Is your family law problem requiring support or legal assistance? You can get help from legal aid through lawyers or support workers if you’re among those affected by family violence or other law issues. 

They will support you with your problems and improve your safety. Though everyone can apply for legal aid, this service is not for all applicants. They have some requirements you should fill up, and you have to find out if you’re eligible or not. 

In this write-up, you’ll get some information about what legal aid is and what type of help you’ll get from legal aid for your family problem. If you’re obtaining legal aid for a family law issue, then this write-up can help you out regarding this issue. 

What is Legal Aid?

Legal aid programs are not-for-profit government agencies that offer free legal help who can’t afford a higher lawyer. Although some legal aid offices have flexible income rules, most helpful to people with lower incomes. 

If you can’t afford a lawyer or need legal advice, legal aid might help you solve your problem. Typically, legal aid is available for abuse cases. A protective order, child custody order, and divorce can all be obtained with the help of a lawyer.  

If any of these problems arise, you can resolve those matters by contacting your local aid office. They will help you with a legal solicitor who can represent you in court. 

Do You Need a Lawyer for Family Law?

A solicitor can be found in other ways if your application is not qualified for legal aid. For example, if you’re in Ireland and want some legal advice about your issues, you can contact family law solicitors Dublin free consultation. 

You can make a schedule for a free consultation with them. They can help you by offering high-quality legal advice and services that can assist you in legitimately solving your problems. Legal counsel and assistance from a skilled lawyer are usually beneficial and encouraged. 

Throughout this procedure, they’ll guide you on what you should do at that point to accomplish the best outcome. If you want to hire a lawyer, remember that this is not obligatory for every case. Not every family problem needs a lawyer. 

If you have the correct information about the situation and how to deal with that, you can solve the crisis yourself. A legal advisor or lawyer is necessary sometimes, but not everyone can afford to hire a lawyer. 

If you’re representing yourself in a judicial proceeding, you will be known as a “litigant in person”. You can also apply to the court by yourself. Moreover, you can also appear in court without the assistance of a lawyer.

Legal Aid for Particular Family problem

There are two schemes for family law legal aid. Both of them work for certain kinds of problems. If your problem meets their criteria, then they can help you. Here are some details about their schemes-

• District Court Scheme

This is the busiest solicitors panel, where basically 34000 legal aid cases were transferred to private solicitors. The district court schemes deal with things like judicial separation, guardianship of infants, family law, and domestic violence.

• Circuit Court Scheme

This is the second tier of the court system, which is restricted as to which cases it can decide in both civil along with criminal cases. The circuit court scheme deals with separation and divorce. 

You can ask a solicitor for help if you have other family issues we’ve not mentioned here. They can provide legal services that are covered by legal aid. 

How to Get Legal Aid for Your Family Problem?

If you need legal aid for a family law matter, then the procedure is as follows- 

• Go to your local family law office, where you can process your application. Explain then the situation you’re undergoing and tell them what you want. 
• If you’re qualified for legal aid, you’ll be given a solicitor or provided with a list of solicitors on the panel from which you may choose one. 
• Family law cases must have merit to qualify for legal aid. Then your financial means must be below certain limits. Generally, It’s not so difficult to qualify for legal aid.
• You’ll be given a certificate of legal aid, which you must provide to your solicitor, who will act on your behalf. 

Or you can also apply online or complete the form; after that, return it to your local law center. You will disclose information about your earnings and costs on a strictly confidential basis.

You will be requested to provide a minimum amount if your application has been approved. The Board will grant you a legal aid certificate if you require legal assistance.

A waiting list exists for a solicitor’s visit. The maximum wait time for a consultation with a lawyer is usually four months. The Board does give precedence to certain types of cases. 

They include domestic abuse and child care, in which the time constraints for filing proceedings are about to expire.

Exceptional Case Funding

Though this is very rare, you can get some exceptional case funding for your case. However, some criteria should meet the rules, like having a good case, low income, or little savings. 

Without these qualifications, you can’t apply for it. Be aware that applying for this unique funding is not simple, and you should seek a family lawyer specializing in legal aid work to assist you.

What Should You Expect From Your Legal Aid Lawyer?

All the legal aid lawyers must meet the same standards as regular lawyers. Everything you discuss with your lawyer is very private, so it won’t be shared with anybody outside. 

Therefore, you have to tell them everything while discussing your family problem. This can help them to assist you in the legal and best way. 

What Can You Do if You Don’t Qualify for Legal Aid?

You can choose any of the options below –

• Local Bar Association

You can also contact your local bar association, a group of lawyers. Here you can find experienced lawyers who can deal with the type of your legal problem. 

They will schedule with you to discuss the case for a reduced fee. They need to be paid $50 for talking to you about your case for 30 minutes. 

Make sure that you thoroughly understand the fee agreement before choosing your lawyer. Because they only paid when they won the case. 

• Local Law School

In every area, there are some local law schools available. In those places, law students offer free legal assistance under the supervision of law professors. 

• Local Area Agency

Your local Area Agency on Aging can assist elders aged 60 and up with various issues. Your local Area Agency on Aging can be able to assist you with legal issues for free or at a minimal fee.

Wrapping Up

When you have family law problems, you can get help from Legal aid, who will advise you on your issues. They can also write letters or conduct any kind of negotiations on your behalf. 

You can now apply for legal aid and advice online to get legal and high-quality guidance. You can check the online financial eligibility calculator to see if you’re eligible or not before you apply.