Legal aid in proceedings in France
Verified 30 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You must assert your rights in court, but you have not the necessary financial resources ? You can apply for legal aid. If you meet the requirements, the State supports all or part of your court costs and fees of your lawyer. We'll walk you through the steps to get this help.
Warning
If the procedure takes place within another State of the European Union (except Denmark), the way in which legal aid is obtained shall be other rules. If the procedure takes place abroad (outside the European Union)However, you must contact the authorities of the country concerned directly for information on the legal aid available.
If you have low incomes, legal aid allows you to benefit from state support, costs related to a procedure in which you are involved. Depending on the interest rateAJ: titleContent granted, in whole or in part court costs are covered by legal aid.
What are the costs covered by legal aid?
Legal aid costs include 2 types of expenses:
- Those related to legal action before a court (e.g. attorney's fees, the costs of the Commissioner of Justice, the costs of meaning, notary fees).
- Those related to the intervention of the lawyer for non-judicial proceedings (for example, mediation ordered by the judge, detention of a foreigner for verification of his right of movement or residence, hearing, reconstitution, custody or detention of a minoretc.)
Warning
In criminal matters, certain legal costs (fixed procedural law, fees of an expert, commissioner of justiceetc.) are not covered by legal aid.
Furthermore, the YA does not cover the right to plead the amount of which is €13.
Finally, the payment of sums to which you have been sentenced by a court decision (example: damages and interest, fines) is not covered by the YA.
What can be the different rates of legal aid?
When granted, legal aid may be total or partial :
- The total legal aid is the maximum rate that can be granted, i.e. 100%In this case, the costs covered by the legal aid (attorney's fees, costs of meaningetc.) are fully covered by the State.
- Partial legal aid corresponds to 55% or to 25% the maximum amount that may be granted. In this case, only a part of the legal costs is covered by the State. You must therefore pay part of your lawyer's fees (provided for in a fee agreement) and procedural costs.
FYI
The legal professional accompanying you receives the amount of legal aid. That amount is never paid directly to you.
To find out if you are eligible for legal aid, you can use a simulator:
Estimate your eligibility for legal aid
Legal aid is granted to you if you meet 3 conditions specific to your personal situation:
- You must be of French nationality or European national (except Denmark). If you are a foreign national, you must habitually reside in France (even if your residence permit is not valid). Attention: the condition of habitual residence in France does not apply minors, beneficiaries of a protection order and persons involved in criminal proceedings (witness assisted, accused, civil partyetc.).
- The court costs must not be covered by your legal protection or by any other insurance.
- Your financial resources (reference tax income, heritage real estate out principal residence and movable assets) must not exceed the legal aid admission ceilings.
The amount of legal aid is not the same for everyone those who can benefit from it.
Depending on the importance of your reference tax income and the number of people who make up your tax household, the limits on resources and wealth that should not be exceeded evolve.
If your tax home is composed of several persons, the ceilings not to be exceeded take into account the movable assets and real estate of all these people.
However, if you apply for legal aid for a dispute proceeding between you and a member of the tax household, the assessment of the wealth ceiling will be individualized (for example, in the event of divorce).
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You are alone in your tax home
You can benefit from full legal aid (100%) if your reference tax income and the value of your movable and immovable assets do not exceed the following ceilings:
- Reference tax income: €12,957(or 1,546,173 Pacific francs)
- Value of movable assets: €12,957(or 1,546,173 Pacific francs)
- Value of real estate assets: €38,866 (or 4,637,889 Pacific francs)
If the value of your assets exceeds one of the 2 asset ceilings, you cannot benefit from legal aid (neither total nor partial).
If your reference tax income exceeds the income ceiling, you are not eligible for full legal aid.
On the other hand, you may be eligible for partial legal aid. This requires that your reference tax income does not exceed the limits set for the allocation of partial legal aid.
The rate of partial legal aid may be 25% and go to 55% full legal aid.
Annual reference tax income | Monthly reference tax income (Indicative) | Legal aid rate |
|---|---|---|
Not more than €12,957 | Not more than €1,080 | 100% |
Enter €12,958 and €15,316 | Enter €1,080 and €1,276 | 55% |
Enter €15,317 and €19,433 | Enter €1,276 and €1,619 | 25% |
If you do not have a reference tax income, the ceiling taken into account is twice your taxable income for the last 6 months, after deduction of a tax allowance. 10%
Your tax household is composed of 2 people
You can benefit from full legal aid if your reference tax income and the value of your movable and immovable assets do not exceed the following ceilings:
- Reference tax income: €15,289 (or 1,824,484 Pacific Francs)
- Value of movable assets: €15,289 (or 1 824,484 Pacific Francs)
- Value of real estate assets: €45,861 (or 5,472,709 Pacific Francs)
If the value of your assets exceeds one of the 2 asset ceilings, you cannot benefit from legal aid (neither total nor partial).
If your reference tax income exceeds the income ceiling, you are not eligible for full legal aid.
On the other hand, you may be eligible for partial legal aid. This requires that your reference tax income does not exceed the limits set for the allocation of partial legal aid.
The rate of partial legal aid may be 25% and go to 55% full legal aid.
Maximum annual resources | Maximum monthly resources (Indicative) | Support |
|---|---|---|
Not more than €15,289 | Not more than €1,274 | 100% |
Enter €15,290 and €17,648 | Enter €1,274 and €1,471 | 55% |
Enter €17,649 and €21,765 | Between and €1,471 and €1,814 | 25% |
If you do not have a reference tax income, the ceiling taken into account is twice your taxable income for the last 6 months, after deduction of a tax allowance. 10%.
Your tax household is composed of 3 people
You can benefit from full legal aid if your reference tax income and the value of your movable and immovable assets do not exceed the following ceilings:
- Reference tax income: €17,621 (or 2,102,795 Francs pacific)
- Value of movable assets: €17,621 (or 2,102,795 Francs pacific)
- Value of real estate assets: €52,857 (or 6,307,529 Francs pacific)
If the value of your assets exceeds one of the 2 asset ceilings, you cannot benefit from legal aid (neither total nor partial).
If your reference tax income exceeds the income ceiling, you are not eligible for full legal aid.
On the other hand, you may be eligible for partial legal aid. This requires that your reference tax income does not exceed the limits set for the allocation of partial legal aid.
The rate of partial legal aid may be 25% and go to 55% full legal aid.
Annual Resources | Monthly Resources (Indicative) | Support |
|---|---|---|
Not more than €17,621 | Not more than €1,468 | 100% |
Enter €17,622 and €19,980 | Enter €1,468 and €1,665 | 55% |
Enter €19,981 and €24,097 | Enter €1,665 and €2,008 | 25% |
If you do not have a reference tax income, the ceiling taken into account is twice your taxable income for the last 6 months, after deduction of a tax allowance. 10%.
Your tax household is made up of 4 people
You can benefit from full legal aid if your reference tax income and the value of your movable and immovable assets do not exceed the following ceilings:
- Reference tax income: €19,095 (or 2,278,595 Pacific Francs)
- Value of movable assets: €19,095 (or 2,278,595 Pacific Francs)
- Value of real estate assets: €57,276 (or 6,834,857 Pacific Francs)
If the value of your assets exceeds one of the 2 asset ceilings, you cannot benefit from legal aid (neither total nor partial).
If your reference tax income exceeds the income ceiling, you are not eligible for full legal aid.
On the other hand, you may be eligible for partial legal aid. This requires that your reference tax income does not exceed the limits set for the allocation of partial legal aid.
The rate of partial legal aid may be 25% and go to 55% full legal aid.
Maximum annual resources | Maximum monthly resources (Indicative) | Support |
|---|---|---|
Not more than €19,095 | Not more than €1,591 | 100% |
Enter €19,096 and €21,454 | Enter €1,591 and €1,788 | 55% |
Enter €21,455 and €25,570 | Enter €1,788 and €2,131 | 25% |
If you do not have a reference tax income, the ceiling taken into account is twice your taxable income for the last 6 months, after deduction of a tax allowance. 10%.
Your tax household is made up of 5 people
You can benefit from full legal aid if your reference tax income and the value of your movable and immovable assets do not exceed the following ceilings:
- Reference tax income: €20,568 (or 2,454,395 Francs pacific)
- Value of movable assets: €20,568 (or 2,454,395 Francs pacific)
- Value of real estate assets: €61,695 (or 7,362,185 Francs pacific)
If the value of your assets exceeds one of the 2 asset ceilings, you cannot benefit from legal aid (neither total nor partial).
If your reference tax income exceeds the income ceiling, you are not eligible for full legal aid.
On the other hand, you may be eligible for partial legal aid. This requires that your reference tax income does not exceed the limits set for the allocation of partial legal aid.
The rate of partial legal aid may be 25% and go to 55% full legal aid.
Maximum annual resources | Maximum monthly resources (Indicative) | Support |
|---|---|---|
Not more than €20,568 | Not more than €1,714 | 100% |
Enter €20,569 and €22,927 | Enter €1,714 and €1,911 | 55% |
Enter €22,928 and €27,044 | Enter €1,911 and €2,254 | 25% |
If you do not have a reference tax income, the ceiling taken into account is twice your taxable income for the last 6 months, after deduction of a tax allowance. 10%.
Your tax household is composed of 6 people
You can benefit from full legal aid if your reference tax income and the value of your movable and immovable assets do not exceed the following ceilings:
- Reference tax income: €22,041 (or 2,630,195 Francs pacific)
- Value of movable assets: €22,041 (or 2,630,195 Francs pacific)
- Value of real estate assets: €66,114 (or 7,889,513 Francs pacific)
If the value of your assets exceeds one of the 2 asset ceilings, you cannot benefit from legal aid (neither total nor partial).
If your reference tax income exceeds the income ceiling, you are not eligible for full legal aid.
On the other hand, you may be eligible for partial legal aid. This requires that your reference tax income does not exceed the limits set for the allocation of partial legal aid.
The rate of partial legal aid may be 25% and go to 55% full legal aid.
Maximum annual resources | Maximum monthly resources | Support |
|---|---|---|
Not more than €22,041 | Not more than €1,837 | 100% |
Enter €22,042 and €24,400 | Enter €1,837 and €2,033 | 55% |
Enter €24,401 and €28,517 | Enter €2,033 and €2,376 | 25% |
If you do not have a reference tax income, the ceiling taken into account is twice your taxable income for the last 6 months, after deduction of a tax allowance. 10%.
Your tax household is made up of 7 people
You can benefit from full legal aid if your reference tax income and the value of your movable and immovable assets do not exceed the following ceilings:
- Reference tax income: €23,514 (or 2,805,995 Francs pacific)
- Value of movable assets: €23,514 (or 2,805,995 Francs pacific)
- Value of real estate assets: €70,533 (or 8,416,841 Francs pacific)
If the value of your assets exceeds one of the 2 asset ceilings, you cannot benefit from legal aid (neither total nor partial).
If your reference tax income exceeds the income ceiling, you are not eligible for full legal aid.
On the other hand, you may be eligible for partial legal aid. This requires that your reference tax income does not exceed the limits set for the allocation of partial legal aid.
The rate of partial legal aid may be 25% and go to 55% full legal aid.
Annual reference tax income | Monthly reference tax income (Indicative) | Support |
|---|---|---|
Not more than €23,514 | Not more than €1,960 | 100% |
Enter €23,515 and €27,873 | Enter €1,960 and €2,323 | 55% |
Enter €27,874 and €29,990 | Enter €2,323 and €2,499 | 25% |
If you do not have a reference tax income, the ceiling taken into account is twice your taxable income for the last 6 months, after deduction of a tax allowance. 10%.
In certain special circumstances, the conditions of resources shall not be examined:
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Minor
Situation involving a minor | Conditions for obtaining the AJ |
|---|---|
Minor heard in proceedings concerning him (example: proceedings before the Jaf, procedure for placement) or a CRPC | Legal aid is yours automatically assigned. You don't need to apply. |
Minor in dispute with his legal representatives or whose legal representatives are disinterested | One ad hoc administrator must apply for legal aid on your behalf. However, you will be able to benefit from this assistance without prior review of the resources of your legal representatives. |
Minor victim of a crime affecting his life or physical integrity (example: attempted murder, rape, violence with the use of a weapon) | Your legal representatives must apply for legal aid. However, this assistance can be granted to you without prior review of your means test and those of your parents. |
In the event of domestic violence
As a victim of domestic violence, you can request a protection order. In this case, you can benefit from theAJ: titleContent provisional, after applying for legal aid.
To obtain legal aid definitively, you must justify your financial resources (income, real estate, savings).
If they exceed the legal aid admission ceilings, you will be required to pay or reimburse the amounts that you were exempted from or that were paid by the state unless the Office of Legal Aid (OLA) considers that your case is particularly noteworthy.
Please note
Persons accused of domestic violence may also obtain legal aid on an interim basis.
Victim of a crime
If you are a victim of a crime that affects your life or physical integrity (example: attempted murder, rape, violence with the use of a weapon), legal aid is assigned to you without your financial resources (income, real estate or movable property) are subject to review.
However, you must apply for legal aid.
If you are a right holder from the victim, you can benefit from legal aid under the same conditions.
Emergency situation
If you are in an emergency situation (e.g. the proceedings against you may affect your basic living conditions), you must apply for legal aid.
However, legal aid may be granted on an interim basis. Subsequently, the BAJ: titleContent review your resource requirements.
If, in the end, you do not meet the conditions for legal aid, you will be obliged to reimburse the costs that you have been exempted from or that the State has paid you.
How soon should you apply for legal aid?
The request for legal aid may be made before the start of the proceedings and until the end of the case.
However, costs incurred before the decision of the legal aid office are not covered by theAJ: titleContent. Therefore, if you paid a fee before receiving this decision, it will not be refunded to you.
How can you apply for legal aid?
How to apply for legal aid depends on the jurisdiction in which your case is before.
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General case
In principle, the request can be made directly on the internet or using a cerfa form.
However, if you apply forAJ: titleContent on behalf of another person (e.g. a minor), you are obliged to use the cerfa form.
On the internet
The request can be made online:
With the form
You can fill out the online form, download it and print it before submitting it.
Application for legal aid (online form)
If you wish, you also have the option to print this form and fill it out by hand, before sending it.
The authority to which you must submit your application depends on when you apply for legal aid:
Application for legal aid before bringing a case before a court
You must send your application with supporting documents to the legal aid office of the court in your home.
You can also submit the form and the supporting documents to the single reception service of the litigant of the court of your home.
Who shall I contact
Application for legal aid once the court has been seised
You must send your application, together with the necessary supporting documents, to the legal aid office of the court of the place where the case is being handled.
You can also file your application with the required supporting documents at the single reception service of the litigant of the court of the place in which the case is being handled.
Who shall I contact
Administrative Tribunal and Administrative Court of Appeal
You must complete, download and print the cerfa form n°16146:
Application for legal aid (online form)
Once completed, your request accompanied by the required supporting documents must be sent to legal aid office of the judicial tribunal to which the court seised depends.
Who shall I contact
Court of Cassation
To apply, you must fill and print the form posted on the Court of Cassation website.
Application for legal aid before the Court of Cassation
This form (accompanied by the required documents) can be sent to the legal aid office of the Court of Cassation, by post.
Who shall I contact
It may also be deposited directly at the seat of the Court of Cassation.
Who shall I contact
Council of State
You must complete, download and print the cerfa form n°16146:
Application for legal aid (online form)
Once completed, your request accompanied by the required supporting documents must be sent to the legal aid office of the Council of State.
Who shall I contact
National Asylum Court
You must complete, download and print the cerfa form n°16146:
Application for legal aid (online form)
Once completed, your application accompanied by the required supporting documents must be sent to the legal aid office of the National Court of Asylum.
Who shall I contact
What documents should be attached to the legal aid application?
Depending on your personal situation and the case for which you are seeking legal aid, the documents to be attached to your application differ:
Personal Information | Documents to be provided |
|---|---|
Your home |
|
Your children |
|
Your identity |
|
Your insurance |
Income and wealth | Documents to be provided |
|---|---|
In any case | Most recent tax notice |
If you don't have a tax notice | Proof of taxable income for the last 6 months (example: France Travail statement) |
If your family situation has changed since your last tax return | Any proof of your change of situation (example: marriage certificate) |
If your resources have changed since your last tax return | Proof of taxable income for the last 6 months (example: France Travail statement) |
If you own one or more properties (not including your main residence) | Proof specifying the value of your property(s) |
If you have savings | Proof of your savings amount |
Important: you do not have to provide any resource-specific credentials if you are in one of the following situations:
- You are the victim of a crime considered to be one of the most serious (murder, terrorism, rape, etc.)
- You are an unaccompanied minor (for example, your parents live abroad)
- You are a minor and you are heard in a procedure that concerns you (a procedure before the family affairs judge, for example)
- Your case must be dealt with by the National Asylum Court (CNDA)
- You are appealing against a decision to refuse a military disability pension
- You have received legal aid in first instance and you want to continue to enjoy it because your opponent has appealed.
Case for which a request for legal aid is made | Documents to be provided |
|---|---|
If you are summoned to a hearing | Notice of hearing or equivalent document |
If you are a victim of a crime of extreme gravity (murder, rape, terrorism, etc.) | Any document that can attest to this situation |
If you appeal to the National Court of Asylum | Any document that can attest to this situation |
If your case goes to an appellate court and you have not received legal aid in first instance | Copy of the decision rendered by the court accompanied by proof of its notification |
If you received legal aid at first instance and wish to continue to have it before the Court of Appeal | Copy of the previous decision on admission to legal aid |
If you have already chosen a court assistant (example: lawyer) to intervene in your case | A letter of acceptance |
If you have already paid money to your chosen court assistant | Any document certifying the payment of the sums paid |
As a beneficiary of legal aid, you can freely choose your lawyer and any auxiliary of justice (example: notary, commissioner of justice) who will assist you in your case.
This choice may be made at the beginning of the procedure, and even before that the BAJ: titleContent has issued a decision granting you legal aid.
Moreover, within the application for legal aid, there is a section for requesting the appointment of a lawyer and any other auxiliary of justice.
FYI
You can also request the assistance of a lawyer by contacting the legal aid office which is dependent on the court seised.
If you live abroad (except EU), the consulate provides you with a list of competent French-speaking lawyers in your country of residence.
The lawyer is free to accept or refuse to assist you.
If you have not chosen your lawyer or if he has refused to take your case, you can ask the president of the bar of the Bar Association of the place where you applied for a lawyer, to appoint a lawyer in your place.
FYI
Within your legal aid application, there is also a section that allows you to request the appointment of a lawyer and any other auxiliary of justice.
In addition, in certain proceedings (e.g. before the criminal court, the court of assizes or for an educational assistance measure), you can benefit from a public defender. If he accepts it, its fees may be covered by legal aid.
Warning
Even if you are a YA beneficiary, the lawyer is not free. If you have been granted full legal aid, the lawyer's fees are fully covered by the State. However, if you are a beneficiary of the partial YA, you will have to pay part of the fee (set in a fee agreement).
After reviewing your personal situation, the Legal Aid Office (LAO) may accept or refuse your request.
His decision is yours notified as soon as possible.
FYI
If a hearing occurs and the Office of Legal Aid (OLA) has not yet issued its decision, you can apply for interim legal aid before or at the start of the trial. Thus, the costs associated with this hearing (example: attorney's fees) will be supported. The request must be addressed to the President of the BAJ or directly to the President of the court seised. It may be made orally or in writing.
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Application accepted
If your application is accepted, the BAJ can grant you:
- Total legal aid. Thus, all court costs will be covered by the State.
- Partial legal aid, or 55% or 25% the maximum rate that may be granted to you. In this case, part of the legal costs will be borne by you.
FYI
If this has not been done, you have 1 year from this decision to initiate legal action. After this period, the decision of the BAJ will no longer be valid.
If you are granted full legal aid, the decision of the BAJ is sent to you by simple letter. If the BAJ only grants you legal aid, you will receive its decision by any means that can confirm its date of receipt (e.g. by email with acknowledgement of receipt). It details how you can appeal.
Application rejected
The BAJ: titleContent may reject your application for legal aid if you are in one of the following situations:
- Your financial resources (income, heritage furniture or real estate) are above the legal aid admission ceilings
- Your legal action is inadmissible
- You have made multiple requests repeatedly or systematically (for example, you make multiple requests for legal aid for the same case, which hinders the functioning of the BAJ)
- You benefit from a legal protection or other insurance that already covers the costs of the trial
- You have not provided the supporting documents to obtain this aid (e.g. documents justifying your nationality, your financial situation).
Reminder
If theAJ: titleContent You have been granted temporary aid and, finally, you do not meet the conditions for receiving this aid, you are obliged to reimburse the costs that you have been exempted from or that the State has paid you.
The legal aid office sends you its refusal decision by any means that can attest to its date of receipt (example: letter with acknowledgement of receipt). It details how you can appeal.
Please note
The legal aid office may also issue a lapse decision if you have not completed your application within the time limit that he has given you to do so.
This decision cannot be the subject of an appeal.
If your request for legal aid is refused, you can challenge the decision of the BAJ: titleContent.
The same is true if the BAJ only granted you partial legal aid.
Time limits for lodging an appeal against the decision of the BAJ
The time limits for lodging an appeal depend on the jurisdiction in which your case is being heard:
General case
The time limit for filing your appeal is 15 days from the notification the decision of the BAJ.
This is particularly the case when your case is before a court of law, a local courta court of appeal, an administrative court of appeal, the Court of Cassation or the Council of State.
Before the CNDA
When your case takes place before the National Asylum Court, your appeal must be forwarded within 8 days from the notification the decision of the BAJ.
Means of transmission of the appeal against the decision of the BAJ
The appeal must be addressed to the legal aid office that issued the decision you disagree with.
You must mandatory state the reasons why you wish to seek redress.
Your declaration must be accompanied by a copy of the decision you are challenging.
The means of transmission of your appeal depend on the jurisdiction in which your case is pending:
General case
Your appeal must be delivered by hand to the BAJ: titleContent or be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
After receiving it, the BAJ forwards your appeal to the competent authority to examine it.
Please note
If your lawyer has filed your appeal himself, the BAJ confirms that the filing has taken place.
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Before the CNDA
Your appeal may be delivered to the BAJ: titleContent of the National Asylum Court :
- Hand-held
- By registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt
- By fax.
After receiving it, the BAJ forwards your appeal to the competent authority to examine it.
Please note
If your lawyer has filed your appeal himself, the BAJ confirms that the filing has taken place.
Who shall I contact
Before the CAA or the Council of State
When your case is before a Administrative Court of Appeal or before the Council of State, you may defer your appeal to the BAJ: titleContent :
- By registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt
- Through the service Removal.
After receiving it, the BAJ forwards your appeal to the competent authority to examine it.
Warning
Your lawyer can file the appeal on your behalf. In that case, he must mandatory use Telerecourse.
The BAJ confirms that the deposit has taken place.
Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact
Examination of the appeal against the decision of the BAJ
Your appeal is reviewed to determine whether the decision of the legal aid office is well founded.
Once your appeal has been examined, the competent authority may:
- Confirm the decision of the Legal Aid Office
- Annul the decision of the legal aid office
- Change the rate of legal aid you will receive.
The new decision is sent to you by any device that can attest to its date of receipt (e.g. by email).
In some cases, it may be you notified by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
This decision cannot be the subject of a new appeal.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For more information on legal aid
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
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- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Department of Justice.
To get a lawyer for legal aid
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Eligibility conditions (Articles 2 to 11)
Amount of the resource and assets ceilings for admission to legal aid
Amount of resource and asset ceilings for admission to legal aid in criminal matters in New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna
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