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.
Understanding the Family Court Process
Knowing what to expect removes a great deal of the fear.
Many people enter family court proceedings with no idea of what to expect — and that uncertainty is one of the most stressful parts. Bridge The Gap provides plain-English explanations of the entire process: what hearings look like, what the court expects of you, how to prepare, and how to look after yourself emotionally throughout.
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.
What happens at a family court hearing
The courtroom will typically contain the judge (or magistrates), the parties, their representatives if any, a court clerk, and possibly a CAFCASS officer. McKenzie Friends sit beside the litigant. Family court hearings are less formal than criminal proceedings — judges are addressed as "Your Honour" — but still require respectful conduct. Hearings can be short directions appointments or full final hearings lasting a day or more.
How to prepare for a hearing
Key preparation includes: reading all court orders and directions carefully, organising your documents and evidence, preparing a clear position statement focused on the issues for that hearing, understanding the legal test the court will apply to your case type, and if possible, having a McKenzie Friend alongside you. What you do before the hearing is as important as what you do on the day.
The emotional dimension
Family court proceedings involve your most important relationships and your children's futures. It is completely normal to find the process overwhelming. Bridge The Gap acknowledges both the legal and emotional weight of what you are going through — and connects you with McKenzie Friends who understand the human side, not just the procedural one. Many offer ongoing mentoring throughout your case.
Mediation and alternatives to court
Where safe and appropriate, family mediation can resolve disputes without the adversarial cost and stress of court proceedings. You must generally attend a MIAM before filing a C100, unless an exemption applies. Legal Aid is available for mediation in qualifying cases. Bridge The Gap helps you understand when mediation is a realistic option — and when it is not.
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.
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