Legal Aid is available for family mediation if you are financially eligible and your case is the type of case that the Legal Aid Agency will fund (a dispute following family breakdown that may end up in court such as making child arrangements following separation of financial arrangements where you are getting divorced.
If you qualify for Legal Aid then your mediation fees for the MIAM and any joint sessions will be covered by the Legal Aid Agency. Even if only one of you is eligible for Legal Aid, the fees for the MIAM and the first joint session for the other person will be paid for by the Legal Aid Agency.
Vollans Mediation is pleased to offer Legal Aid to those who qualify. If your monthly family income is over £2,657 and/or you have over £8000 in savings, you will not be eligible for Legal Aid. If you income and capital are below these limits we will need to undertake an assessment to see if you will qualify. If you wish to be considered for Legal Aid you will need to provide us with the following documents (and if you are living with a partner then you will also need to provide evidence of their income):-
- If you are in receipt of Income Support, Income based JSA, Income based ESA or Universal Credit you will need to provide your most recent benefit letter (which must be less than 6 months old) and your last month’s bank statement. If you receive Universal Credit you take take a screenshot of your last month’s payment. Your name as well as the name and type of benefit you receive must be specified on the letter and bank statement.
- If you are employed and paid four weekly or monthly, your last wage-slip. If paid weekly, your last five wage-slips.
- If you are self-employed your last two years’ accounts and your most recent self-assessment tax return.
- If you are in receipt of Contribution based JSA or ESA, your most recent benefit letter (which must be less than 6 months old) and your last month’s bank statement. The name and type of benefit you receive must be specified on the letter and bank statement.
- If you are in receipt of Child and/or Working Tax Credit, your most recent award letter (which must be less than 6 months old) and your last month’s bank statement. The name and type of benefit you receive must be specified on the letter and bank statement.
- Bank statements for all accounts for the last 5 weeks.
- If you make mortgage or rent payments, evidence of the payments (e.g. your bank statement for the last 5 weeks).
- If you pay for child care, evidence of the payments (e.g. receipts or your bank statement for the last 5 weeks).
- If you pay or receive any child maintenance evidence of the payments (e.g. CSA/CMS letter and/or bank statement for the last 5 weeks).
To find out more about eligibility for Legal Aid or to arrange a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting you can Contact Us or Make An Online Referral