New legal aid reforms. April 2013.

krok

Can anyone help me.
I am taking my wife back to court for breaching a contact order. Because of going through mediation etc i wont be able to do it until after April.
This means i will not be able to get legal aid. I dont mind that because i wont need representation by a solicitor.

What i need to know is will i get my court fees paid for after April 2013. Are these affected by the new rules.

Thanks for any help.

**curlywurly**

From the CAB website:

In some circumstances, the court fee will be waived or reduced, for example:

• because you receive certain benefits like Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance
• because your income is low
• because of financial hardship.

You can ask the court to tell you how to apply for a reduction or waiver of the fees or you can get more information and the form EX 160 which can be used to apply for a reduction or waiver from HM Courts and Tribunals Service at www.hmctscourtfinder.justice.gov.uk.

krok

**curlywurly** wrote: »

From the CAB website:

In some circumstances, the court fee will be waived or reduced, for example:

• because you receive certain benefits like Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance
• because your income is low
• because of financial hardship.

You can ask the court to tell you how to apply for a reduction or waiver of the fees or you can get more information and the form EX 160 which can be used to apply for a reduction or waiver from HM Courts and Tribunals Service at www.hmctscourtfinder.justice.gov.uk.

Thanks for the reply but these rules are all being changed from April 1 2013 and you wont be able to get legal aid at all unless there has been a proven case of domestic violence.

**curlywurly**

That is correct, but the rules about fee remission are not changing, as I understand it.

teeni

**curlywurly** wrote: »

That is correct, but the rules about fee remission are not changing, as I understand it.

You are right the 2 things are not connected, the court fees will still be liable for remission if on certain benefits or low income.

teeni

krok wrote: »

Thanks for the reply but these rules are all being changed from April 1 2013 and you wont be able to get legal aid at all unless there has been a proven case of domestic violence.

Or if you are involved in care proceedings being brought by the local authority

krok

**curlywurly** wrote: »

That is correct, but the rules about fee remission are not changing, as I understand it.

Thank you very much for your help.
It has taken a lot off my mind as i could not afford £200 for an enforcement of the contact order.
I dont mind representing myself in court as it is a straight enough case.

Thanks again.