Can I get legal aid?

The money test for legal aid

For most civil problems in England and Wales, you must pass a money test as well as having the right type of problem. There are two parts: your income and what you own.

You usually pass the income test straight away if you get one of these:

• Universal Credit
• the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support

Higher limits can apply if your case is about domestic abuse or forced marriage. Higher asset limits can also apply if you have reached State Pension age or you are disputing who owns your home.

When money does not matter

Your finances are not checked at all for some cases:

• a child in care, or about to go into care
• a mental health tribunal hearing
• international child abduction

You might still pay something

Legal aid is not always fully free. You may have to pay part of the costs up front. If you win money or property in your case, you may have to pay some of the costs back.

How to apply

1. Use the free GOV.UK checker. It asks about your problem and your money, then tells you where to go next.
2. Depending on the result, you may be put in touch with a phone adviser, a local legal aid solicitor or a mediator.
3. Get your papers ready: recent payslips if you work, bank statements, details of savings, investments and benefits, and mortgage statements with a current value for any property.

The Civil Legal Advice phone line covers England and Wales. Call 0345 345 4345, Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 12:30pm. If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, use Relay UK: dial 18001 then 0345 345 4345. Free interpreters are available, including British Sign Language.

If your case type is not normally covered

You can ask for exceptional case funding if refusing legal aid would breach your human rights. You still need to pass the money test. You must show why you cannot represent yourself, for example because the case is complex. Decisions usually take up to 25 working days, or 10 working days if urgent.

If you are arrested or charged

Criminal legal aid works differently. At a police station, free legal advice is always available. Ask the custody officer. If you are charged, a solicitor checks if you qualify. You automatically get help in court if you are under 16, under 18 and in full-time education, or on certain benefits.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

• Scotland: the Scottish Legal Aid Board runs legal aid. You apply through a solicitor who does legal aid work. You may have to pay towards costs.
• Northern Ireland: you apply through a solicitor. The Legal Services Agency decides most civil funding, and the court decides criminal legal aid. You may pay up to £134 towards some advice, depending on your money.

Related guides

• How do I take someone to small claims court?
• How do I take my employer to an employment tribunal?
• How do I get a divorce?
• Can my landlord evict me?
• How do I challenge a benefit decision?

Where this comes from

• Legal aid: financial eligibility (GOV.UK)
• Check if you can get legal aid (GOV.UK)
• Civil Legal Advice (GOV.UK)
• Legal aid: funding for exceptional cases (GOV.UK)
• Legal aid if you've been arrested or charged (GOV.UK)
• Legal aid in Scotland (mygov.scot)
• Legal aid in Northern Ireland (nidirect)