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| Admission to the Singapore Bar
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International Arbitration in Singapore
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| Legal
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Legal Aid
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| Community Mediation
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Insolvency
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| Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS)
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Public Trustee
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| Moneylending
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Pawnbroking
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| Land
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Land Surveyors
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| Intellectual Property
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| | 1. |
Who is eligible for legal aid?
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Briefly, to qualify for legal aid,
a) you have to be a Singapore Citizen or a Singapore Permanent Resident and is present in Singapore;
b) you have to satisfy the “Means Test”. Your disposable income, that is, your income for the past 12 months before the date of application for legal aid and after deducting prescribed allowances, must not exceed $10,000/-, and your disposable capital must not exceed $10,000/-; and
(c) there must be merits in your case (the ”Merits Test”)
If you do not satisfy the Means Test but are facing hardship, the Director of Legal Aid may extend legal aid to you (subject to the requirements of the Merits Test) if:
1. You satisfy certain statutory provisions; and
2. It appears to him in his absolute discretion to be reasonable to do so to relieve hardship.
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| | 2. |
What does legal aid cover?
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It covers a wide range of civil matters including divorce, adoptions, claims for maintenance, custody of children, separation, wrongful dismissals, tenancy disputes, monetary claims, motor and industrial accident claims and estate matters.
The Legal Aid Bureau does not handle criminal matters. You may approach the Law Society of Singapore to enquire on their Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
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| | 3. |
What documents do I have to bring for registration at the Legal Aid Bureau?
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Upon registration, an appointment will made for you. On the day of appointment, you will be required to make a Statutory Declaration on your income and capital and to furnish the Bureau with relevant information on your case.
In this connection, please bring along the following documents on the appointment date to enable us to process your application:
- Identity Card
- Documents to show your income and your spouse’s income, e.g. pay slips or a letter from employer stating the remuneration received during the past 12 months or if you/your spouse are in business, the business registration certificate or hawker’s licence, etc.
- Documents to show assets belonging to you e.g. Bank Book(s), Fixed Deposit Receipt(s)and all other relevant documents pertaining to such assets.
- All other relevant documents relating to your case for which legal aid and advice is sought as shown below.
A)Divorce/Maintenance/Custody of Children/Personal ProtectionOrder/Deed of Separation
- The original marriage certificate. If you do not have the original, please apply for a certified true copy at the Registry of Marriages, Canning Rise, and forward it to the Bureau.
- Birth Certificates of all your children. If you do not have the original, please let us have photocopies thereof.
- In case there has been assault by the spouse, to produce:
- Photocopies of police reports of assault by spouse, if any. If you do not have the report, please supply the Bureau with the date of report and the Police Station/NPP where the report was made.
- Hospital/patient appointment cards/receipts to show the dates on which you sought medical treatment.
- Names of witnesses to your spouse’s assaults.
- Receipts or other documents to show the payments for mortgage or instalments for the flat, PUB, telecommunications, property tax, school fees, etc.
- Any relevant Order of Court such as Personal Protection Order, Maintenance Order, Custody Order, Decree Nisi, or Certificate of Making Decree Nisi Absolute.
B) Letters of Administration/Probate/Estate Matters
- Death Certificate of Deceased.
- Bank books, Title Deeds, Fixed Deposit Receipt, Safe Deposit Box Receipt, Insurance Policy and other documents pertaining to the assets of the deceased.
- Name, NRIC No. and address of a Co-Administrator if there is any beneficiary to the estate below 21 years of age. The Co-Administrator also has to apply for legal aid.
- Any existing Grant of Letters of Administration/Probate and Schedule of Assets.
C)Adoption
- Birth Certificate of child.
- NRICs of natural parents.
- Particulars of your other children, if any.
- Addresses of natural parents.
D) Road Accident
- Police Reports.
- Medical Cards to show the dates on which medical treatment was sought.
- Letters from Traffic Police/insurance Company.
- List of expenses/loss incurred by you as a result of the accident (eg medical receipts, costs of repair to vehicle, etc together with receipts).
- Names of witnesses to the accident.
- In cases where death has occured, to provide Death Certificate and Coroner’s Inquiry No.
E) Monetary Claim
- Documents in support of your claim, e.g. any written agreement relating to the claim; any document which shows receipt or payment of monies; or any Order of Court relating to the claim.
F) Tenancy Matters
- Rent receipts.
- Property tax and other maintenance payments.
- Tenancy Agreement.
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| | 4. |
Is any monetary contribution needed from the person receiving legal aid?
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An aided person may be required to pay a contribution towards the costs of work done for him in his case. The contribution payable is assessed having regard to the financial means of the applicant, the nature of his case, the amount of work done and the amount of money recovered for him.
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| | 5. |
When is a legal aid certificate given?
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After an inquiry has been carried out in an application, an opinion on the merits of the application will be tabled before the Legal Aid Board.
When an application for legal aid is approved and a Legal Aid Certificate is filed, the applicant is entitled to enjoy all the facilities and privileges provided under the Legal Aid and Advice Act.
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Last updated on 16 August, 2010 |
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