Can anyone recommend a divorce lawyer who will take on legal aid cases?

[MephistophelesSister]

My mum needs to sort out a divorce from my step-father. She has checked out her eligibility for legal aid and believes she should be covered, but is struggling to find a lawyer to take her on.

The sticking point seems to be that there are no children involved. All the solicitors that normally take legal aid cases seem to stipulate that they only do so in cases where children are involved.

My step father is very unlikely to contest the proceedings, as they have been separated for about five months now anyway (and there are very good reasons why they will never attempt a reconciliation).

I don't think it particularly matters how local to her the firm is, but Oxfordshire would be ideal.

If anyone has any pointers I would be very grateful. She has literally no spare money, and really needs to disentangle herself from this marriage.

She should speak to the LSC and see who they suggest.

Thanks for that. Is the LSC the Legal Services Commission, and are they very helpful? She is struggling a bit with internet access and phone credit, and is getting a bit disheartened phoning solicitors directly.

That's right. They should be able to tell her who the closest firm is who has a franchise. Or you could try the Law Society website under "find a solicitor" (google it). You can see whether firms do legal aid.

Thanks. I'll pass the information on. Unfortunately, even those advertising that they 'do' legal aid are picky about circumstances, and won't take a case unless children are involved. I was hoping that someone out there might have a personal recommendation, just to save a bit of lot of wasted phoning around. I think it is just going to take a lot of time and frustrating phonecalls .

If she's in South Oxon she could try a couple of firms over the Berks border in Reading. The Head Partnership still do legal aid, and I think Ratcliffe Duce and Gammer do. No one in the Henley area does it any more.

The difficulty is that legal aid is a loss making exercise which is why I guess people only do it if there may be a bit of Children Act work in it to make them break even.

Is there any money involved ie a house, savings etc? If not she could just issue the petition herself. All the forms are on the court website. The fee is £340 but she may be eligible for exemption if she's unemployed/low income.

hi, this is the link to the direct arm of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) They can direct your mum to an appropriate solicitor who will take your case on. In some circumstances they can deal with the case remotely so you don't need to be limited to a local solicitor.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/UsefulContactsByCategory/Governmentcitizensandrightscontacts/DG_195356

Thank you so much for your help, mumblechum and limetimemummy.

I will pass those suggestions on.

Unfortunately, there is no money involved except debt. Their house has been repossessed, (with a substantial deficit still owing) and there are a lot of other debts that they accrued as a couple outstanding. That is a part of the reason for her wanting to make a clean break and walk away (obviously she will have to pay her share of the debts). I don't think she has yet been entirely honest with me about the true level of debt she is in. Her soon-to-be-ex is not going to be in a position to work or earn money in the near future, though my mum has found herself a new rented flat and is working and paying her way.

It is all a bit of a mess, and she is reluctant to issue the petition herself as she wants everything watertight, with no risk of it coming unravelled at a later date.

Anyhow, that is enough of my essay! Thank you for your suggestions .