How we help
Support that meets you where you are
Every family's situation is different. Our support is practical, unhurried and tailored, whether you need an explanation, help preparing, or a steady presence in court.
Guidance
Court papers and procedure are written for lawyers. We translate them into plain English so you know what you are looking at and what comes next.
- How the Family Court process works, step by step
- What each document in your papers means
- What to expect at each type of hearing
- How to think about your account of events and the documents that support it
McKenzie Friend support
A McKenzie Friend is a supporter who sits beside you in court. Court is stressful and it is hard to remember everything. Having someone with you makes a real difference.
- Sit next to you throughout the hearing
- Take notes so you can focus on listening
- Help you keep your papers in order
- Offer quiet suggestions and reassurance
What a McKenzie Friend does not do: they are not your lawyer, they do not give legal advice, and they do not normally speak for you in court. The court decides whether anyone other than you may address it.
Hearing preparation
Being well prepared reduces fear and helps you present your circumstances clearly.
- Organise your documents into a clear, easy-to-follow order
- Help you build a dated timeline of events in your own words
- Talk through what the judge is likely to want to understand
- Practise what to expect in the room, from arriving to leaving
Our approach
- Plain language. No jargon, ever.
- Confidential. What you tell us is private, subject to the safeguarding limits in our Privacy Notice.
- Transparent fees. Low-cost support, with clear fees agreed before you commit.
- Honest. We tell you plainly what we can and cannot do.
Getting started is simple: contact us, tell us about your situation and your hearing date, and we will explain how we can help.