State-provided legal aid for certain population groups is available free of charge

Natural persons who are involved in a legal dispute and lack funds for the receipt of a lawyer's services may, in the administration of legal aid, apply for the receipt of legal aid provided by the State. The administration shall appoint a legal aid provider and pay the legal aid provided to the specified amount.

A legal aid provider is a person with whom the administration, in conformity with certain professional criteria, enters into a legal aid contract and which is assigned to the recipient of legal aid for the provision of legal advice, the preparation of procedural documents and the provision of assistance to a court.

Legal aid in civil matters (in family disputes, housing and management matters, in matters of default, loss recovery, sharing of joint property or determination of the procedures for use, etc.), certain types in Administrative Matters (an appeal of a decision of the Orphan's court in connection with the protection of the rights and legal interests of the child) and Constitutional Court proceedings may receive a person who:

• has acquired the status of a low-income or poor person (it is assessed and granted by the local government social service);
• located in full state or local government (permanent residence centre, deprivation of liberty institution);
• suddenly finds himself in a situation and material condition which prevents the protection of his rights (suddenly exceptional circumstances which are not dependent on the person and which significantly restricts the protection of his rights, such as a natural disaster, a person has been subjected to violence and requires temporary protection, etc.);
• The whistleblower shall receive legal aid in order to address the negative consequences resulting from the lifting of the alert irrespective of his or her property status;

Cross-border civil disputes legal aid shall also be provided in cases where the person requesting legal aid resides permanently in a Member State of the European Union, but the place of the dispute and the hearing is in another Member State of the European Union. The Administration shall, in these cases, be the sending authority and the competent authority for the provision of legal aid in the Republic of Latvia.

Where can i get information about the services provided by the administration?

The submission form and information regarding the filling thereof and documents to be added may be received free of charge in the local government (social service, Orphan's court), as well as by calling to the free information telephone 80001801 (during work).

The service description, form samples, information material and frequently asked questions can be found on the Administration website www.jpa.gov.lv.

Legal aid shall be provided by:

In civil matters, in the administration of:

• in matters of family law (divorce, determination of paternity or contestation, recovery of maintenance, determination of the procedures for the exercise of rights of access, etc.);
• debt recovery issues;
• housing rights issues (in connection with posting, non-provision of management services etc.) etc.

In Administrative Matters:

• Appeal of a decision of the Orphan's Court in connection with the protection of the rights and legal interests of the child by turning to the administration
• In other administrative cases, in bringing proceedings - a court (judge) shall grant legal aid, taking into account the complexity of the case and the property situation of a natural person, the administration shall appoint a legal aid provider on the basis of a court decision.
• Constitutional Court proceedings:
• legal aid in the administration of the administration shall be ensured if the person has submitted a Constitutional complaint (application) to the Constitutional Court and the Constitutional Court has taken a decision regarding refusal to initiate a case, as the sole basis of this decision is an absence of a legal basis or a manifest insufficiency for the satisfaction of the claim.
• In criminal proceedings by addressing the person directing the criminal proceedings (investigator, prosecutor, judge):
• the representation and legal assistance of the victim;
• the defence of the suspect and accused person in the cases specified in the Criminal Procedure Law.