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Legal aid is available for this type of problem

However, you may need to also qualify financially.

If you do qualify financially, you can speak to Civil Legal Advice (CLA), a national helpline for certain legal aid problems in England and Wales.

The CLA operator will check all the information you’ve given through this service.

What you need to check if you qualify financially

You and your partner (if you have one) will need:

  • recent payslips (if you’re working) and bank statements
  • a summary of your income tax and National Insurance contributions
  • details of any savings and investments you have
  • details of any benefits you receive
  • mortgage statements and a current valuation for any property you own

When you do not need to complete the financial assessment

You should contact CLA without completing the financial assessment if you are:

  • under 18
  • have capital trapped in a property you own or other money or assets that you cannot access

If you use British Sign Language (BSL)

You can choose not to complete the financial assessment online, and instead ask for a call with a BSL interpreter.

Fill in the 'contact CLA' page. Select 'BSL' under 'Communication needs'.

Check if you qualify financially

Before you start

Alternatively, you can ask a legal aid adviser to take on your case.

Your adviser will check whether you qualify for legal aid at no cost to you by asking about your problem and your finances. If you qualify, in some cases you may need to pay a contribution towards your legal aid.

Find a legal adviser

Other sources of help

You can also get advice from alternative help organisations for issues related to children, families, relationships. You don’t have to qualify for legal aid.

  • Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)

    Cafcass is a government body that aims to make sure that children's welfare is put first during family court proceedings in England

    Find information about child arrangements after divorce and separation, care and adoption proceedings.

    Cafcass cannot offer legal advice or advise on your personal circumstances.

    Helpline:
    0300 456 4000

  • Child Maintenance Options

    Free information for parents to make maintenance arrangements for children if you have not been able to agree a private arrangement.

    Child Maintenance Options is a confidential and impartial helpline that is separate to the Child Support Agency (CSA).

    Welsh translation available.

    Helpline:
    0800 408 0308 (Welsh Language), 0800 171 2345 (England & Wales)
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

  • Respect

    Confidential helpline for domestic violence perpetrators (male, female, in heterosexual or same-sex relationships) and information and advice to help stop violence and change abusive behaviours.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0808 802 4040
    Opening hours:
    MondayÐFriday 9am-8pm
    Email:

  • Men's Advice Line

    Free helpline, support, information and practical advice for male victims of domestic violence.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0808 801 0327
    Opening hours:
    MondayÐFriday 10am-5pm
    Email:

  • 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline

    Free, 24-hour emergency helpline for anyone experiencing domestic abuse.

    Speak in confidence to highly trained, female advisers about your situation. They can refer you to emergency safe accommodation and provide information on your legal, housing or welfare rights.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0808 2000 247
    Opening hours:
    24 hours a day, 365 days a year
    Email:

  • Family Mediation Council

    Information about mediation and a searchable database of family mediators.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

  • Family Rights Group

    Free helpline, information and independent advice for parents, grandparents, other relatives and friends about their rights and options when social workers and courts make decisions about their childrenÕs welfare.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0808 801 0366, 18001 (Text Phone)
    Opening hours:
    Monday - Friday, 9.30am-3pm

  • Galop

    Emotional and practical support for LGBT people experiencing domestic abuse. Abuse isnÕt always physical - it can be psychological, emotional, financial and sexual too.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0800 999 5428 (National)
    Opening hours:
    London - Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm ; National - Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm Wednesday to Thursday 10am - 8pm

  • Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline

    Free helpline, support and advice for single parents. Get help with anything from dealing with a break-up and going back to work to sorting out maintenance and benefit or tax credit issues.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0808 802 0925, 18002 0808 802 0925 (Text Relay)
    Opening hours:
    Mondays 10am - 6pm Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays 10am - 4pm, Wednesdays: 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm

  • Kidscape

    Advice, training, resources and workshops for children, their parents and schools on how to deal with bullying.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    07496 682785 (WhatsApp), 07496 682785 (Head office)
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Tuesday 9.30am Ð 2.30pm (excluding bank holidays)
    Email:

  • NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)

    Guidance, information and free helpline with trained counsellors to help protect children and young people from abuse.

    Welsh translation available.

    Helpline:
    0808 800 5000
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday 8am Ð 10pm, Saturday to Sunday 9am Ð 6pm
    Email:

  • Rape Crisis

    Find a Rape Crisis Centre, get online emotional support, or find information and self-help tools.

    Provides specialist support and services to women/girls who have experienced sexual violence.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0808 555 2222
    Opening hours:
    Every day of the year 24/7

  • Resolution

    Professional advice for family problems in England and Wales, including divorce and separation, domestic abuse, money problems when divorcing/separating and child maintenance.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    020 3841 0300 ( Resolution 9am 5:30pm )
    Opening hours:
    Web 24 hours

  • Rights of Women - Family

    Legal advice, helpline and information to help women to understand and use the law and their legal rights.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    020 7251 6577 (National), 020 7608 1137 (London), 020 7118 0267
    Opening hours:
    National Tuesday to Thurs 7pm Ð 9pm, Friday 12pm-2pm ; London Monday and Thursday 10am Ð 12pm and 2pm Ð 4pm, Tuesday - Wednesday 2pm Ð 4pm

  • Southall Black Sisters

    Advice and support by phone and email for women, especially black and minority women, to challenge gender-related violence and gain more control over their lives.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    020 8571 0800
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm, Closed for Lunch 12:30pm – 1:30pm

  • FLOWS (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors)

    Independent legal support to help protect women against domestic abuse, anywhere in England and Wales.

    Self referral is available https://self-referral.flows.org.uk/

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0203 745 7707
    Opening hours:
    9am-5pm (Mon-Friday) ;
    Email:

  • Childline

    Free, private and confidential service for under 18s where you can talk about anything

    Welsh translation available.

    Helpline:
    0800 1111
    Opening hours:
    Every day 7:30amÐ3:30am

  • Contact

    Information and advice for families of disabled children, on any aspect of caring for a disabled child.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0808 808 3555
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5.00pm
    Email:

  • Coram Family, Child & Education Legal Advice

    Free legal information and advice to children, their families and carers.

    Get help from experts in all areas of family, child and education law, including domestic violence, child protection, immigration and asylum and school admissions

    Coram also offers free legal representation to those who qualify for legal aid, and international consultancy on child law and children's rights.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0300 330 5480 (Family or Child Law), 0300 330 5485 (Education Law)
    Opening hours:
    Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm

  • Families Need Fathers

    Information and advice to support dads, mums and grandparents have personal contact and meaningful relationships with their children following parental separation.

    Families Need Fathers has a network of over 50 UK Branches, online forums and helpline available 7 days a week.

    Website is not translated in Welsh.

    Helpline:
    0300 0300 363
    Opening hours:
    Monday - Friday 9am - 10pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 3pm