Looking for help in your family court proceedings?Bridge The Gap is a free, community-built guide to UK family court, written by litigants and McKenzie Friends, for litigants. Real observations, plain English, and people who can help.
Assumption: "Once I instruct a solicitor, they take over my case and I no longer need to worry about deadlines, disclosure or complying with court orders."
1 min readThis content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
What People Expect
Instructing a solicitor means the hard part is over — the case is in hand and the legal representative deals with everything, so the client has no ongoing responsibilities.
Court Reality
The client never stops being responsible for their own case. Disclosure, witness statements, and compliance with court orders rest with you personally, not your solicitor. A solicitor can guide and help you draft, but they cannot sign a statement of truth on your behalf or attend to your personal disclosure for you. If they come off the record, those obligations stay with you — they do not transfer to the solicitor.
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Bridge The Gap
Think instructing a solicitor means the hard part is over? Your duties to the court stay with you — and if your solicitor comes off the record, they stay with you.
Once I instruct a solicitor, they take over my case and I no longer need to worry about deadlines, disclosure or complying with court orders.
Reality
The client never stops being responsible for their own case. Disclosure, witness statements, and compliance with court orders rest with you personally, not your solicitor.
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