Who is entitled to Legal Aid?

Legal aid could help pay for legal advice, family mediation or representation in court or at a tribunal.

In order to apply you’ll be asked general questions about your legal problem and your financial situation.

You may be able to get legal aid to help with some family matters, however you will need to provide a solicitor with evidence that you are entitled to legal aid. The following guidance explains the steps you will need to take to get that evidence:

• If you are a victim of domestic violence and are divorcing or separating from an abusive partner

You can get legal aid to help with the divorce or things such as child contact or how to share money or property, but you will need to give your solicitor some evidence that you have been a victim of domestic violence by your partner.

• When a child is at risk of abuse from a partner

You can get legal aid to help with issues such as child contact or removal of a father’s or mother’s parental responsibility, but you must be able to give your solicitor some evidence that child abuse has taken place.

It is aimed at people on benefits or on very low incomes.

Significant changes to civil legal aid in England and Wales came into effect on 1 April 2013, as part of a plan to reform the system and save £350m a year.

The changes mean some types of case are no longer eligible for public funds – including divorce, child contact, welfare benefits, employment, clinical negligence, and housing law except in very limited circumstances.

Since April nearly all family law advice has been removed from the legal aid scheme. This means people can no longer get funding for divorce or child contact or residence disputes.

If you would like to us about Legal Aid and whether you think you qualify, please call us on 0161 624 6811.

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Corinne Bailey-Brown

Corinne has been involved in Family Law for over 25 years. She has substantial experience and expertise in all areas of Family Law. Corinne understands that a family separation is one of the most difficult and emotional times in life and will always deal with clients effectively, efficiently and sympathetically. Her particular area of expertise relates to children and parents wishing to obtain Child arrangement Orders. She is also able to assist in Emergency Applications, Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific Issue Orders.

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