An application must be submitted in good time to ensure that the Department of Civil Affairs can make a decision before the court case concludes with a main hearing or settlement. When you apply for legal aid from the Department of Civil Affairs, you generally need to use their digital self-service.
Exemption for using the digital self-service
If you lack IT skills, have a disability, or face other barriers preventing you from using the digital self-service, the Department of Civil Affairs can grant an exemption. They can also grant an exemption if you live abroad and do not have a MitID.
In special cases, the Department of Civil Affairs can accept an application for legal aid in a different way than through the digital self-service. This applies when the case has a nature, character, or amount of material that makes it more appropriate to submit it in another way.
If the Department of Civil Affairs receives an application for legal aid that was not sent via the digital self-service, they may reject the application. This means they will not process the application, and you will need to reapply digitally. If your application is rejected, you will receive a notice and guidance from them.
To apply for an exemption, you must contact the Department of Civil Affairs by phone at +45 3392 3334, via digital post, by email to civilstyrelsen@civilstyrelsen.dk (non-secure email), or by post to the Department of Civil Affairs, Toldboden 2, 2nd floor, 8800 Viborg.
Please note that civilstyrelsen@civilstyrelsen.dk is a non-secure main mailbox, and encrypted emails cannot be sent there. Encrypted emails should be sent to sikkerpost@civilstyrelsen.dk.
Required information to apply for legal aid
When applying for legal aid, you must provide the following:
- Your tax return for 2023,
- Your partner’s or spouse’s tax return for 2023 (if applicable),
- Your and your partner’s or spouse’s payslips, unemployment benefit specifications, etc., for the past 3 months, if the 2023 tax return is no longer an accurate reflection of your/their income,
- Information on whether you have legal expenses insurance or any other insurance, and whether the insurance company covers the costs of the case. If your insurance company has refused legal expenses coverage, you must provide a copy of the rejection,
- Information about your opponent's name and address,
- Information on what the case is about (“case description”),
- Information on what outcome/result you desire from the case (“claim”),
- Information on why you believe your desired outcome/result is correct (“grounds”),
- Information on your opponent's position regarding your claim (e.g., pleadings, copy of letters from the opponent, or similar),
- Any summons/summons draft or defense statement, and any other procedural documents (e.g., reply and rejoinder),
- In cases against public authorities or when appealing decisions from boards or similar bodies, also a copy of the authority's or board's decision,
- In appeal cases, a copy of the first-instance judgment.
If you are applying on behalf of someone else and are not a lawyer or otherwise have a power of attorney, the Department of Civil Affairs will require a power of attorney from you. You will find a link to a power of attorney form that you can fill out and use during the application process. If you are applying for an exemption from using the digital self-service, you can instead find the power of attorney form here (PDF).