Separating couples were dealt a serious blow this week after legal aid was scrapped from entire areas of civil law, including most divorce cases.
This article first appeared on Your Money. The changes, affecting couples in England and Wales, came into force on 1 April after the Government said it wanted to safeguard legal aid "for those who really need it". In today's age of austerity, this is an obvious way to ease the strain on the public purse. However, removing legal aid for all but the most serious family matters will leave many couples with a hefty bill or the prospect of going it alone. The changes will be a particular knock-back for spouses who have no independent income of their own - those who have opted to stay at...
To continue reading this article...
Join Professional Adviser for free
Signup and gain exclusive members-only insights
- Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
- Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
- Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
- Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
- Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
- Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes
