Becoming a client
Legal aid can be provided in all types of legal matters, both in relation to court proceedings and other matters. The nature of the case and its importance affect the content of legal aid.
Examples of cases where legal aid may be granted include:
- divorce, distribution of matrimonial property, maintenance, marriage settlement
- will, estate inventory, estate distribution
- assistance to debtors, creditors or guarantors
- collection of wage arrears, termination of employment, notice
- collection of rent arrears, notice, eviction
- deed of sale, annulment of sale, price reduction
- assistance to suspected offenders and to victims of crime, restraining order
- appeals relating e.g. to welfare, taking into care and social insurance payments
Legal aid will not be granted if the matter holds minor significance for the applicant or if granting the legal aid would be clearly purposeless or pleading the case would be an abuse of justice.
Legal aid will not be granted if the party involved has comprehensive legal expenses insurance which covers the processing of the matter. The legal expenses insurance can, for example, be part of home insurance, union insurance or farm insurance. However, legal aid can be granted for covering the excess of legal expenses insurance if the applicant is, based on their income and wealth, entitled to free legal aid.
Legal aid is not granted to companies or communities. A private entrepreneur can be granted legal aid in a court case concerning commercial activity, but in other matters concerning commercial activity the aid can be granted only if there is a particular reason for it.