Free Legal aid.

[welly_2003]

Hello,

i am seperated from my husband and things have got a bit messy. I need to get a solicitor involved.

I have a 3 year old daughter and work full time but am on a low wage.

Does any body know if i am entitled to free legal aid.

Many thanks

[garythecat]

You will more than likely be able to get Legal Aid (most likely in the form of Legal Help initially). You need to have a disposable income of less than about 150pounds per week. If you receive Tax Credits you will definitely be eligible. Either speak to a solicitor who will be happy to make the calculation for you or look at the Legal Services Commission website for more information. Good luck.

[welly_2003]

thanks garythecat. i do get tax credits so hopefully will get the help.
Thanks again

[Everhelpful]

Only problem is,any Legal-Aid you receive has to be paid back. Disgusting,but thats the way it is.

[welly_2003]

thanks everhelpful, do you happen to know how you have to pay it back.

[garythecat]

Me again. If you get Legal Help (the temporary Legal Aid where your lawyer can do up to 2 hours worth of work for you) you don't have to pay back any of that. Also if you get a full Legal Aid certificate for family matters you will only have to repay if you recover or preserve an amount of cash or property. They won't necessarily make you pay it back immediately especially if you preserve a property. They will put a charge on your property and you can pay it back when you come to sell up. Hope this helps.

[Eve]

Try here for some more info...http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/

[dot.hawkes]

It isn't as simple as that, there is only a certain amount of funding for legal aid and some cases are not considered important enough to be allocated money, domestic matters including divorce and mainenance orders is one of them.

[garythecat]

I beg to differ. In the law firm I work for our family department works primarily (probaly 80%ish) on legally aided cases. Divorce, ancillary relief (financial matters) and residence being the most common issues. Apart from the criminal department they do the most Legal Aid work. welly_2003 you should find a law firm local to you that has an appropriate franchise and ask them. Most offer a 20 min free initial meeting during which you will soon be able to find out if you are eligible. Best of luck. Hope you get the help you need x

[shelly1]

you only have to pay your leagel aid back if you receive more than �3000. in capital like the house you jointly own i've just been through the same system they then put a charge against your property you can make payments to pay this off or clear the debt when you sell your house

[Everhelpful]

Welly_2003,Rules might have changed since 2002,but my work colleague's Husband up and left her for whatever reason,She applied for Legal Aid for Divorce and was granted �4000 and told it would have to be paid back when Divorce was completed. If She had been a Criminal or such like,She was told no repayment would have to be made.!! Sounded barmy to me as She was innocent party in this case.But when has justice been for ordinary folk?

[welly_2003]

Thanks all For your help...Hopefully can get it all sorted out soon.xxxx

[Brick]

They certainly take your savings into account. When I tried for it a couple of years ago I seem to recollect that you musn't have more than about �8000 in a bank account. Don't quote me on that! Try Citizens Advice and they'll give you a list of solicitors in your area who'll give you a free half hour consultation.