Family Law Funding
Legal Aid Family Law Solicitors
Legal aid remains available for particular family-law problems, but the rules differ by case type. We assess the legal issue, urgency, scope, evidence and any financial or merits tests that apply before confirming funding.
Cases legal aid may cover
Eligibility is case-specific. Public law proceedings brought by a local authority are treated differently from private children disputes and domestic abuse applications.
- Specified care and supervision proceedings
- Domestic abuse protective injunctions
- Qualifying private children cases
- Certain child-abduction and forced-marriage matters
Means, merits and evidence
Some public law cases provide non-means-tested representation for parents or people with parental responsibility. Other cases usually require financial eligibility, legal merits and prescribed evidence or another route bringing the matter within scope. We will tell you what documents are needed after initial screening.
Statutory charge in financial matters
Where the Legal Aid Agency funds work in a financial remedy matter, a statutory charge may apply. The LAA may recover funded legal costs, contributions or both from property, money or another financial benefit recovered or preserved in the proceedings. This is separate from a private paid consultation and the position must be explained for your individual case before funding is accepted.
Common questions
Is legal aid automatic for every family case?
No. Scope and eligibility depend on the type of proceedings. Financial, merits and evidence requirements apply in many private family-law matters.
Do parents receive legal aid in care proceedings?
Parents and certain people with parental responsibility generally receive non-means-tested, non-merits-tested legal aid for specified proceedings brought by a local authority, subject to confirmation of their status and the proceedings.
Can the LAA recover costs from a financial settlement?
In a funded financial remedy matter, a statutory charge may allow the LAA to recover funded costs or contributions from property, money or another financial benefit recovered or preserved. Your solicitor must explain how it may apply to your case.