Legal aid proposals ‘to affect divorce’

Posted 01/11/2011

Changes to legal aid that have been proposed by the coalition government could lead to people in South Yorkshire and other areas not being able to afford to get a divorce.This is according to campaign group Justice for All, which stated that 76 per cent of revenues could be cut under the plans from the administration.Speaking to Sheffield newspaper the Star, spokeswoman Gail Emerson stated that divorce may be affected by the plans, along with other areas such as employment law and debt problems.”The total bill for legal aid on social welfare issues like these only comes to £50 million each year,” she said.”Government spends almost three times more administering the legal aid system.”But Jonathan Djanogly, parliamentary under-secretary of state for justice, stated the plans will mean legal aid remains available to those who need it the most.Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live earlier this year, Family Division judge Sir Paul Coleridge stated that getting a divorce can be easier than obtaining a driving licence.If you need individual advice about divorce or separation please contact the Ashtons Legal family team.