Tasmania Legal Aid and Free Divorce Help

Legal representation for divorce in Tasmania can cost A$1,200 or more — on top of the court filing fee. But if you are on a limited income or facing a complicated situation, several free and low-cost services can help you through the process.

Here is what is available and what each service actually covers.

Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania

Phone: 1300 366 611 (Tasmania Legal Helpline)

Legal Aid provides free legal information, forms assistance, and duty lawyer services for family law matters. They can help you understand the divorce process, check your eligibility, and review your paperwork.

What they offer:

• Telephone advice through the Legal Helpline — a quick way to get answers to procedural questions
• Duty lawyers available at the Hobart FCFCOA registry (1st Floor, Edward Braddon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 39-41 Davey Street) on court sitting days
• Forms assistance — help completing the Application for Divorce on the Commonwealth Courts Portal
• Referrals to private lawyers or other services if your matter is too complex for a duty lawyer

What they do not do: Legal Aid does not typically provide full representation for straightforward divorce applications. If your divorce is uncontested and there are no complex financial or safety issues, you will likely be directed to complete the process yourself or given a one-off advice session.

To qualify for ongoing Legal Aid assistance, you must pass income and asset tests. Call the helpline first — they will tell you whether you are eligible.

Women's Legal Service Tasmania

Phone: 1800 682 468 (statewide, free call) Address: 375 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart TAS 7000

Specialised legal support for women across Tasmania, with a focus on family law, family violence, and financial security. They provide free legal advice, ongoing casework for eligible clients, and can assist with divorce applications, intervention orders, and property settlements.

Particularly useful if: your divorce involves family violence, coercive control, or you are concerned about your safety during the service process. They understand the intersection of family violence and family law procedure in a way that general services may not.

Hobart Community Legal Service

Phone: 6223 2500

Free legal advice, casework, and child support guidance for residents of southern Tasmania. They can help with family law questions, including divorce procedure, and provide referrals for more complex matters.

Launceston Community Legal Centre

Phone: 1800 066 019 Address: Suite 2, Level 2, 46-48 St John Street, Launceston TAS 7250

Free legal advice and casework for residents of northern Tasmania. They offer zoom appointments for those who cannot attend in person, making them accessible for people in rural and regional areas of the north.

Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS)

FASS is a Commonwealth-funded program that provides free support at the court itself. Workers are available at the Hobart and Launceston FCFCOA registries to help self-represented litigants understand court procedures, prepare for hearings, and access referrals.

What Registry Staff Cannot Do

A common misunderstanding: the FCFCOA registry staff at Hobart and Launceston can answer general procedural questions, but they are legally prohibited from helping you complete your application, advising you on strategy, or reviewing your documents for errors. This is a deliberate boundary — they cannot act as legal advisors.

This is the gap that free legal services fill. And for those who do not qualify for Legal Aid but cannot afford a lawyer, a structured process guide can provide the step-by-step navigation that registry staff are not permitted to offer.

The Tasmania Divorce Filing Process Guide provides the portal navigation, document assembly checklists, and affidavit frameworks that bridge this gap — designed for self-represented litigants who need practical workflow support rather than legal advice.

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