Legal Aid For Divorce?

Gastines2

To add one "Funny" note so far.Having collected the envelope from the Court Offices marked "Divorce-Children" within the first few sentences it states you are required to complete 3 copies of the relevant forms.In the envelope there are 2!! Back on Monday to get the rest.
I didn't think it was going to be easy.

Voyager2002

DebsDD wrote: »

Maybe the rules have changed, but my partner and his wife got divorced about 5 / 6 years ago and she got legal aid. She had lost her job through drinking and was still able to get legal aid. We then went for custody of the kids and she got legal aid for that as well. She didn't even fight for custody of the boys!!

The rules changed earlier this year, and now there is no legal aid for divorces apart from a few exceptional circumstances such as domestic violence.

Voyager2002

MrsE wrote: »

They can be downloaded for free, I believe its in the region of £300 to have them processed.

She will almost certainly be exempt from all court fees.

MrsE_2

Voyager2002 wrote: »

She will almost certainly be exempt from all court fees.

I can see why people on benefits get free school meals, perscriptions, all that sort of stuff, but divorces:eek:
Not exactly a necessity are they!

pops5588

Vicky123 wrote: »

Would love to know more about the 55k custody battle.

Well it all started when I was 12 and everything finished when I was 17 so I don't really the specifics of it all (rightly so IMO) but I know that that included the financial settlement which took a long time and my father applying for custody of my younger sister. On top of this I think some amendments were made to the original court order that was set up regarding access a few times so each time that happened it was back to court we went.

It was a terrible time and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

chipmunk

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Actual divorce cases very rarely involve barristers, and not much work for solicitors, either.

It's the financial arrangements and child contact details taht are more likely to involve lawyers.

You certainly don't get rich dong family law, on the whole, it's one of the worst paid areas of law to be involved in.

I've never done family law myself, but my pupil master did a fair bit, so I observed quite a lot. And in my experience there it involved couples at each other's throats, over the most ridiculous things.

You're absolutely spot on there ! I work in the Family department of a solicitors and everything you say is correct.

chipmunk

MrsE wrote: »

I can see why people on benefits get free school meals, perscriptions, all that sort of stuff, but divorces:eek:
Not exactly a necessity are they!

That's why the Government (not solicitors) abolished Legal Help for these matters in April this year. We had one client, a benefit claimant, who had 3 divorces, all paid for by the tax payer. :eek: It looks like his 'current' wife is on her way out and he is most indignant that he will now have to pay to get rid of her:D

The sad thing is, because of people who have abused the Legal Help scheme, as above or such as couples who got public funding for contact issues because they can't act like adults and agree on what's best for the child, they just want to score points off each other, those people who do truly need, and deserve help now can't get it! Typical, selfish people have ruined it for the rest.:mad:

Voyager2002

MrsE wrote: »

I can see why people on benefits get free school meals, perscriptions, all that sort of stuff, but divorces:eek:
Not exactly a necessity are they!

In general, justice is a necessity.

JayWill84

Unfortunately, legal aid is no longer available for divorce - the only exception being where domestic violence is involved.

As far as costs are concerned, there generally are court fees to pay, but if your daughter is in receipt of certain benefits and her disposable assets (second homes, savings etc.) are not worth more than a certain amount (£3,000 I think) then she will be exempt from these.

I was in a similar situation to your daughter (was made redundant in June) and the courts waived my fees as a result.

I also tried to complete the forms myself, but found it to be difficult and, as I was told that the courts could charge me if I made a mistake and needed to submit new forms, paid a company to prepare them for me (they'd cover the costs if the docs were rejected). Their website's quickie-divorce.com and I'm happy with what they've done so far.