Legal Aid can pay for many different types of proceedings in the Family Court. However, there are income and asset thresholds to qualify for Legal Aid.

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While in some cases you will not be required to repay the full amount of Legal Aid paid to your lawyer, you will often be required to repay some of it. The exact amount you are required to pay is assessed by Legal Aid based on your individual circumstances.

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Qualifying for Legal Aid

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You will usually qualify for Legal Aid if you receive a benefit from WINZ, or if your income is lower than the following amounts:

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- for a single applicant with no dependent children,—

• $27,393 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 January 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2023; and

• $27,913 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2024; and

• $28,444 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2024 and ending with the close of 30 June 2025; and

• $28,984 per year if the application is granted on or after 1 July 2025:

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- for a single applicant with 1 dependent child, or an applicant with a spouse or partner and no dependent children,—

• $43,380 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 January 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2023; and

• $44,205 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2024; and

• $45,044 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2024 and ending with the close of 30 June 2025; and

• $45,900 per year if the application is granted on or after 1 July 2025:

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- for a single applicant with 2 dependent children, or an applicant with a spouse or partner and 1 dependent child,—

• $62,381 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 January 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2023; and

• $63,567 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2024; and

• $64,775 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2024 and ending with the close of 30 June 2025; and

• $66,005 per year if the application is granted on or after 1 July 2025:

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- for a single applicant with 3 dependent children, or an applicant with a spouse or partner and 2 dependent children,—

• $70,888 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 January 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2023; and

• $72,235 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2024; and

• $73,608 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2024 and ending with the close of 30 June 2025; and

• $75,006 per year if the application is granted on or after 1 July 2025:

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- for a single applicant with 4 dependent children, or an applicant with a spouse or partner and 3 dependent children,—

• $79,214 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 January 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2023; and

• $80,719 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2024; and

• $82,253 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2024 and ending with the close of 30 June 2025; and

• $83,816 per year if the application is granted on or after 1 July 2025:

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- for a single applicant with 5 dependent children, or an applicant with a spouse or partner and 4 dependent children,—

• $88,552 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 January 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2023; and

• $90,235 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2023 and ending with the close of 30 June 2024; and

• $91,949 per year if the application is granted during the period beginning with 1 July 2024 and ending with the close of 30 June 2025; and

• $93,696 per year if the application is granted on or after 1 July 2025.

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If a single applicant has more than 5 dependent children, or an applicant has a spouse or partner and more than 4 dependent children, the maximum level of income per year for that applicant is calculated by adding $8,192 for each additional child.

 

If you think you qualify for Legal Aid, it is very important that you bring the following documents with

you so that we can complete your application:

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Proof of Income e.g. a statement from IRD, your last 3 months of bank statements, or a letter from WINZ confirming a) that you currently receive a benefit and b) the amount of that benefit.