You can apply to write off your legal aid debt under one or both of the following reasons:
1. Serious Financial Hardship
If you’re unable to pay off your legal aid debt over the long term due to financial constraints, you can apply under this category. To do so:
- Complete a means assessment, detailing your income and its sources (e.g., employer name or type of benefit received).
- Provide a clear picture of your financial situation to demonstrate the difficulty in repaying the debt.
2. Other Reasons (“Just and Equitable Grounds”)
This category allows you to apply for a write-off based on other justified circumstances. Examples include:
- Increased costs due to the actions of the other party. For instance, delays or complications caused by the other parent could have prolonged your case.
- Health issues. If health problems extended the duration of your case or impacted your ability to resolve it sooner, this could support your application.
You’ll need to provide supporting evidence, such as:
- A medical certificate.
- A letter from your lawyer explaining the situation.
- Copies of judgments or other relevant documents.
How to Submit Your Application
Applying to write off your legal aid fees is straightforward. You can submit your application in one of two ways:
- By Email: Send your application to legalaiddebt@justice.govt.nz.
- By Post: Mail it to Legal Aid Debt, DX SX11295, Wellington.
Ensure all relevant documentation is included with your application, as this will help strengthen your case. You can check more information on this link.
Zayne Jouma is the founder and Chairman of FDSS. He is a self-taught, trained, and experienced Mediator, Conflict Coach, Court lay-assistant/ McKenzie Friend & Community coach. Zayne has helped many parents through mediation and conflict resolution and has assisted hundreds of Self-represented parents in their Family Court & High Court cases across New Zealand.
