Guidelines
2. Family law matters
2.12. Significant disadvantage
In making a decision about whether the applicant or child is at ‘significant disadvantage', Legal Aid NSW may take into account any one or more of the following criteria:
- there are allegations of abuse or family violence
- the applicant has an intellectual, psychiatric, physical disability or a serious medical problem – the applicant may be asked to provide Legal Aid with a letter from the applicant's General Practitioner confirming the disability or serious medical problem
- the applicant has been denied any relationship with his or her child/children for a period of at least 3 months but not exceeding 3 years
- there are allegations that the child/children are at risk of harm
- the applicant has a language or literacy problem which impacts upon his/her capacity to self represent, or
- the child/children are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander as defined under s4 of the Family Law Act 1975.
Date Last Published: 01/09/2010