By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.
Key points
- A grant of legal aid from Legal Aid NT depends on its Guidelines, which include a means test of your income and assets. You can call the Legal Aid NT Helpline on 1800 019 343, 8am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
- Income: the Guidelines set a benchmark net weekly income of $521. Net income is your income from all sources, and that of any financially associated person, less tax, housing costs up to $580 a week, childcare up to $325, a dependant allowance and maintenance you pay.
- Contributions: everyone granted ongoing legal aid pays a minimum initial contribution of $110. The contribution rises with income, and from $662 a week help is available only for matters likely to cost more than $3,135.
- Assets: up to $450,000 of equity in your principal home is not counted, nor up to two vehicles with total equity of up to $26,542. Allowable assets are $1,680 for a single applicant and $3,220 with dependants.
- These are the amounts in Legal Aid NT's Guidelines current as at 4 September 2026. In non-urgent cases you are usually told the outcome by mail within 10 working days.
- Over the limit? A 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in the Northern Territory is a fixed $295. Call 1800 577 015 at any hour for free general legal information, or request a consultation.
Legal Aid NT's Guidelines, current as at 4 September 2026, set a benchmark net weekly income of $521, leave out up to $450,000 of equity in your principal home and up to $26,542 of total equity in vehicles, and allow assets of $1,680 for a single applicant.
Every figure on this page was read on 22 October 2026 from Legal Aid NT's Guidelines "Current as at 4 September 2026" (chapter 4, the means test; Schedule B, the benchmark amounts; and the contribution tables) and from its "Applying for Legal Aid" page, which shows no date. Legal Aid NT decides each application itself under its Guidelines, and the means test is only one chapter of them; this page is not a promise of eligibility.
The income test
Legal Aid NT counts income from all sources, yours and that of any financially associated person, and takes off:
| Deduction | Most that is taken off (a week) |
|---|---|
| Tax | The tax you pay |
| Housing costs | $580 |
| Childcare | $325 |
| Dependant allowance | $177 for the first dependant; $167 for each further dependant |
| Maintenance you pay | The amount you pay |
Schedule B of the Guidelines sets the benchmark net weekly income at $521.
Contributions
Everyone granted ongoing legal aid pays a minimum initial contribution of $110. Legal Aid NT's contribution table starts at that $110 minimum for net income up to $461 a week, and the contribution rises with income. At $662 a week and over, help is available only for Category 3 matters.
The categories depend on how much the matter is likely to cost:
| Category | Likely cost of the matter |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | Under $830 |
| Category 2 | $830 to $3,135 |
| Category 3 | More than $3,135 |
The assets test
Legal Aid NT does not count household furniture, tools of trade, up to two vehicles within the vehicle limit, or your principal home up to the limit below. The Guidelines also deal with equity in a farm or business; ask Legal Aid NT how they apply to you.
| Benchmark | Amount |
|---|---|
| Equity in your principal home that is not counted | Up to $450,000 |
| Total equity in motor vehicles that is not counted | Up to $26,542 |
| Allowable assets, single applicant | $1,680 |
| Allowable assets, applicant with dependants | $3,220 |
If you are over 60, receive an income-tested pension and have lived in your home for five years, Legal Aid NT has a discretion to disregard home equity above the limit.
Applying, and how long it takes
Legal Aid NT says that in non-urgent cases you are told the outcome by mail, usually within 10 working days.
Legal Aid NT's phone line
| Line | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Aid NT Helpline | 1800 019 343 | 8am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday |
If you earn too much for legal aid
- Phone help is still available from the Legal Aid NT Helpline on 1800 019 343.
- Community legal centres give free help to some groups of people and in some areas of law.
- A private lawyer. Go To Court Lawyers arranges a 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in the Northern Territory for a fixed $295, by phone, video or in person, and the lawyer tells you what any further work would cost before you commit. Call 1800 577 015 at any hour, or request a consultation.
Legal aid in other states uses different figures. Legal Aid Queensland, for example, does not normally grant aid to a single person with no children earning more than $1,040 gross a week; Legal Aid ACT's allowed income is $498 a week after allowances.
How Go To Court Lawyers can help
Our free line, 1800 577 015, answers at any hour. Jen, our AI legal information assistant, gives general legal information and takes your details; Jen is not a lawyer and does not give advice about your case. If you want advice, a 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in the Northern Territory is a fixed $295, by phone, video or in person. Requests are taken at any hour; how soon a lawyer can see you depends on who is available. Go To Court Lawyers is not part of Legal Aid NT and cannot decide a legal aid application.
General information only, not legal advice. Updated 22 October 2026. Figures read on 22 October 2026 from Legal Aid NT's Guidelines "Current as at 4 September 2026" (chapter 4, Schedule B and the contribution tables) and its "Applying for Legal Aid" page.