Advicenow, a project by the charity Law for Life, provides free, plain-English guides on legal issues—including family breakdown, going to court without a solicitor, and dealing with financial settlements. With legal aid restricted, more and more people face representing themselves (“litigants in person”). Advicenow steps in by translating complex legal jargon into step-by-step instructions.
For instance, if you can’t afford a solicitor but need a child arrangement order, you can download guides that walk you through the court forms, possible scenarios, and how to present evidence effectively.
Additionally, Advicenow’s resources cover domestic violence remedies, explaining how Non-Molestation or Occupation Orders work and how to apply if you have limited funds or are unsure about eligibility for legal aid. Their material is regularly updated to reflect legislative changes, ensuring you’re not relying on outdated PDFs or hearsay.
Law for Life also trains community advisors, so local charities and Citizen Advice Bureaux can use these toolkits to support clients more effectively. While Advicenow doesn’t offer one-to-one representation, it does maintain curated referral lists for pro bono clinics, mediation services, and counselling, allowing users to find the right next step once they understand their options.
Key Services
- Online Guides & Toolkits: Covering divorce, finances, child arrangements, injunction applications, and more.
- Interactive Checklists: Helping you assess whether you qualify for legal aid or gather all necessary documents.
- Referral Links: Points users to low-cost solicitors, free legal clinics, or specialist helplines.
- Training & Workshops: Educating advice workers on how best to guide self-represented litigants.
Why It’s Valuable
Navigating family law can be daunting enough with a solicitor—without one, the process feels insurmountable to many. Advicenow demystifies that complexity, delivering user-friendly, chunked-down guidance that helps people avoid procedural pitfalls in court. From drafting clear witness statements to understanding what the judge will want to see in a child arrangement hearing, these resources empower litigants to stand their ground.
If you’ve fled an abusive partner and can’t secure a solicitor quickly, Advicenow’s step-by-step instructions might be the difference between an effective protective order and an application lost in red tape. Overall, it plugs a critical gap in access to justice, ensuring legal knowledge isn’t hoarded by professionals but made open and accessible to everyon
Website: https://www.advicenow.org.uk/
Registered Charity Number: 1143589