Legal Aid for Family Mediation
Help available for family mediation fees
Legal Aid and Family Mediation
Legal Aid is available for family mediation if you are financially eligible.
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.
If you are living with a partner then you will also need to provide evidence of their income.
If you wish to be considered for Legal Aid please let us know before your MIAM.
Will I be eligible for Legal Aid?
If you are in receipt of certain benefits
If you are in receipt of Income Support, Income based JSA, Income based ESA or Universal Credit (and are under the capital limit) you will automatically be eligible for Legal Aid. 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 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.
You might get Legal Aid if you are on a low income, including receiving a benefit not named above
We will need to undertake an assessment of your financial circumstances which involves assessing the capital you have access to and then adding up all of your income from any source and taking off various allowances as stipulated by the Legal Aid Agency. In order to complete this assessment we will need the following evidence (where relevant) to assess your eligibility.
- 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).
If your monthly family income is over £2,657...
If your monthly family income is over £2,657 and/or you are over the capital limit, you will not be eligible for Legal Aid.
In our clients' words
Kind words from some of our clients.