Legal aid for women who are victims of violence

The grant, provided for under Article 7 of Law No. 6 of 2010, is intended to support women in their journey to escape violence through solidarity-based support in the context of legal proceedings and in the phase preceding the commencement of such proceedings, as well as in the out-of-court settlement of disputes, helping to cover the costs of legal assistance in both criminal and civil proceedings.

This grant, which is a one-off, non-repayable payment, is set at a maximum amount of €5,000.00.

Women, including minors, who are victims of violence and who meet the following criteria at the time of submitting their application are eligible for the grant:

• residence in the province of Trento;
• an ICEF indicator for income support measures of 0.30 or less, with the household comprising the woman and her fiscally dependent children;
• the woman must be receiving support, as certified by the local social services or an accredited anti-violence service;
• ineligibility for legal aid.

To be eligible for the grant, the application must be submitted by the woman concerned or, in the case of a minor, by the person exercising parental responsibility or acting as her legal representative.

The application must specify a request for the grant up to a maximum amount of €5,000.00. The application may also be submitted:

• as an advance payment towards initial legal costs, up to a maximum of €1,500.00;
• as a final payment to cover further legal costs incurred, up to a maximum total of €5,000.00 including the advance payment; the application for the final payment must be submitted within 24 months of the date on which the application for the advance payment was submitted.

The application must be submitted in one of the following ways:

1. electronically, by completing and submitting the application online via the ‘Stanza del Cittadino’ portal, accessible via the button on this page (under the ‘Access the service’ section), following identification via SPID (Public Digital Identity System), CIE (Electronic Identity Card), CNS (National Services Card) or CPS (Provincial Services Card);
2. by completing the form provided by the local authority, available on this page, and submitting it:
   • by email or certified email (PEC);
   • by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt;
   • by hand delivery, including via the Province’s public information and assistance desks provided for under Article 34 of Provincial Law No. 23 of 1992.

The following documents are attached to the application:

• a certificate of acceptance from the local social services or an accredited anti-violence service (not required for applications submitted for a final payment);
• the invoice or, in the case of an application for an advance payment, the pro forma invoice issued by the lawyer and endorsed by the Bar Association, which must bear the wording ‘legal assistance provided pursuant to Article 7 of Provincial Law No. 6 of 2010’ and set out the stages of the work;
• the decision by the Bar Association rejecting the application for admission, even on a provisional basis, to legal aid.

There are no deadlines.