Legal aid is the State's contribution to the costs of legal proceedings. This aid is intended for people who want to assert their rights in court, but who do not have the means to finance the costs associated with legal proceedings. You can apply for legal aid regardless of your position in the legal proceedings (civil party, witness, assisted witness, defendant, accused, accused under investigation, convicted, etc.). You will be entitled to legal aid if you meet the qualifying conditions. You may be granted full or partial assistance.
To qualify, you must meet the following 3 conditions:
- Not having legal expenses insurance that covers all your legal costs
- Be of French or European nationality, or ordinarily resident in France (short stays are excluded)
- Have a reference tax income and a value of movable and immovable assets below certain ceilings
To make your application, go to the legal aid office responsible for your place of residence, with the supporting documents, before or after the start of the proceedings.
Legal aid may be applied for before the application is lodged or during the course of the proceedings. You can also apply for legal aid after proceedings have ended, for example to enforce a court order.
You must use the cerfa form n°15626, which you can download or collect from your town hall or court.
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