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.
Hearing Date Set?
A date in the diary can make everything feel real. Preparing step by step tends to help.
Once a hearing is listed, the time before it is the part you can influence. These are observations from litigants and McKenzie Friends about what people often do with that time. This is general information, not legal advice.
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The Gaps
Family court is full of things nobody warns you about.
We call them Gaps — the difference between what people believe about family court and what actually happens. Reading them before your hearing could change everything.
Know what type of hearing it is
The notice or order usually says what the hearing is for. A first hearing, a directions hearing and a final hearing each have a different purpose and a different level of preparation.
Work back from the date
People often write the hearing date at the top of a page and list backwards what has to be filed, sent or printed before it. Deadlines in the order tend to come first.
Get your papers in order
Courts usually expect organised, numbered documents. Litigants often keep a short summary of key facts and the outcome they are asking for.
Plan the day
Many people visit the court building details in advance, arrive early and bring copies of everything. Some ask for a McKenzie Friend to sit with them.
Did you know?
Most people go into family court believing things that simply aren't true.
The Gaps are short, honest explanations of the most common family court misconceptions — written in plain English, not legal jargon. Each one covers what people believe, why that belief exists, and what the court reality actually is.
How Bridge The Gap Can Help
McKenzie Friends
Browse our directory of court support professionals.
Find SupportFamily Court Reality
Plain-English analyses of the most common family court misconceptions — so you know what to actually expect.
Explore the GapsResources & Guides
Access guides to court forms, procedures, and resources to help you prepare and present your case effectively.
View ResourcesFrequently Asked Questions
Your experience matters
Have you been through family court? You know something others don't.
The Gaps are built from real litigant experiences. If you discovered something in your case that nobody warned you about — something that changed how you understood the process — your contribution could help someone else avoid the same shock.