Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations increase certain of the financial limits of eligibility for civil legal aid under the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986.
The income limits are increased to make eligible for civil legal aid, persons with a yearly disposable income of not more than £9,475 (instead of £9,307) and to make eligible without payment of a contribution, persons with a yearly disposable income of not more than £2,902 (instead of £2,851) (regulations 3 and 5).
The upper limit of disposable capital, above which civil legal aid may be refused if it appears the applicant can afford to proceed without it, is increased from £10,170 to £10,455 (regulation 4).
The upper limit of disposable capital, above which a legally assisted person may be required to pay a contribution, is increased from £6,100 to £6,271 (regulation 6).
The Civil Legal Aid (Financial Conditions) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 are revoked except in relation to any case where an application for civil legal aid is made to the Scottish Legal Aid Board before 12th April 2004 (regulation 7).