What is a McKenzie Friend?

A McKenzie Friend is a person who supports a litigant in person in court by taking notes, helping with paperwork and offering practical and moral support. They are not a solicitor and do not provide legal representation unless the court grants additional rights.

Can I go to family court without a solicitor?

Yes. Many people represent themselves in UK family court as litigants in person. Bridge The Gap shares community observations and resources to help you understand the process. It does not provide legal advice.

What is Bridge The Gap?

Bridge The Gap is a community-built platform by litigants and McKenzie Friends that highlights the gaps between what people assume about family court and what actually happens.

Back to feed All glossary terms

Protective Orders

DARVO

1 min read

DARVO stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. It describes a recognised pattern of behaviour in which a person accused of wrongdoing denies the allegation, attacks the accuser's credibility, and repositions themselves as the true victim. In family court, particularly during fact-finding hearings involving allegations of abuse, understanding DARVO can help litigants and the court identify how a respondent may attempt to deflect accountability rather than address the substance of the allegations.

In Plain English

DARVO is when someone accused of doing something wrong first denies it, then attacks the person accusing them, and finally tries to make themselves look like the real victim. It's a manipulation pattern sometimes seen in family court when someone is accused of abuse.

Related terms

Coercive and controlling behaviourNon-molestation order Fact-finding hearing Domestic abuse

Case studies referencing this term

Case B – 2026

A father lost parental responsibility, all contact with his child, and had a long-term protective order made against him after the court found he had continued a coercive and controlling pattern of behaviour throughout the proceedings. The case is a significant example of a court formally recognising and applying the DARVO framework — where a perpetrator Denies wrongdoing, Attacks the person who raised it, and Reverses Victim and Offender roles — as clinically identified by an expert psychologist with direct consequences for orders made.

DAPO

Death in Service Benefit

Published1 September 2026Last reviewed1 September 2026

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