What is the "Family Legal
Advice Service"?

The Family Legal Advice Service provides a limited amount of free legal advice (to people who qualify) from a family lawyer who is accredited with the Family Legal Advice Service.

This service is available to people attempting to resolve parenting or guardianship disputes about children. The service operates outside the family court.

The “Family Legal Advice Service” is provided in two separate parts as detailed below.

Call 625-2044 or 021-210-0930 to make an appointment with Family Legal Advice Service lawyer Antoinette Vujnovich

Part 1

Explains family justice system so that you understand your responsibilities and options. This includes:

• The mechanisms for assisting resolution of family disputes
• The steps for commencing the proceedings and subsequently pursuing the proceedings through the court process to obtain a resolution
• The types of directions and orders that the court can make
• The need for the child’s welfare and best interest to be the first and paramount consideration.

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Part 2

Part 2 occurs where a mediation was held but was unsuccessful in resolving the parenting or guardianship dispute (or after an exemption from mediation has been gained).

• Part 2 assists you to complete application forms for the family court seeking parenting or guardianship orders.

Funding Eligibility for Family Legal Advice Service

The Family Legal Advice Service is wholly funded by the Ministry of Justice. Eligibility is based on your last three months gross income and the number of dependents you have.  Your spouse/partner's income is not taken into account, nor are your assets. Your spouse/partner must have no income to be counted as a dependent. Dependent children do not have to live in the same house as you, but you do need to be making regular payments towards their maintenance. Your spouse/partner's children can also be counted as your dependents provided they are financially dependent on you.

You can use the Ministry of Justice funding eligibility estimator tool to work out if you qualify for the free funded service, or refer to the income thresholds listed below.

Number of Dependents	Annual Income (before tax)
Applicant only	$22,846
1 child (or 1 dependent spouse/partner)	$36,180
2 children (or 1 child & a dependent spouse/partner)	$52,027
3 children (or 2 children & a dependent spouse/partner)	$59,122
4 children (or 3 children & a dependent spouse/partner)	$66,065
5 children (or 4 children & a dependent spouse/partner)	$73,853
6 or more	Plus $6,832 per additional child