Such cases can be handled remotely and most court hearings are also currently being conducted remotely, but where necessary Watson Ramsbottom will come out to attend hearings or see you in person meaning you will not be required to travel any real distance to discuss the matter with Watson Ramsbottom.

 

Even where you are employed and not in receipt of benefits you may still qualify for public funding and it is worth speaking to us as we are able to calculate this for you in a matter of minutes.

 

Watson Ramsbottom offer Legal Aid across all family disputes, however for some cases evidence of domestic abuse / child abuse may be required to obtain Legal Aid – See ‘Can I still get Legal Aid?’ below.

 

Can I still get Legal Aid?

 

Legal Aid is still available for advice and assistance in relation to domestic abuse including any warning letters, obtaining injunctions or forced marriage protection orders.  Legal Aid is still subject to income and capital requirements and the legal aid eligibility calculator can be found here. 

 

If you believe that you may qualify for legal aid you will need to provide 3 months’ bank statements and identification, which can be posted to us, dropped off at the Carters Pontefract office or emailed to us. The bank statements will need to be up to date.

 

Legal aid may also be available for other issues if you have previously suffered domestic abuse and can obtain proof of that domestic abuse including any of the following:-

 

1. Arrest for a relevant domestic violence offence.  Click police-arrest-dv-update if your ex partner has been arrested for a relevant domestic violence offence where you were the victim.

2. A relevant caution for a domestic violence offence. Click police-caution-domestic-abuse if your ex partner has been given a police caution for domestic abuse against you for the form to request evidence from the police.

3. A relevant conviction for a domestic violence offence. Click mags-court-conviction-domestic-violence_ for the form to enable you to get this proof from the Magistrates Court that dealt with the case or crown-court-conviction-domestic-violence if the case was heard in the Crown Court.

4. Bind overs connected with a domestic violence offence. Click mags-court-bind-over for the form to enable you to get this proof from the Magistrates Court that dealt with the case or crown-court-bind-over if the case was heard in the Crown Court.

5. Domestic violence protection notice (DVPN). Click dvpn-letter__1_ for the form to send to the Data Protection Officer at the police force which issued the domestic violence protection notice.

6. Domestic violence protection order (DVPO). Click dvpo-letter-police for the form to send to the Data Protection Officer at the police force which issued the domestic violence protection notice or dvpo-letter-court for the form to send to the Court which issued the order.

7. A relevant protective injunction / restraining order. Click restraining-order-sample-letter for the form to enable you to get this proof from the Magistrates Court that dealt with the case or protective-injunction-request if the case was heard in the Crown Court.

8. Undertaking in place of a protective injunction. Click undertaking-protective-injunction for the form to request evidence from the court of an undertaking given in place of a protective injunction.

9. Finding of fact. Click finding-fact-domestic_violence for the form to request evidence of a Court Order with details of a ‘finding of fact’ from the Magistrate’s Court.

10. Letter or report from an appropriate health professional. Click health-professional-letter for the form to request evidence of injuries / condition consistent with domestic violence from an appropriate health professional.

11. An appropriate health professional referral to a domestic violence support service or from the support service confirming referral. Click ss-referral-letter for the form for the health professional or specialist-service-letter for the form for the support service.

12. Multi-agency risk assessment conference (or other local safeguarding forum). Click marac-evidence for the form to request evidence of a MARAC protection plan.

13. Letter from an independent domestic violence advisor / advocate.  Click idva-letter for the form to request evidence of an assessment of domestic violence from social services.

14. Letter from an independent sexual violence advisor /advocate.  Click isva-letter for the form to request evidence of an assessment of domestic violence from social services relating to sexual violence.

15. Letter from local authority or housing association. Click lo-risk-domestic-violence for the form to request confirmation of risk of domestic violence from local authority housing officer or housing association housing officer.

16. Letter from organisation providing domestic violence support services e.g. refuge / DV support service. Click dv-support-services-org for the form to request evidence of support form an organisation providing domestic violence support services.

17. Letter from public authority. Click public-authority-letter for the form to request a letter from a public authority to support evidence of domestic violence.

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If you can provide evidence of any of the above then subject to income and capital (click here for the eligibility calculator) you should still be eligible for legal aid in relation to issues around the children, divorce and finances.

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It may also be possible obtain legal aid if you can prove that your ex partner is suspected of physical or sexual child abuse.

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Please telephone 01200 44 43 21 and make an appointment to discuss further however you will need to provide evidence of your income and the domestic abuse evidence (if appropriate), be it posted to us, dropped off at the Carters Pontefract office or emailed to us ahead of any appointment arranged as you will not qualify for Legal Aid without it.