Policies
5. Family Law Matters – when legal aid is available
5.16. Adoption matters
Legal aid is available for adoption proceedings as set out below.
5.16.1 Adoption – responding to an adoption application
Legal aid is available for adoption proceedings where the legal aid applicant is the respondent [the birth parent, grandparent or sibling] in the adoption proceedings.
To be eligible for legal aid the applicant must satisfy:
- the Means Test
- the Merit Test
Legal aid is available to a child/ren where the Court has made an order for separate representation of the child/ren.
5.16.2 Adoption – applicants in adoption proceedings
Legal aid is available for adoption proceedings where the legal aid applicant is the applicant in the adoption proceedings.
To be eligible for legal aid the applicant must satisfy:
- the Means Test
- the Merit Test, and
- Legal Aid NSW is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances.
Legal aid is available to a child/ren where the Court has made an order for separate representation of the child/ren.
Date Last Published: 05/12/2022