Legal aid

Stowe Family Law does not offer legal aid.

However, below is all the information you need about what is it, how can you access it and who is eligible?

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A guide to legal aid

Unfortunately, Stowe Family Law does not have a contract with the Legal Aid Agency and is unable to offer legal aid to our clients.

The dramatic cut in legal aid funding for most family law cases in 2013 means most people only have the option to fund their cases privately.

However, legal aid is available in certain circumstances (please see below) and can help with legal advice, family mediation and representation in court.

Request Free Callback

Submit your details, and we’ll arrange a free, no-obligation callback at a time to suit you. Please note that we cannot offer Legal aid.

Full name*
Tel* We’ll use this number to call you. If your callback is of a sensitive nature, you might find it useful to choose a number that allows you to speak privately.
For UK numbers, please omit the first zero when entering. For Non-UK numbers, please select the correct country code from the drop-down menu.
Email* We'll send you an email confirming the date and time of your scheduled callback. Depending on your enquiry, it might be relevant to provide an email address that only you have access to.

Enquiry Details* Please tell us a bit more about why you're contacting us. This information will only be used by our Client Care Team for the purpose of your callback and will help ensure that we provide you with the right guidance on your call.

You’re Almost There...

Simply choose your preferred callback date and time below, and a member of our team will be in touch.

When would you like to be contacted?

Appointment Date*

Preferred Appointment Time*

What is legal aid?

Legal aid is a UK government-funded program to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds get access to legal representation.

Organisations can only provide legal aid services if they have a contract with the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).
What does legal aid cover?

Legal aid can help you pay for legal advice, family mediation and representation at court.
Are you eligible for legal aid?
The rules around eligibility for legal aid for family law cases are complicated.

There are usually three considerations for legal aid:
- Scope
- Means test
- Merit test
You can check if you are eligible for legal aid on the government website.

Scope:

Legal aid for family law can help with child disputes, divorce, and even financial disputes arising from divorce, if you have suffered or are at risk of domestic abuse by a partner, provided you have evidence of the abuse.

It can be used to help with family mediation costs to resolve disputes about finance or children on the breakdown of a relationship.

It is also available for cases involving:
- Court injunctions taken against an abusive partner or family member
- If you have suffered or are at risk of domestic abuse by a partner or family member
- High Court proceedings about child welfare
- Cases where social services are involved with your children
- If your child has, or is at risk of, being taken out of the country without your consent
- Forced marriage
Means test

Legal aid is only available if your financial resources were within the limits set by the Legal Aid Agency.

To qualify, you must be on a low income, and have little savings, or other assets, such as property or valuable items.

You’ll usually have to give details and evidence of your income, benefits, savings and property, and those of your partner, if you live with them.

If you are awarded money or property due to your case, you may be asked to pay back some, or all, of the costs funded by Legal Aid.

Merit test

The Legal Aid Agency will look at the strengths and weaknesses of your case and consider things such as:
- The chances of you succeeding in your case
- The reasonableness of the costs compared to the benefit you may gain from succeeding in your case
- Whether a reasonable person who could afford it would use their own money to pay for the case
Check eligibility for legal aid

You can check if you are eligible for legal aid on the government website.
How to apply for legal aid?

To apply for legal aid, you will need to find a solicitor who does legal aid work.

You’ll find a searchable list of approved legal aid solicitors and law firms on the government’s legal aid website.