National rule: Legal Aid Act
Act No 327/2005 on the provision of legal aid to persons in material need and amending Act No 586/2003 on the legal profession and amending Act No 455/1991 on trading activity (the Trading Act), as amended by Act No 8/2005, which has been in force since 1 January 2006.
Article 14(2), first indent - Names and addresses of the competent receiving or transmitting authorities
The competent receiving and transmitting authority is the Legal Aid Centre. The Legal Aid Centre has the following offices across Slovakia:
Legal Aid Centre
Bratislava Office
Districts covered by the office:
Bratislava I, Bratislava II, Bratislava III, Bratislava IV, Bratislava V, Malacky, Pezinok, Senec and Galanta
Legal Aid Centre
Districts covered by the office:
Trnava, Senica, Skalica, Hlohovec and Piešťany
Legal Aid Centre
Trenčín Office
Districts covered by the office:
Trenčín, Nové mesto nad Váhom, Myjava, Ilava and Bánovce nad Bebravou,
Legal Aid Centre
Nitra Office
Districts covered by the office:
Nitra, Topoľčany, Zlaté Moravce, Levice and Šaľa
Legal Aid Centre
Districts covered by the office:
Komárno, Nové Zámky and Dunajská Streda
Legal Aid Centre
Banská Bystrica Office
Districts covered by the office:
Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, Detva, Brezno, Krupina and Veľký Krtíš
Legal Aid Centre
Žiar nad Hronom Office
Districts covered by the office:
Žiar nad Hronom, Žarnovica, Partizánske, Prievidza and Banská Štiavnica,
Legal Aid Centre
Rimavská Sobota Office
Districts covered by the office:
Rimavská Sobota, Lučenec, Poltár and Revúca
Legal Aid Centre
Žilina Office
Districts covered by the office:
Žilina, Považská Bystrica, Bytča, Čadca, Kysucké Nové Mesto, Turčianske Teplice, Martin and Púchov
Legal Aid Centre
Liptovský Mikuláš Office
Districts covered by the office:
Liptovský Mikuláš, Ružomberok and Poprad
Legal Aid Centre
Tvrdošín Office
Districts covered by the office:
Tvrdošín, Dolný Kubín and Námestovo
Legal Aid Centre
Košice Office
Districts covered by the office:
Košice I, Košice II, Košice III, Košice IV, Košice okolie, Rožňava, Gelnica, Spišská Nová Ves and Trebišov
Legal Aid Centre
Prešov Office
Districts covered by the office:
Prešov, Stará Ľubovňa, Levoča, Sabinov and Kežmarok
Legal Aid Centre
Svidník Office
Districts covered by the office:
Svidník, Bardejov, Stropkov and Medzilaborce
Legal Aid Centre
Humenné Office
Districts covered by the office:
Humenné, Snina, Vranov nad Topľou, Michalovce and Sobrance
In addition to its offices, the Legal Aid Centre also has consultation centres that provide advice on pre-set days.
Article 14(2), second indent - Receiving and transmitting authorities' geographical areas of jurisdiction
The Legal Aid Centre is the competent authority for the whole of Slovakia. As a rule, the Centre provides its services through its offices.
Territorial jurisdiction of the transferring authorities:
Legal aid applications to be transferred to another Member State must be submitted to the Legal Aid Centre office responsible for the applicant’s place of permanent or temporary residence.
Territorial jurisdiction of the receiving authorities:
Applications for legal aid may be submitted straight to the Legal Aid Centre office responsible for the place where the case is to be initiated or is in progress or, if the application concerns legal aid in enforcement proceedings, the place of enforcement.
Article 14(2), third indent - Available methods of receiving applications
Applications must be made in writing on the prescribed form, which is to be submitted either in person or by post.
Article 14(2), fourth indent - Languages that may be used for completion of the application
Applications submitted to the Legal Aid Centre must be in Slovak, but applications in Czech are also accepted.
If being transferred to another Member State concerned, the application in Slovak and any documents accompanying it must be translated into an official language of that Member State.