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Guidance

Civil legal aid application forms: supporting guidance

Civil applications: checklist for new applications, proceedings codes including wordings, limitation codes, borderline cases.

Updates to this page

From:
Legal Aid Agency
Published:
4 August 2014
Last updated:
2 October 2026
Show all updates

  1. A revised version (v12 October 2026) of the Civil Representation Guidance on Proceeding Codes: Proceedings Codes and Standard Wordings for post-April 2013 Certificates have been uploaded onto the page to support new family law codes for Special Guardianship matters.

  2. Added High Profile cases SOP

  3. Privacy notice updated. These changes are part of our preparations for exiting the European Union once the transition period ends on 31 December 2020.

  4. Removal of obsolete guidance on emergency funding in JR cases. See instead: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/judicial-review-discretion-pro-forma

  5. Upload of replacement version 7 guidance file for proceedings codes post April 2013

  6. Privacy notice for CCMS civil legal aid applications

  7. Legal aid evidential requirements published.

  8. Civil representation guidance on proceedings codes and standard wordings for post-April 2013 certificates updated.

  9. Updated documents 'Civil representation guidance on proceedings codes and standard wordings for pre-April 2013 certificates' and 'Civil representation guidance on proceedings codes and standard wordings for post-April 2013 certificates'.

  10. Updated Proceedings and codes guide added.

  11. First published.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Civil representation checklist for new applications

PDF, 154 KB, 4 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Civil representation guidance on proceedings codes and standard wordings for pre-April 2013 certificates

PDF, 522 KB, 67 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Civil representation guidance on proceedings codes and standard wordings for post-April 2013 certificates (version 12) (October 2026)

PDF, 1.84 MB, 123 pages

Standard limitation codes

PDF, 190 KB, 14 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Guidance on applying for legal aid: borderline prospects of success

PDF, 59 KB, 4 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Legal aid evidential requirements

PDF, 376 KB, 4 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Privacy notice - CCMS civil legal aid applications

PDF, 174 KB, 4 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

High Profile cases

PDF, 141 KB, 10 pages

Details

Find guidance on making new legal aid applications - to use with forms CIVAPP1, CIVAPP3, CIVAPP8A, CIVAPP8, CIV APP6, CIV MEANS1 and CIV MEANS2 to ensure you submit the correct information and reduce the risk of rejection.

Also guidance on proceedings codes and limitations, including wordings, and making an application in borderline cases.

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