Legal Aid
Legal aid is government funding to pay for legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
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Legal aid is an important part of New Zealand's justice system. It helps people to resolve legal problems that may go to court and makes sure that people are not denied justice because they can't afford a lawyer.
1
What does Legal Aid Cover?
Legal aid may be available for family disputes or problems that could go to court, including:
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disputes over relationship property
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disputes over parenting and guardianship matters
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protection orders
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adoption
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paternity
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Employment disputes (employee only)
Legal aid is not available for problems that don’t go to court (such as drawing up a will), or for dissolution proceedings.
2
Do I have to pay Legal Aid back?
Legal aid is generally considered a loan. You may have to repay some or all of your legal aid, depending on how much you earn, what property you own and whether you receive any money or property as a result of your case. If you are the Applicant in a Family Violence matter there is no repayment threshold associated with any Legal Aid grant provided to you.
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The information you give on your application form is used to work out whether you have to repay anything. You will be told the maximum amount you have to repay in the first letter you get from Legal Aid after they assess your application. The letter from your grants officer will tell you if you need to start repayments now, and how to pay.
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3
Do I qualify for a Legal Aid grant?
Legal Aid is Government funding for legal help where the client cannot afford to pay. Affordability is based on a formula assessment and your eligibility will depend on a combination of your income and assets.
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The Governor General has prescribed the below maximum levels of income for the purpose of determining an applicant’s eligibility for legal aid. However, if you are above the prescribed threshold and are still unable to meet your own legal costs, due to special circumstances, we can assist you with making an application for Legal Aid on those grounds for consideration by the Ministry of Justice.
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