Crime Processing Timescales Updated April 2026
Summary
The UK Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has published updated processing timescales for crime applications and billing claims as of 13 April 2026. Current processing times range from 2 days for standard legal aid applications to 32 days for escape case prison law claims. The LAA continues to meet its 2-day target for 90% of crime applications and its 20-day target for very high cost cases.
What changed
The LAA has updated its published processing timescales for crime applications and criminal billing claims. The guidance provides current processing positions for various work types including legal aid applications (2 days), administrative IOJ appeals (2 days), CRM4/C RM5 prior authority applications (2-3 days), LGFS and AGFS fee claims (3-5 days), contempt of court claims (22 days), and ICA decisions (24 days).\n\nLegal professionals submitting crime claims in England and Wales should be aware that processing times vary significantly by claim type. The LAA advises using its online Crown Court Claims for Defence system to eliminate postage delays and enable instantaneous redetermination requests. Claimants should plan for additional 5-9 days beyond stated processing times to receive payment.
What to do next
- Monitor LAA processing timescales for updates
- Use online billing system (CCD) to reduce postage delays
- Allow 5-9 additional days for payment receipt after processing
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Guidance
Crime processing dates
Check timescales for the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) to process your work (eg prior authority application, graduated fee claims).
From: Legal Aid Agency Published 1 June 2014 Last updated 13 April 2026
— See all updates Get emails about this page
Applies to England and Wales
Print this page
Summary of processing timescales
Information will be updated on a weekly basis and the current position will be the oldest date as of Friday the previous week.
We continually aim to turnaround applications and bills as soon as possible and strive to deliver performance under our current set targets.
Updated 19 April 2026.
Crime applications
Current targets:
| Applications and Appeals |
|---|
| 90% within 2 working days |
| Work type | Current position (working days) |
|---|---|
| Application for legal aid | 2 days |
| Administrative Interest of Justice Appeals | 2 days |
Very high cost cases and central fund claims - Criminal Cases Unit
Current targets:
| All categories |
|---|
| 95% within 20 working days |
| Work type | Current position (working days) |
|---|---|
| Audits | 14 days |
| LGFS special preparation | 10 days |
| AGFS special preparation | 5 days |
Criminal billing
Current targets:
| Application for prior authority/applications to extend upper financial limit | Claims | LGFS & AGFS redetermination requests |
|---|---|---|
| 90% within 5 working days | 95% within 15 working days | 90% within 30 working days |
| Work type | Oldest date of receipt by LAA of work now being processed | |
|---|---|---|
| CRM4 | Application for prior authority (disbursement) | 2 days |
| CRM5 | Application for prior authority (costs) | 3 days |
| CRM7 ( Paper Submission) | Non-standard magistrates court claim | 4 Days |
| CRM7 ( Online Submission) | Non-standard magistrates’ court claim | 3 Days |
| CRM7 Appeals | Non-standard magistrates’ court claim Appeals | 11 Days |
| Contempt of Court | Claim for representation in contempt proceedings | 22 Days |
| ICA Decisions (CRM7) | Non-standard magistrates’ court claim Appeals sent to an Independent Cost Assessor | 24 Days |
| CRM18 | Police station exceptional claim | 3 days |
| CRM18A’s | Escape Case Claim – Prison Law | 32 Days |
| LF1 (final) | Litigator graduated fee claim | 4 day |
| LF1 (fixed) | Litigator graduated fee claim | 4 day |
| LF1 (interim) | Litigator graduated fee disbursement | 4 day |
| LF2 | Redetermination request | 4 day |
| LGFS EPPE | Electronic Evidence | 5 days |
| AF1 (final) | Advocates fee | 5 days |
| AF1 (fixed) | Advocates fixed fee | 5 days |
| AF2 | Redetermination request | 5 days |
| AGFS EPPE | Electronic Evidence | 3 Days |
Please allow a further 5 – 9 days for payment to be received
The current position above is from the receipt of the claim to process completion and does not take into consideration the time taken for postage.
Using our online billing system
Crown Court Claims for Defence (CCD) will enable you to eradicate the additional postage delays in processing your claim and allow you to submit redetermination requests instantaneously.
You can also check on the progress of your claim on line at any time.
Updates to this page
Published 1 June 2014 Last updated 13 April 2026 show all updates
1.
13 April 2026
All Crime updated
2.
8 April 2026
All Crime Updated
3.
30 March 2026
All Crime Updated
4.
23 March 2026
All crime updated.
5.
16 March 2026
All crime updated
6.
10 March 2026
Crime Updated
7.
2 March 2026
All Crime updated
8.
24 February 2026
All Crime Updated
9.
16 February 2026
All Crime updated
10.
10 February 2026
All Crime updated
11.
2 February 2026
All Crime Updated
12.
26 January 2026
All Crime Updated
13.
20 January 2026
All Crime updated
14.
13 January 2026
Dates updated
15.
13 January 2026
All dates updated
16.
5 January 2026
All Crime updated
17.
23 December 2025
Updated dates
18.
16 December 2025
All Crime Updated
19.
8 December 2025
All dates updated
20.
3 December 2025
All Crime updated
21.
24 November 2025
All Crime updated
22.
18 November 2025
All Crime updated
23.
10 November 2025
All Areas updated
24.
4 November 2025
All Crime updated
25.
28 October 2025
All Crime Updated
26.
21 October 2025
All Crime Updated
27.
14 October 2025
All Crime Updated
28.
7 October 2025
All Crime updated
29.
30 September 2025
All Crime Updated
30.
23 September 2025
All Crime Updated
31.
17 September 2025
All Crime updated
32.
2 September 2025
Crime Updated
33.
28 August 2025
Crime Updated
34.
20 August 2025
All Crime Updated
35.
12 August 2025
All Crime updated
36.
5 August 2025
All Crime Updated
37.
31 July 2025
All Crime Updated
38.
23 July 2025
All Crime Updated
39.
15 July 2025
All Crime updated
40.
8 July 2025
Added contingency measures
41.
8 July 2025
Date changed
42.
8 July 2025
All Crime updated
43.
3 July 2025
All Crime updated
44.
26 June 2025
Applications and Appeals updated
45.
25 June 2025
Applications and Appeals updated
46.
25 June 2025
Administrative Interest of Justice Appeals updated
47.
25 June 2025
Application for legal aid date updated
48.
24 June 2025
All Crime updated
49.
17 June 2025
All Crime Updated
50.
17 June 2025
Applications and Appeals updated
51.
4 June 2025
All Crime updated
52.
28 May 2025
Criminal billing CRM updated
53.
20 May 2025
Crime Updated
54.
13 May 2025
All Crime Updated
55.
6 May 2025
All Crime Updated
56.
29 April 2025
All Crime updated
57.
22 April 2025
All Crime Updated
58.
15 April 2025
All Crime updated
59.
8 April 2025
All Crime updated
60.
27 March 2025
All crime updated
61.
11 March 2025
All Crime updated
62.
28 February 2025
Page checked 28/02/2025
63.
25 February 2025
All crime updated
64.
17 February 2025
All Crime updated
65.
10 February 2025
All Crime updated
66.
3 February 2025
All Crime updated
67.
27 January 2025
All Crime updated
68.
21 January 2025
All Crime updated
69.
13 January 2025
All Crime updated
70.
6 January 2025
All Crime updated
71.
30 December 2024
Crime Updated
72.
16 December 2024
All crime updated
73.
9 December 2024
All crime updated
74.
2 December 2024
All crime updated
75.
25 November 2024
All crime updated
76.
18 November 2024
All crime updated
77.
11 November 2024
All crime updated
78.
4 November 2024
All crime updated
79.
28 October 2024
All crime updated
80.
21 October 2024
All crime updated
81.
8 October 2024
All Updated
82.
30 September 2024
All updated
83.
16 September 2024
All Crime updated
84.
9 September 2024
All Crime updated
85.
4 September 2024
All Crime updated
86.
19 August 2024
All dates updated
87.
12 August 2024
All Crime Updated
88.
29 July 2024
All Crime Updated
89.
22 July 2024
Edited Application for legal aid wording to remove CRM14/15
90.
22 July 2024
All updated
91.
15 July 2024
All updated
92.
9 July 2024
All updated
93.
24 June 2024
All dated updated
94.
20 June 2024
LGFS and AGFS Updated
95.
17 June 2024
All Crime dates updated
96.
13 June 2024
Criminal Finance updated
97.
10 June 2024
All Crime updated
98.
3 June 2024
Updated AGFS
99.
3 June 2024
LGFS and Criminal Finance updated
100.
28 May 2024
Magistrates’ Billing updated
101.
28 May 2024
LGFS and AGFS updated
102.
22 May 2024
LGFS and AGFS Updated
103.
21 May 2024
LGFS Updated
104.
16 May 2024
LF2 updated
105.
16 May 2024
LGFS and AGFS Updated
106.
15 May 2024
Criminal billing updated
107.
13 May 2024
LGFS Updated
108.
10 May 2024
All dates updated
109.
7 May 2024
LGFS latest dates updated
110.
29 April 2024
LGFS and AGFS dates updated
111.
23 April 2024
Dates updated and Added EPPE for LGFS
112.
18 April 2024
All Dates updated
113.
10 April 2024
AGFS Dates updated
114.
5 April 2024
All dates updated
115.
2 April 2024
All Dates updated
116.
27 March 2024
Criminal billing updated
117.
12 March 2024
Dates Updated
118.
4 March 2024
All dates Updated
119.
19 February 2024
All dates updated
120.
1 February 2024
All Dates Updated
121.
8 January 2024
All dates updated
122.
20 December 2023
All Dates Updated
123.
14 December 2023
All Dates updated
124.
29 November 2023
All Dates Updated
125.
15 November 2023
All Dates updated
126.
13 November 2023
All dates updated
127.
6 November 2023
All Dates Updated
128.
20 October 2023
All dates updated
129.
13 October 2023
All Dates updated
130.
2 October 2023
All Dates updated
131.
15 September 2023
All Dates updated
132.
12 September 2023
Dates Updated
133.
4 August 2023
Dates Updated
134.
27 July 2023
Dates Updated
135.
24 July 2023
Dates Updated
136.
14 July 2023
Dates Updated
137.
7 July 2023
Dates Updated
138.
3 July 2023
Dates Updated
139.
26 May 2023
Dates Updated
140.
15 May 2023
Dates Updated
141.
5 May 2023
Dates Updated
142.
21 April 2023
Dates Updated
143.
14 April 2023
Dates Updated
144.
31 March 2023
Dates Updated
145.
24 March 2023
Dates Updated
146.
17 March 2023
Dates Updated
147.
1 March 2023
Dates Updated
148.
17 February 2023
Dates Updated
149.
30 January 2023
Dates Updated
150.
20 January 2023
Dates Updated
151.
9 January 2023
Dates Updated
152.
15 December 2022
Dates updated
153.
12 December 2022
Dates Updated
154.
28 November 2022
Dates Updated
155.
17 November 2022
Dates Updated
156.
3 November 2022
Dates Updated
157.
28 October 2022
Dates Updated
158.
7 October 2022
Dates Updated
159.
30 September 2022
Dates Updated
160.
15 September 2022
Dates Updated
161.
9 September 2022
Dates Updated
162.
5 September 2022
Dates Updated
163.
26 August 2022
Dates Updated
164.
17 August 2022
Dates Updated
165.
5 August 2022
Dates Updated
166.
29 July 2022
Dates Updated
167.
22 July 2022
Dates Updated
168.
15 July 2022
Dates Updated
169.
11 July 2022
Dates Updated
170.
24 June 2022
Dates Updated
171.
23 June 2022
Dated Updated
172.
17 June 2022
Dates Updated
173.
10 June 2022
Dates Updated
174.
6 June 2022
Dates Updated
175.
30 May 2022
Dates Updated
176.
20 May 2022
Dates Updated
177.
13 May 2022
Dates Updated
178.
29 April 2022
Dates Updated
179.
19 April 2022
Dates Updated
180.
11 April 2022
Dates Updated
181.
1 April 2022
Dates Updated
182.
18 March 2022
Dates Updated
183.
23 February 2022
Dates Updated
184.
18 February 2022
Dates Updated
185.
11 February 2022
Dates Updated
186.
31 January 2022
Dates Updated
187.
21 January 2022
Dates Updated
188.
9 December 2021
Dates Updated
189.
1 December 2021
Dates Updated
190.
26 November 2021
Dates Updated
191.
18 November 2021
Dates Updated
192.
5 November 2021
Dates Updated
193.
22 October 2021
Dates Updated
194.
22 September 2021
Dates Updated
195.
16 September 2021
Dates Updated
196.
2 September 2021
Dates Updated
197.
27 August 2021
Dates Updated
198.
19 August 2021
Dates Updated
199.
5 August 2021
Dates Updated
200.
28 July 2021
Dates Updated
201.
23 July 2021
Dates Updated
202.
14 July 2021
Dates Updated
203.
12 July 2021
Dates Updated
204.
30 June 2021
Dates Updated
205.
18 June 2021
Dates Updated
206.
11 June 2021
Dates Updated
207.
4 June 2021
Dates Updated
208.
13 May 2021
Dates updated
209.
6 May 2021
Dates Updated
210.
28 April 2021
Dated Updated
211.
23 April 2021
Dates updated
212.
19 April 2021
Dates updated
213.
9 April 2021
Dates updated
214.
1 April 2021
Dates Updated
215.
26 March 2021
Dates Updated
216.
17 March 2021
Dates Updated
217.
15 March 2021
Dates Updated
218.
24 February 2021
Dates Updated
219.
17 February 2021
Dates Updated
220.
21 January 2021
Dates Changed
221.
15 January 2021
Dates updated
222.
10 December 2020
Dates Updated
223.
7 December 2020
Dates Updated
224.
19 November 2020
Dates updated
225.
16 November 2020
Dates updated
226.
6 November 2020
Dates Updated
227.
30 October 2020
Dates updated
228.
22 October 2020
Dates updated
229.
16 October 2020
Dates Updated
230.
12 October 2020
Dates Updated
231.
5 October 2020
Dates Updated
232.
1 October 2020
Dates updated
233.
18 September 2020
Dates updated
234.
4 September 2020
Dates updated
235.
14 August 2020
Dates updated
236.
24 July 2020
Dates updated
237.
10 July 2020
Dates Updated
238.
25 June 2020
Dates updated
239.
15 June 2020
Dates updated
240.
29 May 2020
Dates updated
241.
30 April 2020
Dates updated
242.
17 April 2020
Dates changed
243.
6 April 2020
Dates updated
244.
18 March 2020
Dates updated
245.
28 February 2020
All dates updated
246.
21 February 2020
All dates updated
247.
14 February 2020
All dates updated
248.
31 January 2020
Dates updated
249.
27 January 2020
Dates updated
250.
16 January 2020
Dates changed
251.
10 January 2020
All dates updated.
252.
27 December 2019
All dates updated.
253.
20 December 2019
All dates updated.
254.
13 December 2019
All dates updated.
255.
6 December 2019
All dates updated.
256.
22 November 2019
All dates updated.
257.
15 November 2019
Dates updated.
258.
8 November 2019
All dates updated.
259.
4 November 2019
All dates updated.
260.
26 October 2019
Dates updated.
261.
11 October 2019
Dates updated.
262.
2 October 2019
Dates updated.
263.
27 September 2019
Days updated.
264.
20 September 2019
Dates updated.
265.
12 August 2019
Dates updated
266.
18 July 2019
Dates updated
267.
21 June 2019
Dates updated
268.
13 June 2019
Dates updated
269.
10 June 2019
Dates updated
270.
17 May 2019
Dates updated
271.
9 May 2019
Dates updated.
272.
2 May 2019
Dates updated.
273.
15 April 2019
Dates updated
274.
1 April 2019
Dates updated
275.
25 March 2019
Dates updated
276.
15 March 2019
Dates updated
277.
21 February 2019
Dates updated
278.
15 February 2019
Dates Changed
279.
11 February 2019
Dates updated
280.
21 January 2019
Dates updated
281.
7 January 2019
Dates updated
282.
7 December 2018
Dates updated
283.
3 December 2018
Dates updated
284.
22 November 2018
Dates updated
285.
19 November 2018
Dates changed
286.
9 November 2018
Dates updated
287.
25 October 2018
Dates updated
288.
17 October 2018
Dates changed
289.
8 October 2018
Dates changed
290.
1 October 2018
Dates Updated
291.
25 September 2018
Dates updated
292.
13 September 2018
Dates updated
293.
7 September 2018
Dates updated
294.
3 September 2018
Dates updated
295.
23 August 2018
Dates changed
296.
20 August 2018
Dates Changed
297.
8 August 2018
Dates changed
298.
30 July 2018
Dates changed
299.
20 July 2018
Dates changed
300.
13 July 2018
Dates updated.
301.
6 July 2018
Dates updated.
302.
20 June 2018
Dates updated.
303.
13 June 2018
Dates updated.
304.
8 June 2018
Dates updated
305.
1 June 2018
Dates updated
306.
17 May 2018
Dates updated
307.
4 May 2018
Dates updated.
308.
30 April 2018
Dates updated.
309.
20 April 2018
Dates updated.
310.
13 April 2018
Numbers of working days updated.
311.
6 April 2018
Dates updated.
312.
29 March 2018
Dates updated.
313.
23 March 2018
Dates updated.
314.
15 March 2018
Dates updated.
315.
23 February 2018
Dates updated.
316.
15 February 2018
Dates updated.
317.
12 February 2018
Dates updated.
318.
5 February 2018
Dates updated.
319.
25 January 2018
Dates updated.
320.
15 January 2018
Dates updated.
321.
1 December 2017
Dates updated.
322.
23 November 2017
Dates updated.
323.
20 November 2017
Dates updated.
324.
10 November 2017
Dates updated.
325.
6 November 2017
Dates updated.
326.
30 October 2017
Dates updated.
327.
18 October 2017
Dates updated.
328.
12 October 2017
Dates updated.
329.
21 September 2017
Dates updated.
330.
15 September 2017
Dates updated.
331.
4 September 2017
Dates updated.
332.
23 August 2017
Dates updated.
333.
16 August 2017
Dates updated.
334.
2 August 2017
Dates updated.
335.
28 July 2017
Latest processing times published.
336.
20 July 2017
Latest processing times published.
337.
12 July 2017
Processing times updated.
338.
7 July 2017
Dates updated.
339.
29 June 2017
Dates updated.
340.
14 June 2017
Dates updated.
341.
17 May 2017
Dates updated.
342.
12 April 2017
Dates updated.
343.
23 February 2017
Dates updated.
344.
8 February 2017
Dates updated.
345.
12 January 2017
Dates updated.
346.
6 January 2017
Dates updated.
347.
23 December 2016
Dates updated.
348.
15 December 2016
Crime processing dates updated.
349.
7 December 2016
Dates updated.
350.
24 November 2016
Dates updated.
351.
17 November 2016
Dates updated.
352.
9 November 2016
Crime processing dates updated.
353.
2 November 2016
Dates updated.
354.
27 October 2016
Dates updated.
355.
19 October 2016
Dates updated.
356.
12 October 2016
Dates updated.
357.
5 October 2016
Dates updated.
358.
28 September 2016
Dates updated.
359.
21 September 2016
Dates updated.
360.
19 September 2016
Dates format updated.
361.
14 September 2016
Dates updated.
362.
16 August 2016
Dates updated.
363.
8 August 2016
Dates updated.
364.
25 July 2016
Crime processing dates updated.
365.
4 July 2016
Dates updated.
366.
20 June 2016
Dates updated.
367.
7 June 2016
Crime processing dates updated.
368.
26 May 2016
Crime processing dates updated.
369.
9 May 2016
Dates updated.
370.
25 April 2016
Crime processing dates updated.
371.
18 April 2016
Dates updated.
372.
12 April 2016
Crime processing dates updated.
373.
31 March 2016
Crime processing dates updated.
374.
11 March 2016
Dates updated.
375.
7 March 2016
Dates updated.
376.
24 September 2015
Crime Processing Dates updated.
377.
4 September 2015
Crime processing dates updated.
378.
17 August 2015
Crime processing dates updated.
379.
5 August 2015
Crime processing dates updated.
380.
30 July 2015
Crime processing dates updated.
381.
13 July 2015
Crime processing dates updated.
382.
1 December 2014
Dates revised
383.
5 November 2014
Updated
384.
28 October 2014
Updated
385.
10 September 2014
New dates added
386.
5 September 2014
Dates updated.
387.
26 August 2014
Crime processing dates have been updated.
388.
26 August 2014
Telephone number changed.
389.
22 August 2014
Crime processing dates updated.
390.
1 June 2014
First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Get emails about this page Print this page Contents
Related content
Related changes
Get daily alerts for UK LAA
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from LAA.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when UK LAA publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.