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Need urgent help. Nowhere will give me evidence of DA for legal aid!

6 replies

legalaid · 04/02/2026 19:27

Social care have my report of concerns but won’t do the LASPO for legal aid because they’ve not done anything more than advise me over the phone. Apparently the legal aid agency would only accept police doing it if my reports had led to an arrest or charges, of which they did neither as they were coercive control/emotional abuse. Health visitor of my child thinks she might be able to but then is deliberating over it as she hasn’t actually signposted me to a service.

Social care have. They’ve said, why don’t you ring ‘local DA helpline’. I did ring them but they can’t help as they haven’t actually worked with me for months and they’d need to apparently.

According to the solicitor they literally just need to do a short paragraph to say they’d got my concerns of domestic abuse and had signposted me to further support. That’s it. So really, the best fit for that would be police or social work, as they fit the bill.

What can I do? Apparently it’s something GPs do but my GP has said it’s 30 day turnaround for any sort of letter. I need to instruct a solicitor this week as my ex has filed for a child arrangement order. It’s so time sensitive. Solicitor has said I will be eligible but it’s just having the right letter, but no service wants to be the one to do it :(

OP posts:
lemonts · 04/02/2026 20:02

legalaid · 04/02/2026 19:27

Social care have my report of concerns but won’t do the LASPO for legal aid because they’ve not done anything more than advise me over the phone. Apparently the legal aid agency would only accept police doing it if my reports had led to an arrest or charges, of which they did neither as they were coercive control/emotional abuse. Health visitor of my child thinks she might be able to but then is deliberating over it as she hasn’t actually signposted me to a service.

Social care have. They’ve said, why don’t you ring ‘local DA helpline’. I did ring them but they can’t help as they haven’t actually worked with me for months and they’d need to apparently.

According to the solicitor they literally just need to do a short paragraph to say they’d got my concerns of domestic abuse and had signposted me to further support. That’s it. So really, the best fit for that would be police or social work, as they fit the bill.

What can I do? Apparently it’s something GPs do but my GP has said it’s 30 day turnaround for any sort of letter. I need to instruct a solicitor this week as my ex has filed for a child arrangement order. It’s so time sensitive. Solicitor has said I will be eligible but it’s just having the right letter, but no service wants to be the one to do it :(

TBF it doesn't sound like you should qualify for legal aid on the basis of DA.

legalaid · 04/02/2026 20:05

lemonts · 04/02/2026 20:02

TBF it doesn't sound like you should qualify for legal aid on the basis of DA.

Why not? I do qualify, the qualifying isn’t the issue, it’s a bureaucracy issue

OP posts:
lemonts · 04/02/2026 20:25

In order to qualify you need to have the supporting paperwork to submit. You don't have that therefore you don't qualify. It's like saying I am signed off sick but my GP won't write me a fit note. Without the note you are not signed off regardless of whether you are ill or not. Without your supporting paperwork you don't qualify regardless of what the circumstances were.

legalaid · 04/02/2026 20:46

lemonts · 04/02/2026 20:25

In order to qualify you need to have the supporting paperwork to submit. You don't have that therefore you don't qualify. It's like saying I am signed off sick but my GP won't write me a fit note. Without the note you are not signed off regardless of whether you are ill or not. Without your supporting paperwork you don't qualify regardless of what the circumstances were.

The GP will, it’ll just take them 30 days.

OP posts:
lemonts · 04/02/2026 20:55

So you will need to wait. Apply for an adjournment

WhamBamThankU · 07/02/2026 14:07

Can you find a DA charity for support? I had an IDAS support worker and they provided my documents for legal aid.

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