Legal aid is the scheme whereby the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) will pay your solicitors', barristers' and other fees relating to your case.

If you are eligible, legal aid could help pay for legal advice, mediation or representation in court. Hartnell Chanot & Partners holds a franchise in family law and are therefore able to provide eligible clients with legal advice, representation in Court & Help with Family Mediation. 

Am I Eligible For Legal Aid?

On the 1st of April 2013 significant changes were introduced to the legal aid system. These changes have had a major impact on the eligibility criteria for legal aid and the options that will be available to many applicants.

In addition to a set of financial criteria, relating to gross income and capital allowances, individual eligibility will be measured against a set of merit criteria. This means that only certain types of cases will automatically qualify for legal aid.

Typically legal aid is only available in the following types of family law matters:

• care, supervision and protection of children
• child abduction
• wardship
• domestic violence
• child protection
• representation of children
• forced marriage
• EU and international agreements concerning children
• EU and international agreements concerning maintenance
• judicial review
• loss of home in relation to court orders

If you meet the financial criteria but your issue is not detailed in the list above, you will more than likely be eligible to attend legal aid family mediation.

If your case involves any urgent issues relating to domestic violence, child abuse or child abduction you should inform our representative on the phone so that we can take immediate action on your behalf.

The Government's legal aid checker will give you a clearer picture of whether or not you are likely to be eligible for legal aid.

Legal Aid Checker

For more information about legal aid, your eligibility or any of the other choices available to you, call us today to book your free-of-charge Choices Appointment. Our specialist family law solicitors are able to offer legal aid in both Exeter and Plymouth.