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.

Getting Support Without a Solicitor

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.

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Subject Guide

Getting Support Without a Solicitor

You do not have to face this alone — here are observed insights into what support is commonly available and what it can and cannot do, shared by the community.

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A McKenzie Friend can help you navigate mckenzie friends & support in family court.

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Getting Support Without a Solicitor

Assumption: "My solicitor will take care of the hard bits."

Assumption: "The other side's solicitor is allowed to do whatever they want"

Assumption: Communication/Explanation Gap

Assumption: Capacity & Overwhelm Gap

Assumption: Representation Myth Gap

Assumption: Continuity Gap

Assumption: Power & Confidence Gap

Assumption: Once I have a consent order, it is over and I am protected.

Assumption: He put inheritance into the house — surely he gets that back first?

Assumption: Their solicitor said they can ring-fence the money — so it must be true.

Assumption: My ex stopped paying the mortgage. I can apply to court and they will make him pay his half.

Assumption: I have a solicitor appointment. I will explain everything that has happened and they will tell me what to do.

Assumption: I have a solicitor appointment about my children. I will explain everything my ex has done and they will sort it out.

Assumption: Legal aid was removed from family cases for good reasons — the government knew what it was doing.

Assumption: Cafcass is on one parent's side — or the court's side.

Assumption: My barrister will do exactly what I want

Assumption: The solicitor is driving this — they will sort it out.

Assumption: I have a solicitor but the bills are mounting up. Can I switch to a McKenzie Friend instead?

Assumption: My solicitor is submitting my C100 and C1A. Once that is done, can I just take over from there?

Assumption: A McKenzie Friend can be recommended like any other professional — I just need to find a good one in my area.

Assumption: I can have a McKenzie Friend and a solicitor at the same time.

Assumption: If we both agree to delay the final divorce order until finances are sorted, we do not need a court order — a verbal agreement or undertaking through solicitors is enough.

Assumption: The paperwork of the divorce is the hard part.

Assumption: We've been paying solicitor fees for 18 months and can't afford to continue. If we change now we'll have to start the whole process again.

Assumption: Doing my own divorce means doing it entirely alone.

Assumption: Saving money on solicitor fees is the smartest move.

Assumption: He is refusing to engage with the financial proceedings. His solicitors won't respond. There is nothing I can do until he decides to participate.

Assumption: My ex has moved away with the children — can I force them to come back?

Assumption: I know my situation better than my solicitor or McKenzie Friend — can I just take the bits of advice that feel right?

Assumption: My deed of trust protects my money — I had it drawn up by a solicitor.

Assumption: Having lawyers involved just makes family court cases more adversarial and drags things out.

Assumption: I have genuine safeguarding concerns but if I pause contact I will get into trouble with the judge for breaking the court order.

Assumption: The court is a neutral space — once we separate, he has no power over me there.

Assumption: Having equal parental responsibility means I have the right to change where my child lives.

Assumption: The MIAM is just a box to tick before I can go to court.

Assumption: A McKenzie Friend can help with any court matter — including small claims mediation — and can provide free legal advice.

Assumption: I can thank my McKenzie Friend publicly on social media using my real name — it's harmless and helps them get more clients.

Assumption: The other party has a solicitor and barrister, so that means I need one too or I'll be at a disadvantage.

Assumption: All McKenzie Friends are the same.

Assumption: All solicitors and barristers are the same.

Assumption: I don't need to look at a draft order the other party's barrister drafts, as it will always be an accurate reflection of what happened in the hearing.

Assumption: I need a solicitor and/or a barrister to represent me and then I'll get what I want.

Assumption: If I get legal aid for financial remedy proceedings, it works in the same way as legal aid for child arrangements.

Assumption: McKenzie Friends are legally qualified and professional.

Assumption: I can ask the family court to help me with my child maintenance claim.

Assumption: I can record my family court hearing on my phone — it is my case and I have a right to keep a record of what was said.

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.

Assumption: If my solicitor comes off the record, my responsibilities to the court go with them.

Assumption: If I qualify for legal aid, it will cover my case from start to finish without interruption.

Assumption: If my legal aid is under review or has lapsed, the court will pause my case until it is sorted.

Assumption: The court will make allowances for me because I am representing myself.

Assumption: A McKenzie Friend can speak for me in court and conduct my case like a solicitor would.

Assumption: Any expert I bring to court will be accepted — a therapist, counsellor, or support worker can give evidence as long as they know about the subject.

Assumption: If my solicitor messes up my case, the court will sort it out and I won't lose out financially — it's their fault, not mine.

Assumption: The court will reduce my ex's share of the assets because of the abuse during the marriage.

Assumption: If I tell the court my ex is hiding or wasting assets, they'll have to investigate and my ex will be penalised.

Assumption: I can use AI to help write my court documents and it will give me real cases and real law to back up my arguments.

Assumption: We have children together, so I'm automatically entitled to stay in the house, or my ex is automatically entitled to a share of it.

Assumption: If my partner dies without a will, I'll automatically inherit their share, or at least be entitled to stay in our home.

Assumption: If I contact a family lawyer, I'll have to commit to getting divorced right away.

Assumption: My pension and my ex's pension are worth the same if the paper values look similar.

Assumption: A solicitor and a barrister are the same thing.

Assumption: I can just instruct a pension expert (PODE) myself as a litigant in person.

Assumption: We're amicable and it's a cash buyout with no mortgage, so I can do the transfer of equity myself through the Land Registry.

Assumption: Given the history of abuse and a non-molestation order, I can just redact or withhold my bank statements to protect my safety.

Assumption: Every allegation in my schedule of allegations will be heard and decided at the fact-finding hearing.

Assumption: "Supervised" and "supported" contact are basically the same thing, just cheaper one way.

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