Loan and Legal Aid

nawdrum

Hi.

I'm trying to get legal aid for a family related issue but the calculator for means testing disposable income doesn't include loans or credit card payments and assumes I have more disposable income than I actually do. Is there any way to get legal aid where they will take this into account?

Thanks for advice.

nawdrum

forgotmyname

Will they class a loan as living expenses?

I thought its means after your essential bills like gas, elcectric, water, food etc.

Not loans for cars and other consumer items etc.

What is the issue? there maybe other ways of doing it.

nawdrum

You would have thought it was included but it doesn't seem to be, I used https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid to check.

Citizens Advice say it isn't classed as a permitted item for consideration as it's an unsecured loan and therefore 'optional'.

It's for a family dispute regarding access to my daughter & being on her birth certificate.

National_Debtline

Hi Nawdrum,


I am afraid that credit is not an essential living expense, so if you are not eligible for legal aid you could look for a solicitors that may run a free 'clinic' which can be a short free interview/ discussion to try and help people. Be careful of signing up to anything that may incur long term costs. You can check this out online at www.lawworks.org.uk/clinics


Or you could try a law centre for potentially cheap or free legal advice at www.lawcentres.org.uk Sometimes, university law students will give cheap or free legal advice (under supervision) but you would need to check that out locally. Failing that, can legal aid refer you to a local service that may be suitable? Good luck,


Laura
@natdebtline

Alderbank

If that was not the case, everyone could claim free legal aid just by taking out a loan, buying a new car, etc.