4. Exempted matters - where an applicant is not required to pay an initial contribution

These are matters that are exempted from an initial contribution imposed under s.36(1)(a) of the Legal Aid Commission Act 1979 (NSW).

Criminal

  • Local Court criminal duty matters,
  • Children in the Children's Court criminal matters,
  • Protected person in apprehended domestic violence order matters,
  • Local Court summary crime matters where the client is in custody,
  • Indictable crime matters where the calculated initial contribution is $75 and the client is in custody, and
  • Criminal Law matters that are not means-tested.

Family

  • Proceedings under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
  • Children in appeals to the District Court, NCAT and Supreme Court,
  • Child support matters,
  • Early Resolution Assistance matters where the client is in custody or detention,
  • Family Law matters where the calculated initial contribution is $75 and the client is in custody or detention, and
  • Family Law matters that are not means-tested.

Civil

  • Early Resolution Assistance matters where the client is in custody or detention,
  • Matters where the Simplified Means Test applies and the client is in custody or detention,
  • Civil Law matters where the calculated initial contribution is $75 and the client is in custody or detention, 
  • Matters under Part 11 of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1988 (Cth) and under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (Cth),
  • Coronial Inquest matters, and
  • Civil Law matters that are not means-tested.

 

Date last published: 30 July 2026