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Where is it?
Access legal aid
What is it?
Legal aid is financial support granted by the State to a person with low income. The State covers all or part of the legal costs (in particular the fees of a lawyer) during a trial, depending on the person's resources.
To receive assistance, you must meet three conditions concerning your person and your resources (>> see first step in the "how to do it?").
>> To find out more about applying for legal aid in the context of an appeal to the CNDA.
You can apply for legal aid regardless of your position in the legal proceedings (civil party, witness, assisted witnesses, defendant, accused, indicted, convicted, etc.).
You can get legal aid for various legal procedures (divorce, claim for insurance compensation, etc.). Assistance may be requested before the application is lodged or during the course of the procedure. You can also apply for legal aid after the end of a procedure (for example to enforce the court decision).
To find a House of Justice and Law or a Law Access Point, go to: www.annonces.justice.gouv.fr and indicate your region or department in the search bar “Where? “, then click on the category “House of justice and law (MJD)” or “Point of access to law (PAD)”.
How to do it?
To obtain legal aid, you must:
- Not have any legal protection insurance that covers all of your legal costs
- Be of French or European nationality, or usually reside in France
- Have a reference tax income and a value of movable and immovable assets below certain limits
> Income: €11,262 (for full aid) or €16,890 (for partial aid)
> Value of movable assets: €11,262
> Value of real estate assets: €33,780
You can simulate the amount of legal aid with this online service from the Ministry of Justice.
You must complete the Cerfa form n°16146*03 . You can fill it out online OR download it empty to fill it out by hand OR pick it up at your town hall or at the court.
- To complete the online form, you can click on this link. This service allows you to automatically complete the form by entering your information. You can then download the already completed form to send it.
- To download the empty form (to fill it out by writing by hand), you can click here. It is strongly advised to read this notice which will help you to complete the form.
You must then send your file to the legal aid office, which depends on the court which must deal with your case.
If the court of first instance or of appeal deals with your case, you can send by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt (AR) or file the application with the competent legal aid office for your domicile.
Good to know: You will find the competent office for your place of residence at the following link (see appendix 1).
If the Court of Cassation is dealing with your case , you can send the file by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt (AR) to the following address:
Cour de cassation
Bureau d'aide juridictionnelle
5 Quai de l'Horloge
TSA 70660
75055 PARIS CEDEX 01
If the Council of State is dealing with your case, you can send the file by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt (AR) to the following address:
Conseil d'État
Bureau d’aide juridictionnelle
1 place du Palais-Royal
75100 Paris cedex 01
If the National Court for the Right of Asylum (CNDA) is dealing with your case, you can send the file by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt (AR) to the following address:
Cour nationale du droit d’asile
Bureau d’aide juridictionnelle
35, rue Cuvier
93100 Montreuil
What happens next?
In case of refusal of legal aid, you can challenge the decision of refusal of legal aid by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt (AR) to the legal aid office which rendered the decision.
You must first indicate in the appeal the reasons why you are contesting the decision taken (eg an error relating to the number of people in your household or the amount of your resources). You must then attach a copy of the contested decision.
Once the appeal is examined, you will be notified of the decision by mail.
If this new decision does not suit you, you will have no further recourse thereafter. This second decision is final.
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