A McKenzie Friend posts on social media celebrating a win in family court. Their client responds publicly by name to say thank you. The MF responds warmly. The training organisation that certified the MF shares the post to congratulate everyone. Everyone meant well. But the client's profile is now searchable. Their child's identity is one click away. Family court rarely ends cleanly — this person may well be back.
This content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
Everyone was celebrating a genuine win. The client chose to post publicly. The McKenzie Friend responded warmly. The training organisation amplified a good news story. None of it felt wrong in the moment.
Under the Family Procedure Rules 2010, sharing information that identifies or is likely to identify a child involved in proceedings can be a criminal offence. That applies while a case is ongoing. Contempt of court can apply even after it ends. It applies on social media. The risk was not that the child's name was posted. It was that the parent is identifiable — which makes the child identifiable. Nobody in the chain stopped to ask: should we be celebrating this here?
The right move — however uncomfortable — was a private message. Congratulations absolutely. But not publicly, not linked to a searchable profile connected to live or recently concluded proceedings. A McKenzie Friend's responsibility to their client does not end when the hearing does.
McKenzie Friends have no formal regulatory framework — which makes the ethical obligation to protect client confidentiality more important, not less. If a client posts publicly about their own case, the MF's job is to gently redirect — not amplify.
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