CDS News

Version 9 CDS 14, 15 and 15c are now available to preview on our website.

The forms go live from 1 February 2012 and should not be used to make applications for legal aid before then.

Due to the significant changes made to the forms, Version 8 and Version 9 cannot be used together in one application.

Key changes

All applicants with an income of less than £12,475, who don’t own a house and who don’t have any savings/investments, will now no longer be required to complete the CDS15.

• This will reduce the number of rejected / returned applications for questions not answered.
• It will also reduce the number of CDS15 forms required, which in itself cuts down the opportunity for error.
• We’ve created a new form, the CDS 15C, for applicants to provide further information about their financial circumstances where there is not enough room on the CDS 15.

We’ve rewritten the CDS Means Forms Completion Guidance to support the revised forms.
The guidance makes clear what we expect to see in terms of Interests of Justice, financial declarations and the standards we expect for completeness.

Further information

Forms preview and guidance