Cerfa 16146 — Demande d'Aide Juridictionnelle (Legal Aid Application)

What is Cerfa 16146 - legal aid application?

Aide juridictionnelle is France's legal aid. When your means are limited, the State pays all or part of the fees of the lawyer, commissaire de justice, notary or other professional who helps you with a court case, a mutual-consent divorce through lawyers, a settlement or the enforcement of a judgment. Cerfa 16146 is the paper application, lodged with the legal aid office (bureau d'aide juridictionnelle) of the court.

The form asks who you are and who lives in your tax household, how to reach you, your reference tax income and recent income, your savings and property, what the case is about and who your opponents are, and whether a professional has already agreed to act for you. Some situations, such as victims of the most serious crimes or appeals to the asylum court, skip the means check altogether.

FileIt takes you through all ten parts in plain English, works out which follow-up questions apply to you, and prints your answers into the official cerfa, with accented and non-French letters intact. You add the documents the notice lists, sign, and lodge the form yourself. FileIt never submits anything.

Who needs to fill out Cerfa 16146 - legal aid application?

• People with limited income and savings who need a lawyer or another legal professional for a case in France.
• Parents or guardians applying for a minor child, and representatives of an adult under guardianship or curatorship.
• Victims of serious crimes, asylum appeal applicants and others in the special cases of part 4, whose means are not checked.

When to use Cerfa 16146 - legal aid application

• Before or during proceedings, as soon as you know you need a lawyer, commissaire de justice or notary.
• When you want a professional appointed for you, or one has already agreed to act under legal aid and given you a letter of acceptance.
• When you prefer paper to the online application. Service-public.gouv.fr says the request can also be made online.

What you need before you start

• Your latest tax notice (avis d'imposition), for the revenu fiscal de référence, and your income for the last six months.
• The names, dates of birth and relationship of the people in your tax household.
• Your savings total and any property you own, with its address, type and value.
• Your case: court, case number and hearing date if there is one, and your opponents' names and addresses.

What’s on Cerfa 16146 - legal aid application

The 2026 edition has 6 pages. FileIt asks for it in 12 parts, and it is signed by Applicant:

1. 1 - Votre identité - your identityApplicant
2. Non-EU nationals: cases where habitual residence in France need not be shownApplicant
3. 2 - Votre situation familiale - your family situationApplicant
4. 3 - Vos coordonnées - your contact details and workApplicant
5. Représentant légal ou curateur - request made for a child or a protected adultApplicant
6. 4 - Cas particuliers - cases where your means are not checkedApplicant
7. 5 - Vos ressources - your incomeApplicant
8. 6 - Votre épargne et votre patrimoine immobilier - savings and propertyApplicant
9. 7 - Votre affaire - la procédure - your caseApplicant
10. 8 - Les auxiliaires de justice - the professionals you needApplicant
11. 9 - Votre protection juridique - legal expenses insuranceApplicant
12. Attestation sur l'honneur - sworn statement and signatureApplicant

How to fill out Cerfa 16146 - legal aid application, step by step

1 1 – Votre identité

Name at birth, name in use, first names, date and place of birth and nationality. Non-EU nationals tick any case where habitual residence need not be shown.

2 2 – Situation familiale

Your family status, how many people are in your tax household, and who they are.

3 3 – Coordonnées

Address, phone, email, CAF number and work situation, plus the representative's details if the request is for a child or protected adult.

4 4 – Cas particuliers

Tick a special case (A to E) if one applies. You can then skip parts 5 and 6.

5 5 and 6 – Ressources et patrimoine

Your reference tax income, any recent change in your situation, the six-month income table, savings and property.

6 7 to 10 – Affaire, auxiliaires, assurance, attestation

What the case is and where it stands, the professionals you need, any legal expenses insurance, then the sworn statement, place, date and signature.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting the supporting documents listed in the notice. An incomplete file takes longer and can lapse.
• Including social benefits such as RSA, AAH or housing allowance in the income table. Only taxable income counts.
• Not checking for legal expenses insurance (protection juridique) in a home, car or bank-card contract first.
• Filling in the boxes reserved for the appointed lawyer on page 1 and 'À remplir par les avocats' on page 5.

After you fill it out

Gather the documents the notice (cerfa 52347#04) asks for, and add a free-form sheet if you ran out of space.

Sign the form and lodge it with the court's service d'accueil or legal aid office. FileIt does not send it for you.

Keep the filled PDF in your FileIt vault, and file the legal aid decision beside it when it arrives.

Cerfa 16146 - legal aid application: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Ministère de la Justice - bureau d'aide juridictionnelle (BAJ) of the tribunal: https://www.formulaires.service-public.gouv.fr/gf/cerfa_16146.do
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R1444
• Edition shown on this page: Cerfa N° 16146*04 (checked 2026-10-19).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ministère de la Justice - bureau d'aide juridictionnelle (BAJ) of the tribunal or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.

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