Funding your case — the full money map for a self-representing parent

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28

Where every funding route sits at a glance

Funding a family case is a jigsaw, not a single door. Some routes are free, some are means-tested, some are "pay less", and one lets the court order the other side to pay. Here is the whole map in one place, then each route in plain English below.

1. Legal aid (free) — means-tested and domestic abuse gated

Legal aid in family cases is now very narrow. You may qualify for free help with children proceedings only if you can evidence domestic abuse (a "gateway" — police conviction, protective order, or supporting evidence via form and an independent evidence check under the 2012 regulations). It is means-tested (income/capital) and merits-tested. It does not usually cover straightforward divorce or most financial remedy work.

Apply via gov.uk's Civil Legal Advice (CLA) eligibility checker or a legal aid solicitor.
Key gateway routes: domestic abuse (children cases), forced marriage protection, and children in neglect/abuse care (public law) — see our legal aid gateway guide.

2. The mediation voucher — money off the first mediation sessions

The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme gives up to £500 off family mediation for children disputes (private law), paying toward the first sessions. It is widely available and does not depend on income. Ask your mediator — they claim it on your behalf. See our mediation voucher guide for the full rules and how MIAMs fit in.

3. Fee remission (form EX160) — pay reduced or no court fees

If your income is low, you can apply to remit (waive or reduce) court fees using form EX160. It is based on income, capital, and dependants; many family court applications (including C100 child arrangements and Form A financial proceedings) have a fee you may be able to reduce to £0 or part. Do this before you file, on gov.uk/HMCTS — if your circumstances change mid-case, re-apply.

4. Unbundled legal services — pay for a slice, not the whole case

Many family solicitors now offer unbundled help: drafting a statement, checking your forms, coaching you for a hearing, or sitting in as a consultant — while you remain the litigant in person. Cheaper than full representation, and you control the spend. See our unbundled legal services guide.

5. Pro bono, law clinics and charities

Free or low-cost help exists even without legal aid:

Law centres and university law clinics (many take on family disputes)
AdviceNow, Citizens Advice, the Family Rights Group (parents' helpline)
Gingerbread (single parents), Advance / Women's Aid (survivor-dependent), Rights of Women (free legal advice lines)
Pro bono schemes (e.g. the Bar's Bar Pro Bono Unit) — availability varies and is not guaranteed; ask early.

6. A McKenzie friend — support in court, for free or low cost

A McKenzie friend is an unpaid (or modestly-paid) supporter who sits with you in court: takes notes, prompts, and — with the court's permission — can speak on your behalf. They are not lawyers and give no advice. Courts can remove them if they disrupt proceedings. They can help you present your case safely and clearly.

7. Respondent / unrepresented ("LIP") fees and cost recovery

But note the court fees themselves: a respondent usually pays a lower or no application fee to defend, while applicants pay the filing fee. As an unrepresented litigant (LIP) you can, in limited circumstances, recover lost earnings and genuine expenses from the other side where costs are awarded (see our LIP costs recovery guide). This is not automatic in family cases — it follows a costs order.

8. Payment plans and court fee instalments

If you cannot pay a court fee in one go, ask about instalments (many fee types can be paid in parts) and always combine with form EX160 remission if eligible. Solicitors (if you use one) may offer payment plans for unbundled or limited-scope work — always get the costs agreement in writing (a fixed-fee or capped-budget retainer).

9. When the court can order the other side to pay — LSPOs and maintenance pending suit

In financial remedy (divorce finances) proceedings, the court can make:

A Legal Services Payment Order (LSPO, s.22ZA Matrimonial Causes Act 1973) — the court can order one party to pay the other's legal fees (usually a lump sum) where the payer has funds and the payee could not otherwise afford representation. It is not automatic; the court weighs means and the merits.
Maintenance pending suit (s.22 MCA 1973) — ongoing payments while the case runs, to keep you able to live and litigate, before the final financial order.

These apply to married couples' financial proceedings. They are the single most powerful "make them pay" tools for a spouse with fewer means — but they require you to ask and to evidence your inability to pay otherwise.

Practical takeaway

1. Start free: check legal aid (domestic abuse gateway) → then the mediation voucher. 2. Cut court fees: file form EX160 alongside any application. 3. Control spend: unbundled help + a McKenzie friend + clinics sit between DIY and full representation. 4. If you are the poorer spouse in a divorce financial case, ask your solicitor or the court about an LSPO / maintenance pending suit — properly argued, these shift the bill.

Official links

Legal aid eligibility & Civil Legal Advice: https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid
Form EX160 (fee remission): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-help-with-court-fees
Family mediation voucher scheme: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-mediation-voucher-and-services
Court and tribunal fees: https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals-and-appeals
Family Procedure Rules Part 28 (costs): https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family
s.22 & s.22ZA Matrimonial Causes Act 1973: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/45/section/22ZA
McKenzie friends guidance: https://www.familyjusticecouncil.org.uk

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS, the Family Justice Council or gov.uk.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.