A Litigant's Guide
Commercial networks want you to believe choosing a McKenzie Friend is simple — just pick one from their list. It isn't. McKenzie Friends are unregulated, uninsured by default, and wildly variable in quality. This guide tells you exactly what to check before you trust someone with your family court case.
This page provides procedural guidance only, not legal advice. You remain responsible for your own case.
McKenzie Friends are not regulated. There is no governing body, no minimum qualification, no standard complaints process, and no professional indemnity insurance requirement. Anyone can call themselves a McKenzie Friend tomorrow and start charging litigants.
That does not mean McKenzie Friends are bad. Many are exceptional — experienced, well-informed, genuinely committed to helping people through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. But the gap between the best and the worst in this sector is enormous, and the consequences of getting it wrong fall on you.
The commercial networks that list McKenzie Friends have a financial interest in referrals. They are not vetting quality in the way you need. The due diligence is yours. This checklist exists to help you do it properly.
Go through each of these before you pay anything.
A McKenzie Friend with a personal website is accountable. You can find them independently, verify their claims, and reference them. Anyone who only appears on a commercial network directory is harder to verify and easier to disappear.
A clear, written service agreement that sets out exactly what is included, what is not included, what they charge, and — crucially — what they legally cannot do. If they resist putting this in writing, that tells you something.
A good McKenzie Friend will tell you unprompted that they cannot address the judge, cannot sign your documents, and cannot conduct litigation. If they imply they can do more than this — or avoid the question — that is a warning sign.
Not platform ratings. Not network star reviews. Real testimonials, ideally on their own website, from people who have been through family court proceedings. Ask if they can put you in touch with a previous client.
Child arrangements, financial remedy, non-molestation orders, and occupation orders each involve different rules, different forms, and different court dynamics. Someone experienced in one does not automatically understand another.
A Disclosure and Barring Service check confirms no relevant criminal history. Any paid McKenzie Friend working with families should have a current DBS check and be willing to share evidence of it before you engage them.
McKenzie Friends are not regulated. If something goes badly wrong, your recourse without insurance is extremely limited. Not every McKenzie Friend carries it — those who do are demonstrating a level of accountability that matters.
Anyone handling personal data — case files, client information, sensitive documents — must comply with UK GDPR. Registering with the Information Commissioner's Office is a legal obligation. Ask if they are registered.
Ask these directly. The quality and honesty of the answers will tell you more than any certificate or directory listing.
What experience do you have specifically in [your type of proceedings]?
Can you walk me through exactly what you will and will not do at a hearing?
Do you have a written service agreement I can review before paying?
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
Do you have a current DBS check?
Are you registered with the ICO for data protection purposes?
Can you put me in touch with a litigant you have previously supported?
What happens if the judge refuses to allow you into the hearing?
Have you ever been excluded from a hearing by a judge, and if so, why?
What is your process if I am unhappy with the service?
None of these are automatically disqualifying on their own, but any one of them should prompt a serious second look.
Commercial McKenzie Friend networks list practitioners in exchange for membership fees, referral cuts, or both. That is not inherently wrong — but you should understand what it means.
When a network tells you a McKenzie Friend is "vetted" or "trained," that vetting is usually limited to what the network itself requires for membership. It is not an independent quality standard, a regulated credential, or a guarantee of competence.
Some networks require members to complete paid training courses before listing. That training may or may not be valuable — but it does not confer any legal status, right of audience, or professional regulation. A certificate from a commercial training provider is not the same as genuine experience in family court proceedings.
Bridge The Gap lists McKenzie Friends who have their own independent web presence and are transparent about their experience, their fees, and the limits of their role. We do not charge referral fees. We do not take a cut. We exist to help you find support — not to sell it.
Yes. The right to have a McKenzie Friend is yours as a litigant, not something the McKenzie Friend has to earn. The 2010 Practice Guidance on McKenzie Friends states that a McKenzie Friend should be permitted unless the judge is satisfied their presence would impede the efficient administration of justice. The presumption is in your favour — a judge should not refuse without good reason.
No. McKenzie Friends are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board. There is no governing body, no mandatory qualification, and no standard complaints procedure. This means the due diligence falls entirely on you. Choose carefully and ask the right questions before paying.
An independent McKenzie Friend operates under their own name, with their own website, their own terms, and their own professional reputation. A network McKenzie Friend is listed on a commercial platform that takes referral fees or membership subscriptions from them. Networks are not inherently bad, but they have a commercial interest in the referral — which is not the same as a personal interest in your case.
Yes — and this is often where their real value lies. Outside court, a McKenzie Friend can help you understand court procedure, prepare your position statement, organise your bundle, help draft witness statements, and explain what to expect at each type of hearing. The in-court role (sitting beside you, passing notes, whispering prompts) is important, but the preparation work is often what makes the difference.
Generally no. Unlike solicitor costs, McKenzie Friend fees are not normally recoverable from the other party in the same way. Even if you succeed in your case, you will usually bear this cost yourself. This is one of the key practical differences between instructing a McKenzie Friend and instructing a solicitor.
Voluntary McKenzie Friends do exist — Support Through Court is a charity that provides free McKenzie Friend support in family court hearings. Legal aid remains available in some limited circumstances (particularly in cases involving domestic abuse or child protection). Citizens Advice can help you understand your eligibility. Bridge The Gap also provides free guidance on procedure and common misconceptions.
Training can be useful, but a commercial training certificate does not confer any legal status, professional regulation, or right of audience. Some networks require their members to complete their own paid courses before joining — this is a commercial decision, not a legal or professional standard. Experience in real proceedings, transparency about their practice, and genuine testimonials from litigants are more meaningful indicators of competence.
Bridge The Gap lists McKenzie Friends with independent websites, transparent fees, and real testimonials from litigants. No referral fees. No hidden cuts. No commercial interest in who you choose.
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