Free legal advice in Scotland

If you need legal advice about your children or separation in Scotland, the Scottish Child Law Centre offers free advice on children's law. You may also qualify for civil legal aid to help with the cost of a solicitor.

You can check whether you are likely to qualify for legal aid using the Scottish Legal Aid Board's estimator, and read official guidance on arrangements for children when parents live apart.

Scotland kept family cases within legal aid, so divorce and disputes about your children are still in scope. There are two layers of help; a scheme for advice and paperwork, and civil legal aid for going to court. Your solicitor handles the application, which takes one job off your plate at a stressful time.

• Civil legal aid covers divorce and disputes about your children, and is administered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board; you apply through a solicitor who does legal aid work (mygov.scot).
• Advice and assistance is a separate, cheaper scheme that pays for a solicitor's advice, negotiations and paperwork; your solicitor assesses your income and capital and should tell you at the start what, if anything, you will pay (mygov.scot).
• Civil legal aid is free for people on certain benefits such as Universal Credit or Income Support; others may pay a contribution based on disposable income and capital (mygov.scot).
• Many people do not realise legal aid can be repayable; if you keep or gain money or property from your case, you may have to pay some costs back later (mygov.scot).
• Before spending anything, Citizens Advice Scotland gives free advice on a wide range of issues, some sheriff courts run free civil advice services, and the Scottish Women's Rights Centre offers free legal help for women affected by violence (mygov.scot).

Checked August 2026 against mygov.scot.

Good advice early on can save time, money and stress. Many services offer a free first appointment or means-tested legal aid.

• Bring key dates, any court papers, and a short summary of what you want to resolve.
• Ask about costs up front, and whether legal aid or free help is available.
• An information service can explain your options before you pay for a solicitor.