CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Many more people to get civil legal aid

Some examples of people who qualify from 7 April 2009, but would not have done so before

The examples below show some situations where you would now qualify financially for civil legal aid.  (These are rough examples, and only intended as a guide.)   Click on each of the examples to see what you might have to pay towards your legal aid.

1. You live with your partner and your three children.  Your combined income from all sources including things like child benefit or tax credits is £50,000. 
   
   
2. You are single, with no children.  You earn £32,000 pa, and you have savings and other assets worth £8,000. 
   
   
3. You are a 72 year old widow.  Excluding any pension credit you are entitled to, you have a combined state and superannuation pension of £13,500, and disposable capital of £7000. 
   
   
4. You are a single mother with one child, with a gross income of £60,000, including your salary, tax credits, child benefit, payments from your ex-partner through the CSA and interest on your £6,000 savings. 
   
   
5. You are married, but seeking a divorce from your spouse, who has moved out of the house, leaving you with your two children.  Your total income including all tax credits, child benefit and maintenance payments is £67,000, and you have disposable capital of £12,000. 

Remember that to see if you may qualify financially, you can go to our online calculator to get a quick estimate of whether you’re likely to qualify financially, and what you might have to pay.