Today marks a huge change in the way in which legal advice is funded for families from family lawyers.
From today, 1st April 2013, those on a low income going through divorce and separation or experiencing difficulties with issues relating to their children, will no longer automatically be eligible to receive Legal Aid to pay for family lawyers.
Only those cases involving domestic abuse, forced marriage, child abduction or care proceedings, will be eligible for Legal Aid, and only then, after strict criteria have been met. If couples wish to resolve their dispute then they will either need to fund their own legal action or represent themselves.
Those who sought public funding before 31st March 2013 will be entitled to continue with their matter using Legal Aid after this date with Wrigley Claydon’s family lawyers.
Head of the Family Department at Wrigley Claydon Solicitors in Oldham, Jill Walker, says,
“These changes will have a big impact on the cost of legal advice for many couples. People who would previously have sought assistance from the Government to help them fund family disputes will no longer have this financial assistance available.”
To make the funding of family lawyers more affordable, Wrigley Claydon have introduced a range of fixed fee packages.
“More clients are looking for cost certainty and want to know exactly what a service will cost before they instruct us to carry it out.”
Initial free consultations can be arranged to discuss these packages and a free advice clinic for family clients is available at the Oldham office each Wednesday from 12 noon until 4pm.
