Financial support towards legal fees is dependent on the child’s legal status and eligibility.
If you believe you may be eligible for financial assistance toward the cost of reasonable legal fees, you should contact the Kinship Team directly.
In all instances where financial support is requested you must first check your entitlement to Legal Aid, which is means tested and an assessment of income will be undertaken by the chosen legal firm.
If you are entitled to full Legal Aid this will cover the cost of the Kinship Order and you and the Local Authority will not have to finance any legal fees. In some cases, partial legal aid will be awarded.
Where financial support is requested, you must wait for the outcome of this decision in writing before providing further instruction to your solicitor. This may take up to 21 working days. Prior to any written confirmation of financial support, the kinship carer will be liable for any legal fees incurred.