Accessing Legal Aid in Scotland but Using English Solicitor ?

[carolinem99]

My STBXH has advised me that he is now entitled to legal aid in respect of our very acrimonious divorce and ancillary relief proceedings which are being progressed via an English court. He has given up his job, is in receipt of Employment & Support Allowance and DLA benefits and claims to be living in Scotland. (I say 'claims' because his exact whereabouts are unknown and he has a track record of lying about such matters). I believe he would be entitled to legal aid under the Scottish rules given his circumstances.

However, the solicitor he is using is based in Rotherham. Would he be able to claim legal aid as a Scottish resident and then use an English solicitor ? I can't understand why, if his story was true, he wouldn't have engaged a solicitor based in Scotland.

If he is indeed claiming legal aid is there any way for me to verify this ? Are his solicitors obliged to let me know ?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

He can claim legal aid just the same as if he were living in England, though he'd have to prove he's the victim of domestic violence otherwise he won't qualify.

Thanks for the response. Sounds like he's talking nonsense then (again!) in an attempt to bully me as he's certainly not a domestic violence victim.