Legal aid domestic violence regulations are deemed unlawful
Since the changes in legal aid in April 2013 a large majority of legal aid has no longer been available for family matters unless strict requirements were met to prove domestic violence or that legal aid was required for the protection of a child.
On the 2 March the Court of Appeal have confirmed that the strict requirements set out for someone to be entitled to legal aid for family matters on the grounds of domestic violence are unlawful as the evidence has to be dated within the last 2 years and it does not take into consideration financial abuse.
The Legal Aid Agency will now have to amend their current regulations.
We will await the response from the Legal Aid Agency.
For further advice and information about Family Legal Aid please contact a member of the Family Department at Ringrose Law at one of our offices in Lincoln, Boston, Grantham, Sleaford, Spalding and Newark.