The well-publicised reports of domestic abuse concerning Amber Heard and Johnny Depp has once again brought the issues surrounding domestic abuse in marriage to the fore.
While the allegations remain unproven in the case of Heard and Depp, cases often go unreported when there is a genuine need for some form of legal support to prevent abuse continuing and, in some cases, endangering the lives of those affected.
While it is often easier for celebrities to simply call their lawyer, for people who lack the financial means, seeking legal advice can seem daunting and too costly for those concerned.
Yet there are many cases where those on low incomes can get hold of legal aid to help them with their situation. This means they will miss out on vital legal advice as well as information on where they can go for help.
The legal needs survey of 8,912 people in England and Wales by Ipsos MORI found that 20% of respondents didn’t believe they would get access to legal aid and 47% didn’t know they could be entitled to it. 86% percent of those surveyed were not aware that there are mediation services which can help them.
This shows that a lot of work still needs to be done to educate those affected by domestic abuse.