there is evidence of domestic abuse and you are the victim or where there is evidence of child abuse and you are seeking to protect your child/children.
  • Child Abduction Matters/Removal of children from the UK.
  • Representation of children.
  • Legal Advice where you are already participating in mediation.
  • Injunctions/Domestic Abuse where there is evidence of domestic abuse and you are the victim.
  • Divorce & Separation/Finances where there is evidence of domestic abuse and you are the victim.
  • Civil Partnerships where there is evidence of domestic abuse and you are the victim.

For Care proceedings, Legal Aid is available regardless of your financial circumstances or income.  We can grant you Legal Aid immediately if Social Services have issued you with a letter confirming their intention to issue Care Proceedings or if Care Proceedings have already been issued.

For all other areas of Family Law, if you do not meet the above criteria or financial eligibility then it is unlikely that you will qualify for Legal Aid.

Contact our Family & Matrimonial team