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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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.
Find the dates first
Litigants often look for the hearing date and any deadline to respond before reading anything else. Writing them somewhere visible is a common first step.
Work out what is being asked
The application usually sets out what the other person wants the court to decide. People often summarise it in a few plain sentences to be sure they understand it.
Look for the response form
In children cases the response is often made on a form such as the C7, and a C1A may be involved where safety is raised. The papers usually say what the court expects.
Keep everything together
Envelopes, notices and attachments are worth keeping in one folder, in date order.
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.