2026 threshold: income up to €441.44 per member — and the home you live in does NOT count

Updated July 2026

⚖️ Who is entitled to free legal aid?

With conditions

Quick answer

Conditional — it depends on the type of aid and on your income, but the home you live in does not defeat your claim. The Free Legal Aid Act distinguishes primary aid (general legal information, advice, help filling in forms and simple administrative matters), broadly available through county administrative departments and authorised associations, and secondary aid (a lawyer, drafting submissions, court representation, exemption from court costs). Secondary aid is subject to a means test: monthly income per household member may not exceed one budget base, €441.44 in 2026, and total assets 60 bases (€26,486.16). Here the biggest myth falls: the property the applicant and household live in does not count toward that asset test, so many give up for no reason. The application is filed with the county or City of Zagreb administrative department.

📋 The rules

Two kinds of aid: primary (information, advice, forms, simple administrative matters) and secondary (a lawyer, submissions, representation, exemption from costs) — the Free Legal Aid Act.
Income threshold: for secondary aid, monthly income per household member may not exceed one budget base — €441.44 in 2026.
Asset threshold: the household's total assets may not exceed 60 bases (€26,486.16), but the property lived in is not counted.
Where to apply: an application for secondary aid is filed with the county or City of Zagreb administrative department, while primary aid is also given by authorised associations and law clinics.
Regardless of the threshold: certain groups (e.g. victims of violence, children in some proceedings) obtain the right under special rules without an assets test.

🔓 Exceptions

The home you live in: the property in which the applicant and household members live is excluded from the asset test — a common and costly misconception that stops people applying.
Urgent cases: in some proceedings (domestic violence, protection of children) the right is granted faster and without the usual income test.
What aid does not cover: free legal aid does not cover, for instance, entrepreneurs' commercial disputes or costs for which another source of payment exists.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

There are no "fines" here, but a wrong call can be costly. Anyone who, because of the strict €441.44 per-member line, loses the right to secondary aid yet has no money for a lawyer risks losing a complex case and paying the other side's costs, which far exceeds the saving. That is why it matters to know that the home you live in is not counted as assets — giving up by mistake costs money. If an applicant states untrue information about income or assets, the decision granting aid can be revoked and any aid wrongly paid is recovered, with possible liability for giving false data in administrative proceedings. There is a time cost too: the application requires proof of the whole household's income, so incomplete documents delay or defeat the right just when a deadline in the dispute is nearest. The threshold is, moreover, slated to rise because it has shut out many vulnerable citizens.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

How much can I earn and still get free legal aid?

For secondary aid, income per household member may not exceed one budget base, which in 2026 is €441.44 a month. Assets are considered alongside income, but the home you live in is not included in them.

Does my home count in the asset test?

No; the property in which the applicant and household members live is excluded from the asset test. The mistaken belief that a home disqualifies the applicant is a common reason people never apply.

What is the difference between primary and secondary aid?

Primary aid covers general legal information, advice and help completing forms and is broadly available. Secondary aid covers a lawyer, drafting submissions and court representation, and comes with a test of income and assets.

Where do I file the application?

An application for secondary legal aid is filed with the county or City of Zagreb administrative department for your place of residence. Primary aid is also provided by authorised associations and by university law clinics.

What if I give incorrect information in the application?

The decision granting aid can be revoked and any aid wrongly paid is recovered. In addition, giving false data in administrative proceedings can bring further liability, so include only truthful information.

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