Form

Get medical proof of domestic abuse

Use this letter to get evidence of any illness, physical or mental harm caused by domestic abuse, if you're applying for legal aid.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email LAAReasonableAdjustmentRequests@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

To ask for confirmation from the medical staff who treated you:

  • fill in the sample letter as best you can
  • send it to the doctor, dentist, midwife, nurse practitioner, psychologist, paramedic, radiographer, or social worker who saw you

If you cannot remember who treated you, contact your GP or the hospital you visited. Another health professional will be able to help.

You may have to pay a fee.

You can use the medical letter as evidence when you apply for legal aid to divorce or separate from an abusive partner.

If you’re a doctor, dentist, midwife, nurse, practitioner psychologist, paramedic, radiographer, or social worker, you can adapt this letter to give evidence of diagnosing injuries or conditions consistent with domestic abuse.

You can also sign this letter if you’re a health professional and have access to relevant medical records but did not make the diagnosis yourself.

You need to give evidence when victims of domestic abuse apply for legal aid.

Updates to this page

Published 31 July 2025

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