ANY CONTRIBUTION FROM THE AIDED PERSON?
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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WILL CASES BE ASSIGNED TO OTHER LAWYERS?
The Legal Officers of the Bureau consisting of the Director, Deputy Director, Senior Assistant Director and Assistant Directors handle almost all the cases of the Bureau. Cases are assigned from time to time to solicitors on the Bureau’s panel of solicitors. In such event, the applicant would be informed by the Bureau.
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HOW TO APPLY FOR LEGAL AID AND ADVICE?
If you require legal aid or advice, you can come to the Bureau during our office hours to make an application. Please bring along your Identity Card and $1.00 for the registration fee.
When you apply for legal aid, our Customer Service Officers will take you through the Means test by asking you questions about your income and assets. The merits of your case will also be assessed by a legal officer assigned to handle your case.
If you are a minor (i.e. a person below 21 years of age), your parent or guardian must apply on your behalf.
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WHAT DOCUMENTS TO BRING FOR REGISTRATION?
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:
1. Identity Card
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 Protection Order/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, TAS, 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 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.
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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WHAT IS BUREAU’S SERVICE STANDARD?
We aim to achieve processing at least 95% of all applications for eligibility under the Means Test within the same working day.
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WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ON OTHER LEGAL MATTERS?
You can find FAQs on other legal matters in the MinLaw FAQ which is available at http://www.ifaq.gov.sg/minlaw.
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