Legal Aid Update
Under the current proposals in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, before an individual qualifies for Legal Aid in cases involving Domestic Violence they must prove that Domestic Violence has occurred by showing they have taken civil or criminal proceedings against the alleged perpetrator.
This is clearly a very restrictive evidential requirement and risks excluding a number of victims from receiving Legal Aid.
Recommendations have been made to widen this evidential requirement to include evidence from GPs rather than proof of civil or criminal proceedings.
The Government accepted that a broader definition of Domestic Violence should be used to include physical, psychological, emotional and financial abuse.
The Bill is currently in the House of Lords. The Government has suffered numerous defeats. Peers voted by a majority of 37 to approve Labour’s amendments requiring Legal Aid protection for victims of domestic violence.
Here at Lewis Rodgers Solicitors we offer legal aid for all types of family law matters and our legal aid family solicitors deal with children Issues, domestic violence, divorce, finances in divorce, separation, care cases and property
disputes.
Contact our Legal Aid Solicitors today for an informal discussion and to arrange to have access to 30 minutes free consultation to ascertain your eligibility for Legal Aid.
Contact us to make an appointment today at our: Winsford office on: 01606 861 858 or Macclesfield office on: 01625 429114.