Legal Aid Income Thresholds for 2011
Thursday 01 September 2011
The French government has issued new income threshold levels for entitlement to legal aid.
Expats legally resident in France are entitled to access the legal aid system in the same manner as a French national.
The system is called l'aide juridictionnelle.
In order to benefit from legal aid at the rate of 100% then your net income (for a single person) must be no higher than €929 per month.
You could still be entitled to legal aid above this sum, but at a reducing rate related to the level of your income.
The following table sets out the income thresholds and percentage level of assistance available for each band of income.
These figures are increased by €167 per month for the first two dependant persons (spouse, concubine, child, parent) in the household, and by €106 for each subsequent dependant person.
| Monthly Income |
Rate of Legal Aid |
| €930 to €971 |
85% |
| €972 to €1,024 |
70% |
| €1,025 to €1,098 |
55% |
| €1,099 to €1,182 |
40% |
| €1,183 to €1,288 |
25% |
| €1,289 to €1,393 |
15% |
Legal aid is available for both criminal and civil cases. However, you would be well advised to first find your avocat, and get their assistance in completion of the application form.
If you win the case, and you are awarded damages, you may be requested to repay some or all of the legal aid awarded to you; by contrast if you lose the case, legal aid will not be available for any costs and damages payable by you to the other party.
This article was featured in our Newsletter dated 15/02/2011
