Archive for category: Court Skills for Litigants in Person

This long-form Sunday reflection connects Genesis 18–23 with the lived reality of litigants in person navigating family court. A practical, faith-grounded guide to resilience, structured advocacy, safeguarding awareness and disciplined hope.

What support is available if you are representing yourself in Family Court? This article explains the different forms of assistance open to litigants in person, including Support Through Court, CAFCASS, Citizens Advice, and McKenzie Friends. It clarifies what each service can and cannot do, the legal basis for McKenzie Friend support, and the importance of professional standards. As family proceedings become increasingly complex, structured and ethically grounded McKenzie support plays a growing role in access to justice.

In Family Court proceedings, evidence is not simply what you say happened — it is what you can demonstrate on the balance of probabilities. This article explains what counts as evidence under the Family Procedure Rules 2010, how witness statements and exhibits should be structured, the role of hearsay, and how judges assess credibility and relevance. It clarifies the difference between argument and proof, and sets out how evidence must align with the Children Act 1989 welfare checklist in children cases. If you are representing yourself, understanding what evidence actually is — and what it is not — is essential to presenting a coherent, persuasive case.