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Legal aid

  • Service
  • Nationwide
  • Public service

It is often necessary to use a legal counsel to handle legal matters. Principally, the parties themselves pay for the legal assistance they need. If they cannot afford the assistance they need, it can be paid for in part or in full from state funds.

Legal aid can be provided in both court cases and other matters. The nature of the case and its significance affect the content of legal aid.

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You can apply for legal aid from any legal aid office, regardless of where you live. It is often most practical to use the nearest office.

In the legal aid e-services, you can make a preliminary calculation of whether you are entitled to legal aid. You can send your legal aid application electronically or on paper. The legal aid office makes a decision on legal aid based on the information you have provided in the application.

You can contact the legal aid office by phone, electronically or by visiting an office.

To whom and on what terms

Legal aid is granted on the basis of the applicant's income, expenditure and wealth. You can make a preliminary calculation of whether you are entitled to legal aid, in the online e-services. Making a preliminary calculation does not require logging in to the service. You can find the link to the e-services in the right-hand column under Links.

You can learn more about the principles for granting legal aid on the legal aid website. You can find the "Means-testing"

The service is provided by

Legal aid and public guardianship districts

Responsible for the service

Legal aid and public guardianship districts
Text edited by: Legal aid and public guardianship districts
Updated: 15/6/2023