We currently do not provide family law advice. Please check the list of organisations on this page who may be able to assist with your query.
Legal Aid for Family Law
Please note that Legal Aid is not available for many family law issues, but if your case involves any of the following then you may be able to get advice under Legal Aid:
- Domestic Abuse (including psychological, physical, financial, sexual or emotional abuse)
- Harassment (by a partner or ex-partner or family member)
- Forced marriage (if you are worried that you may be a victim of forced marriage)
- Female Genital Mutilation (if you are worried that you may be a victim of FGM)
- Enforcing an injunction (if your partner or ex-partner is ignoring an injunction you have already taken out)
- Contesting an injunction (if you want to contest an injunction that has been taken out against you)
- Children being taken into care or adoption (if social services have contacted you with concerns about your child or want to take your child into care)
- Child Abduction
- You are a family member seeking contact with a child in your family who has been a victim of child abuse.
- International Family Maintenance (you are seeking advice to enforce an order for family maintenance outside the UK)
- Family Mediation – if you want help to reach an agreement about divorce or separation, arrangements for the children or financial arrangements.
If you are unsure whether your problem is covered or want to check that you are financially eligible for Legal Aid you can contact Civil Legal Advice, a national advice line to help people check if they can get Legal Aid (details below).
The Family Mediation Council website can help you find a local family mediator who will provide services funded by Legal Aid.
For other family problems free advice is not generally available unless your case involves domestic abuse or you are under 18. However, if your case is very important to you, it is very complicated or you will be unable represent yourself, and you qualify financially for Legal Aid then a solicitor may be able to apply for Exceptional Case Funding for you from the Legal Aid Agency.
How to contact the Civil Legal Advice service:
1. Online:
You can contact Community Legal Advice online at https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid
You will be asked to fill out an online form with details of your circumstances, your finances and your legal problem. You can then ask for an advisor at Civil Legal Advice to call you back.
2. By telephone:
Alternatively you can telephone the Civil Legal Advice Service
On 0845 345 4345
Minicom 0845 609 6677
Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 12.30pm
Calls cost 4pm a minute from a BT landline and usually more from a mobile.
The Financial Assessment:
Not all family problems need a financial assessment, some (for example if your child is being taken into care) do not have any financial test.
If Legal Aid is only available if you are financially eligible then you may be eligible for Legal Aid if
• your income (or combined income if you have a partner) is not more than £2,657 a month before tax
• your savings (or combined savings if you have a partner) are not more than £8,000
For the financial assessment you will need to have the following information for both you and your partner:
• Recent payslips showing your income tax and National Insurance contributions (if you’re working) and bank statements;
• Details of any benefits you receive;
• Details of any savings or investments;
• Mortgage statements and a current valuation for any property you own.
How to contact the Family Mediation Council:
1. Online:
https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/
2. Telephone
On 01707 594 055 between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday
If you do not qualify for Legal Aid financially, or your case is not covered by Legal Aid, then you may still be able to see a solicitor directly but are likely to have to pay for their services.
Find a Solicitor:
If you need help to find a solicitor who may be able to help you with your problem the Law Society’s Find a Solicitor tool can provide you with the contact details for local solicitors.
Telephone: 020 7320 5650 (Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:30 charged at local call rates)
Website: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/
