Petition · Ministry of Justice

Make divorces where a child is abused automatically eligible for legal aid

Closed 128 signatures

What the petition asks

Someone who can prove they have suffered domestic abuse is able to access legal aid for divorce, but if the abuse was suffered by a child within the family, even if there are convictions, they have no automatic access to legal aid for divorce. We believe this needs to change!
We believe in the event of a conviction of child sexual abuse in the family home, the other parent of the child may have to pick up the pieces and has no automatic access to legal aid for the divorce. After major trauma within the family and financial hardship that breakups can bring, one parent may be left legally tied to the predator that committed crimes against their child as they may be unable to afford the divorce. It can be truly traumatic.

Timeline

30 Oct 2025 Petition opened for signatures
30 Apr 2026 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 128
Status Closed
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 30 Oct 2025
Closed 30 Apr 2026

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 11 Aug 2026.