Legal Aid Eligibility Checker

About legal aid for family law

Legal aid provides government-funded legal help for people who can’t afford a solicitor. However, since 2013, legal aid for most family law matters has been significantly restricted.

What family law matters are covered?

Legal aid is generally only available for:

• Domestic abuse cases – protection orders, child arrangements, or divorce where there’s evidence of domestic abuse
• Child protection – care proceedings or child abduction
• Forced marriage/FGM – protection from forced marriage or female genital mutilation
• Family mediation – help reaching agreements about children or finances

Not covered: Ordinary divorce, child arrangements without domestic abuse, or financial settlements are generally not covered by legal aid.

Financial eligibility

To qualify, you must usually meet these financial criteria (April 2025):

If you receive certain benefits (Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA/ESA, or Pension Credit), you may automatically pass the income test.

Evidence of domestic abuse

For domestic abuse cases, you’ll usually need evidence from the last 5 years, such as:

• Police report, caution, or conviction
• Court protective order
• Letter from GP or health professional
• Social services involvement
• Letter from refuge, Women’s Aid, or IDVA

Exception: You don’t need evidence to apply for emergency protection orders (non-molestation or occupation orders).

Next steps

If you think you might be eligible:

1. Find a legal aid solicitor – search at gov.uk/find-legal-advice
2. Call Civil Legal Advice – 0345 345 4345 for free initial advice
3. Gather your evidence – collect documents showing domestic abuse and financial situation