- Relationship break up
- Separation & divorce
- Care of children
- About Family Court
- Family violence
- Relationship property
Legal aid may be available for family disputes or problems that could go to court, including:
Legal aid is not available for problems that don’t go to court (such as drawing up a will), or for divorce proceedings.
Whether you can get family legal aid depends on your income, assets and the merits of the legal case.
Eligibility requirements in the Legal Services Act 2011(external link)
Legal aid may be available for civil disputes or problems that could go to court or a tribunal. This includes debt recovery, breaches of contract, defamation, and bankruptcy proceedings.
It also includes proceedings before tribunals or specialist courts such as the:
Civil legal aid is not available for:
Whether you can get civil legal aid depends on any arrears from a previous legal aid debt, your income, assets and the merits of the legal case.
Eligibility requirements in the Legal Services Act 2011(external link)
Other factors taken into account when determining whether you are eligible for civil or family legal aid include:
For many family proceedings (including cases about care of children, child welfare, domestic violence, drug and alcohol treatment and mental health treatment) other factors can also be considered, including:
To determine whether you can afford a lawyer, Legal Aid Services will consider:
If you have a partner, their finances will be taken into account.
The maximum levels of income and disposable capital used for determining whether you are eligible for family or civil legal aid are in the Legal Services Regulations 2011(external link)
Legal aid for civil and family disputes - Māori [PDF, 850 KB]
Legal aid for civil and family disputes - Chinese [PDF, 943 KB]
Legal aid for civil and family disputes - Samoan [PDF, 847 KB]
Legal aid for civil and family disputes - Tongan [PDF, 850 KB]
Legal aid for protection orders - Māori [PDF, 560 KB]
Legal aid for protection orders - Chinese [PDF, 649 KB]
Legal aid for protection orders - Samoan [PDF, 557 KB]
Legal aid for protection orders - Tongan [PDF, 559 KB]
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