Contents

1. Overview
2. What you can get legal aid for
3. Financial eligibility
4. How to apply
5. Funding for exceptional cases
6. Domestic abuse
7. Legal problems abroad

Domestic abuse

You might be able to get legal aid if you have evidence that you or your children have been victims of domestic abuse and you cannot afford to pay legal costs.

You do not have to get evidence before talking to a legal aid solicitor, but they’ll need to see it before deciding whether you can get legal aid.

What counts as domestic abuse for legal aid

You or your children must have been victims of either:

• domestic abuse
• financial control, for example being stopped from accessing a joint bank account

What counts as evidence

You’ll usually need to show that you or your children were at risk of harm from an ex-partner.

You can ask for evidence from:

• the courts
• the police
• a multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC)
• social services
• a health professional, for example a doctor, nurse, midwife, psychologist or health visitor
• a refuge manager
• a domestic abuse support service
• your bank, for example credit card accounts, loan documents and statements
• your employer, or education or training provider
• the provider of any benefits you’ve received

When you have the evidence

Show the evidence to your legal aid solicitor or CLA adviser.