Family legal aid in England and Wales
Family legal aid is narrower than many people expect. Since the 2013 reforms, most routine divorce, separation, and child arrangement matters are no longer in scope. The categories that remain are domestic abuse cases, child protection (including care proceedings), forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and international child abduction.
Providers on LawStreet
Offices on LawStreet
Postcode areas covered
Showing 837 of 1,522 Family providers from the LAA's directory. Why?
About this category
What is Family legal aid?
Who family legal aid is for
The 2013 legal aid reforms removed funding for most routine family matters: divorce, financial settlements, contact arrangements between separated parents, and so on. Today, family legal aid is largely focused on cases where there is documented domestic abuse, where a local authority is involved in child protection, or where a child is at risk of serious harm.
If you've experienced or are at risk of domestic abuse, you may qualify for legal aid for a non-molestation order, an occupation order, divorce proceedings, child arrangements, financial matters connected to the relationship, or other related applications. Evidence of abuse is required (a court order, a letter from a refuge, a GP letter, a social worker letter, or other specified evidence).
If a local authority has begun care proceedings about your child, you're entitled to legal aid without a means test or merits test. This is one of the few areas of legal aid that remains universal for parents.
What's covered
Family legal aid covers a defined list of work types:
- Domestic abuse injunctions (non-molestation, occupation orders)
- Divorce and dissolution where domestic abuse evidence applies
- Child arrangements (residence, contact, prohibited steps) where domestic abuse evidence applies, or where a child is at risk
- Care proceedings (non-means-tested for parents)
- Forced marriage protection orders
- Female genital mutilation protection orders
- International child abduction (Hague Convention)
- Surrogacy and adoption matters in limited circumstances
Routine no-fault divorce without domestic abuse, financial settlements without a connected abuse case, and most child contact disputes are not covered and need to be paid for privately or handled through mediation.
How to apply
Speak to a family legal aid solicitor as a first step. They will assess whether your situation qualifies under the scope rules, gather the evidence required (particularly for domestic abuse cases), and submit the legal aid application on your behalf. Many family legal aid solicitors offer a free initial appointment to discuss eligibility.
If you don't yet qualify for legal aid because you don't have the documented evidence required, your solicitor or a local domestic abuse service can usually help you obtain it.
Find a solicitor
Featured Family providers
A selection of firms on our platform holding an active Family contract. View the full list of Family solicitors with legal aid.
Where they are based
Family providers by region
Listed Family providers grouped by region and postcode area. Counts show distinct providers with at least one office in that area.
East Midlands 90
North East 91
Yorkshire and The Humber 167
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Only if there is documented domestic abuse in the relationship, or if you're separately involved in care proceedings about a child. Routine divorce is no longer covered by legal aid since 2013. For most people, the alternatives are paying privately, using mediation (which has its own legal aid stream), or representing yourself.
Only with evidence of domestic abuse, or where there is a child protection concern. Routine contact and residence disputes are not covered. Mediation (a different category on this platform) is the legal-aid-funded route for sorting out child arrangements out of court.
The accepted evidence types are listed in regulations and include: a recent court order or police caution, a letter from a refuge or specialist domestic abuse organisation, a GP or health professional letter, a social worker letter, court records, photographs, or financial assessments. A family legal aid solicitor can advise you on what counts and help you gather what you need.
If you qualify on the means test, your legal aid will cover the work without an up-front cost to you. If your income or savings are above the lower threshold but below the upper threshold, you may be asked to make a monthly contribution. If you win money or property as a result of the case (financial settlement, division of equity), the Legal Aid Agency may recover its costs from what you receive (the "statutory charge").
Contact a family legal aid solicitor immediately. Legal aid is automatically available without a means test or merits test for parents in care proceedings, and the case will move quickly. The local authority will already have legal representation; getting yours sorted early is important.