Family Court preparation is not about memorising your entire case. It is about understanding what this hearing is for, what the judge needs to decide, what evidence matters and what order you are asking the court to make. This practical JSH Law guide helps litigants in person prepare clearly, calmly and effectively.
Family Court Hearing Preparation for Litigants in Person
You do not need to memorise your whole case before walking into Family Court.
You need to understand what this hearing is for, what the judge needs to decide, what evidence matters, where that evidence is, and what you are asking the court to do.
Preparing for Family Court can feel impossible when you are representing yourself.
You may have years of history in your head, hundreds of messages on your phone, several court orders, a Cafcass report, statements from both parties and a hearing notice that tells you very little about what will actually happen on the day.
That is exactly when structure matters.
Hearing preparation is not about trying to tell the judge everything that has ever happened.
It is about identifying the decisions that need to be made at this hearing and making sure you can explain your position calmly, accurately and with reference to the evidence.
This page explains how to prepare for common Family Court hearings, how to read the latest order, what documents to organise, how to decide what you are asking for, what to do about Cafcass, bundles and late evidence, how domestic abuse and vulnerability should be handled, and how to prepare practically for an in-person or remote hearing.
The short answer: how do you prepare for a Family Court hearing?
Start with the latest court order.
Before the hearing, you should be able to answer six questions:
- What type of hearing is this?
- What issues does the court need to decide?
- What evidence is relevant to those issues?
- What is the other party asking the court to do?
- What are you asking the court to do?
- Why is your proposed outcome workable, proportionate and — where children are involved — consistent with their welfare?
If you cannot answer those questions yet, that is where your preparation should begin.
Do not wait until the night before court to work out what the hearing is about
JSH Law can provide privately funded, defined-scope support with hearing preparation for litigants in person.
Depending on the case, that can include:
- reviewing the latest order;
- identifying the live issues;
- organising the evidence;
- preparing or refining a chronology;
- reviewing a Cafcass report;
- preparing a position statement;
- identifying the orders you want;
- preparing focused questions or submissions; and
- helping you build a practical hearing plan.
Start with the latest court order
The latest order is usually the most important preparation document in your case.
Read it slowly.
Do not just look for the next hearing date.
Identify:
- the date and time of the hearing;
- whether it is in person, remote or hybrid;
- the type or purpose of the hearing;
- the time estimate;
- what each party was ordered to file;
- the filing deadlines;
- whether Cafcass or another professional must attend;
- whether oral evidence will be heard;
- whether witnesses are required;
- whether the court has identified particular issues;
- whether special arrangements or participation directions have been made;
- who must prepare the bundle; and
- what the court expects to happen next.
An unclear direction can affect what evidence you file, who attends and what the court expects to decide. Identify the uncertainty early enough for it to be addressed rather than discovering it at the courtroom door.
Work out what type of hearing you have
Not every Family Court hearing requires the same preparation.
The label matters — but the wording of your actual order matters more.
FHDRA
A First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment is normally an early hearing in standard private children proceedings.
Preparation should focus on safeguarding, the issues in dispute, interim arrangements, what further evidence is needed and what directions the case requires.
DRA
A Dispute Resolution Appointment often follows a Section 7 or other welfare report.
The court may try to narrow or resolve the remaining issues and decide what, if anything, still requires a final hearing.
Fact-finding hearing
This hearing determines specified disputed facts or allegations which the court considers necessary to resolve.
Preparation must focus tightly on the allegations being determined, the evidence relevant to each allegation and the court’s directions about witnesses and questioning.
Final hearing
This is where the court determines the issues which remain unresolved.
You need to know the final issues, relevant evidence, the outcome you seek and how your proposal fits the applicable legal and welfare framework.
Enforcement hearing
The court will consider the alleged non-compliance with an existing child arrangements order, the reasons for it and the appropriate way forward.
Preparation should begin with the precise terms of the order, the occasions on which compliance is disputed and the documentary evidence relating to those occasions.
Interim / directions hearing
The court may need to make a temporary decision or manage what happens next.
Focus on the specific interim issue and the directions needed to move the case forward fairly and safely.
Financial remedy First Appointment
The focus is ordinarily on defining and narrowing the financial issues, disclosure and directions.
This is not the same preparation exercise as a final financial hearing.
Financial Dispute Resolution appointment
The FDR is a settlement-focused stage in financial remedy proceedings.
Parties are expected to engage meaningfully with proposals and negotiation. The judge dealing with the FDR does not ordinarily go on to determine the final hearing.
Do not prepare for an FHDRA as though it were a final hearing, and do not arrive at a final hearing prepared only to discuss case management.
A note about Pathfinder and the investigative private-law model
Not every private children case now follows the traditional FHDRA → Section 7 → DRA → final hearing structure.
Some Family Courts are operating the Pathfinder pilot under Practice Direction 36Z.
That model uses a more investigative and child-focused approach, with earlier information gathering and stages which can culminate in a Decision Hearing.
That means online advice referring automatically to “your FHDRA” or “your DRA” may not fit your case.
The hearing notice and latest order should tell you what stage your case has reached and what the court expects to happen next.
Identify the issues the judge actually needs to decide
This sounds obvious.
In practice, it is where many cases become difficult to follow.
A parent may arrive wanting to discuss:
- everything that happened during the relationship;
- everything the other parent has done since separation;
- every disagreement about school;
- every message that felt unreasonable;
- every mistake made by Cafcass;
- every missed contact; and
- every perceived unfairness during the proceedings.
But the judge may only need to decide:
Should direct time resume, and if so on what basis?
Your preparation should be organised around that decision.
Write down the live issues in plain English.
Then ask of every document and every proposed submission:
Does this actually help the court decide one of those issues?
Know what you are asking the court to do
“I want the judge to see what is happening” is not an order.
Before the hearing, try to identify your preferred outcome in practical terms.
Depending on the type of case, that might involve asking the court to:
- make or vary a child arrangements order;
- define times and handover arrangements more clearly;
- make an interim arrangement pending further assessment;
- direct further evidence;
- direct Cafcass or another body to undertake specified work;
- list a fact-finding hearing;
- list a final hearing;
- deal with an alleged breach of an existing order;
- make appropriate participation directions;
- give disclosure directions;
- record an agreement;
- adjourn for a specific purpose; or
- make no order on a particular application.
Be prepared to explain:
What do you want? Why? How would it work in practice?
If you are asking for arrangements concerning a child, think about dates, times, handovers, school terms, holidays, communication and how the proposal would operate without repeated disagreement.
Build a small set of working hearing documents
Your own working file should help you find things quickly.
Depending on the hearing, useful working documents may include:
- the latest sealed order;
- a one-page hearing plan;
- a concise list of issues;
- the orders you seek;
- a chronology;
- a position statement;
- an issue-to-evidence matrix;
- a note of key bundle pages;
- a list of questions if evidence will be heard;
- a note of the other party’s main position; and
- a clean sheet for noting the judge’s directions and decisions.
These are working tools.
They are not an invitation to file documents the court has not asked for.
Do you need a position statement?
A good position statement can help a judge understand the hearing quickly.
It should normally be concise and focused on:
- what the hearing is about;
- what has happened procedurally since the last hearing;
- what is agreed;
- what remains disputed;
- your position on those issues;
- the key evidence or court findings you rely upon; and
- the orders or directions you seek.
It is not usually the place to reproduce your entire witness statement.
Under the current bundle rules, position statements are subject to page limits which vary according to the type of proceedings and hearing, unless the court directs otherwise.
Always check your own order and the current procedural requirements.
Read the JSH Law Position Statement GuideUse a chronology to orient the court — not to argue with the other parent
A hearing chronology should help the court understand the sequence of relevant events.
It should usually be:
- dated;
- factual;
- concise;
- relevant to the live issues; and
- capable of being linked to supporting material where necessary.
Your private master chronology may be considerably longer.
Do not confuse the two.
Under the current PD27A bundle rules, a chronology included in the hearing bundle is ordinarily limited to 10 pages unless the court specifically directs otherwise.
Read the Evidence & Chronology GuideKnow your evidence — and know where to find it
It is not enough to remember that “there is an email somewhere”.
If the point matters, you should be able to identify:
- the fact you rely upon;
- the document or evidence supporting it;
- where that evidence can be found;
- whether the fact is disputed;
- whether the court has already made a finding about it; and
- why the point matters to the hearing.
A simple working table can be enough:
| Issue | Fact relied upon | Evidence | Where found | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Ordered weekend did not take place | Order + messages | Bundle / working file | Relevant to implementation of order |
| Risk | Previous finding of threatening behaviour | Judgment | Judgment page / paragraph | Relevant to current risk assessment |
If your case involves a large volume of messages, screenshots or records, organise them before the hearing rather than trying to search your phone while the judge waits.
Preparing for a hearing where Cafcass is involved
Start by asking what role Cafcass is expected to play at this particular hearing.
Has Cafcass:
- provided only a safeguarding letter?
- prepared a Section 7 report?
- prepared an addendum?
- been directed to attend?
- been asked to address specified welfare issues?
If you disagree with a Section 7 report, do not arrive with only a general complaint that it is unfair.
Identify:
- the paragraph or recommendation in issue;
- whether the concern is factual, evidential or analytical;
- the evidence supporting your position;
- why the issue affects the child’s welfare; and
- what you want the court to do about it.
If evidence will be heard, prepare questions — not speeches disguised as questions
Some hearings involve oral evidence.
Others do not.
Check the order.
If witnesses will give evidence, think about what facts genuinely need to be tested.
Useful questions normally have a purpose.
They may test:
- the source of an assertion;
- the chronology;
- an inconsistency;
- an omission;
- whether a document was considered;
- whether an account is first-hand or hearsay;
- how a professional reached a conclusion; or
- how an identified risk is proposed to be managed.
Avoid trying to turn every question into:
“Would you agree that I am right and you are completely wrong?”
The court needs evidence, not theatre.
In specified circumstances, the law prohibits a party from personally cross-examining another party or witness. The court may consider alternatives and, where the statutory test is met, may appoint a qualified legal representative to conduct the cross-examination. If this may apply in your case, it should be dealt with before the evidence begins rather than improvised during the hearing.
Domestic abuse, vulnerability and being able to participate safely
A fair hearing requires more than simply allowing everybody into the courtroom.
If domestic abuse, trauma, disability, communication difficulty or another form of vulnerability affects your ability to participate or give evidence, raise that issue early.
Part 3A of the Family Procedure Rules and Practice Direction 3AA require the court to consider vulnerability and whether participation directions are needed.
Possible measures can include:
- arrangements preventing parties from seeing one another;
- live-link participation;
- communication assistance;
- an intermediary where appropriate;
- different waiting arrangements;
- different entry or exit arrangements;
- management of the timing and structure of the hearing; and
- specific directions about how evidence or questioning should take place.
Where a party or witness is, or is at risk of being, a victim of domestic abuse by a relevant person, the rules contain a specific assumption of vulnerability for the purpose of considering participation directions.
Check whether the issue has already been addressed in the order. If not, it may need to be raised with the court in advance.
Understand the hearing bundle
The bundle is not simply every document generated during the case.
Under the current Practice Direction 27A, the bundle should contain only documents which are relevant and necessary for the hearing or will actually be referred to.
Unless the court directs otherwise, an electronic bundle is ordinarily limited to 350 pages.
Current default document limits also include:
- case summary: 6 pages;
- statement of issues: 2 pages;
- chronology: 10 pages;
- essential reading list: 1 page;
- witness statement or affidavit: 25 pages excluding exhibits; and
- expert or other report: 40 pages including an executive summary of no more than 4 pages.
The current rules also set deadlines for bundle preparation unless the court gives a different direction.
In broad terms:
- parties should seek to agree the bundle contents seven working days before the hearing;
- the main bundle is generally filed and served five working days before the hearing; and
- preliminary documents not already available are generally due by 11am on the working day before the hearing.
Always check the case-specific order.
The default position is usually that the applicant prepares it.
However, where the applicant is a litigant in person and the respondent is legally represented, the legally represented respondent is generally responsible, subject to any court direction.
Where everybody is unrepresented and nobody is able to prepare the bundle, the court has power in exceptional circumstances to direct HMCTS to produce one.
What if the other party files something late?
Do not panic and do not automatically assume the judge will ignore it.
First identify:
- what the document is;
- what deadline applied;
- how late it is;
- whether it contains new evidence;
- whether you have had a fair opportunity to read and respond to it; and
- whether admitting it would create a real procedural disadvantage.
If the document materially affects your ability to deal with the hearing fairly, explain the problem calmly.
The court can then decide what case-management response is appropriate.
Explain the practical consequence rather than relying only on the missed deadline.
Preparing for a remote Family Court hearing
A remote hearing is still a court hearing.
The fact that you are joining from a laptop does not make it informal.
The judge decides whether remote participation is appropriate.
If your hearing is by video or telephone:
- read the joining instructions in advance;
- test the device, camera and microphone;
- make sure the device is charged or connected to power;
- use a quiet and private location;
- have the bundle open and accessible;
- have your working notes beside you;
- join early;
- keep your phone available in case the court needs to contact you;
- tell the court promptly if there is a technical problem; and
- do not record the hearing.
Family Procedure Rule 27.9 prohibits the use of unofficial recording equipment in court without permission. The same caution applies to remote participation.
What should you do on the day of an in-person hearing?
Give yourself time.
Court buildings involve security, waiting and last-minute changes.
Bring:
- your hearing notice;
- the latest court order;
- your copy of the hearing bundle if required;
- your position statement;
- your chronology;
- your hearing plan or notes;
- a list of key page references;
- paper and pens;
- any permitted device you need to access an e-bundle;
- a charger or power bank if appropriate; and
- anything required by an existing participation direction.
When you arrive:
- Go through security.
- Find the correct hearing area.
- Check in with the usher or court staff.
- Tell them if you have special waiting arrangements.
- Do not assume a delay means your hearing has been forgotten.
- Keep your papers organised while you wait.
If you are frightened of or at risk from another party, do not feel obliged to conduct corridor negotiations merely because everybody is waiting outside the courtroom.
How should a litigant in person speak to the judge?
You do not need to sound like a barrister.
You do need to be understandable.
A useful structure is:
1. What is the issue?
2. What is your position?
3. What evidence supports it?
4. Why does it matter?
5. What do you want the court to do?
If the judge asks a question, answer the question first.
You can explain afterwards if more context is genuinely required.
If you do not know the answer, say so.
If you cannot find the relevant page immediately, say so.
If you disagree with the judge’s understanding of a factual point, correct it politely and identify the source if you can.
Clear is more useful than impressive.
Before you leave the hearing, make sure you understand what has happened
Do not leave knowing only whether you feel you “won” or “lost”.
You need to know:
- what the court decided;
- what orders were made;
- what each party must now do;
- the next deadline;
- whether further evidence is required;
- whether Cafcass or another professional has further work to undertake;
- the next hearing date, if there is one;
- the purpose of that hearing; and
- who is responsible for preparing any next bundle or document.
Make notes as the judge gives directions.
If you genuinely do not understand a direction, ask for clarification before the hearing ends where possible.
In standard private children proceedings, PD12B specifically anticipates the court explaining the order where necessary so both parties understand what happens next.
Common Family Court hearing preparation mistakes
1. Preparing the entire case instead of this hearing
Start with the purpose of the hearing and the decisions actually listed for determination.
2. Not knowing what order you want
The court should not have to extract your proposed outcome from twenty minutes of history.
3. Bringing hundreds of documents without page references
If evidence matters, know where it is.
4. Treating allegations as findings
Distinguish allegation, admission, evidence and finding carefully.
5. Reading a position statement word for word
Use it to structure your position. Be ready to answer the judge’s questions rather than insisting on delivering a prepared speech.
6. Using the hearing to attack the other parent personally
Focus on behaviour, evidence, risk, welfare and the practical decision required.
7. Ignoring weaknesses in your own case
Understand the evidence against your position before somebody else raises it.
8. Waiting until the hearing to raise a participation problem
Where possible, safeguarding, accessibility, vulnerability and special-measures issues should be identified in advance.
Your hearing plan should fit on a page before your case fills a bundle
Complex cases can contain thousands of pages.
But before the hearing begins, you should still be able to explain the case simply:
These are the issues. This is the evidence. This is what I am asking for. This is why.
That clarity does not make a complex case simplistic. It makes the complexity manageable.
How JSH Law can help you prepare for a Family Court hearing
JSH Law provides privately funded, defined-scope Family Court preparation and litigation support.
Depending on the case and hearing, support may include:
- reviewing the latest order;
- identifying the purpose of the hearing;
- identifying the live issues;
- preparing an issues list;
- identifying the orders or directions you seek;
- organising evidence;
- preparing a chronology;
- preparing an issue-to-evidence matrix;
- reviewing Cafcass and Section 7 material;
- assistance preparing a position statement;
- assistance preparing witness statements or schedules;
- identifying focused questions for witnesses where appropriate;
- preparing key bundle page references;
- working through possible outcomes;
- building a hearing-day checklist;
- post-hearing organisation of deadlines and directions; and
- McKenzie Friend-style support where appropriate.
A practical JSH Law Hearing Preparation File may include
- Hearing Purpose Note
- Issues List
- Orders Sought
- Hearing Chronology
- Issue-to-Evidence Matrix
- Key Bundle Page List
- Position Statement
- Focused Questions / Issues for Evidence
- Hearing-Day Checklist
- Post-Hearing Action List
Not every hearing needs every document. The preparation should match the actual hearing.
Asking JSH Law for hearing preparation help? Send these first
Do not begin by sending your entire case archive.
Start with:
- The latest court order.
- The hearing notice, if separate.
- The application currently before the court.
- Your next hearing date and time.
- Any current filing deadline.
- Any Cafcass safeguarding letter or Section 7 report relevant to the hearing.
- Your most recent statement or position statement.
- Any relevant findings-of-fact judgment or schedule.
- The current bundle or index, if one already exists.
- A short note explaining what you think the hearing is about and what you want the court to do.
That uncertainty is itself useful information. We can start with the order and reconstruct the procedural position before deciding what preparation is actually required.
Defined-scope hearing preparation
JSH Law support is privately funded.
You may need one document reviewed, a position statement prepared, evidence organised or a fuller hearing-preparation exercise.
The proposed work and fee basis will be agreed before substantive work begins.
View JSH Law Pricing Contact JSH LawFrequently asked questions about preparing for Family Court
What should I take to a Family Court hearing?
At minimum, have the hearing notice, latest order, the documents the court has directed you to use, your working notes and access to the hearing bundle where one exists. Your exact requirements depend on the type of hearing and the court’s directions.
What should I say at the beginning of the hearing?
Listen to the judge first. When asked for your position, explain briefly what the issue is, what you say should happen and why. You do not normally need to begin by recounting the entire history.
Do I need a position statement?
It depends on the hearing and any directions already made. Position statements can be particularly useful in contested or complex hearings, but they should be concise and must comply with any applicable page limit and filing direction.
Can I read from notes in Family Court?
Working notes can help you stay organised. They should support your participation rather than prevent you from listening and responding to the judge. If you are giving formal evidence, follow the judge’s directions about the evidence and any documents you may refer to.
Do I have to attend the hearing?
Unless the court directs otherwise, a party who has been given notice of a Family Court hearing or directions appointment is generally required to attend. If there is a genuine problem preventing attendance, contact the court promptly rather than simply failing to appear.
Can the court continue if I do not attend?
In some circumstances, yes. Do not assume the hearing will automatically be adjourned because one party is absent.
Can I bring a McKenzie Friend?
A litigant in person may generally ask to be accompanied by a McKenzie Friend for support, note-taking, help with papers and quiet advice. A McKenzie Friend does not automatically have rights of audience or the right to conduct litigation.
Can Cafcass attend my hearing?
Yes, where the court directs attendance. In standard child-arrangements proceedings, the author of a Section 7 report does not automatically attend a DRA or other hearing merely because the report exists. Check the order.
Can the judge disagree with Cafcass?
Yes. Cafcass provides professional advice and evidence. The Family Court makes the decision after considering the evidence and applicable welfare framework.
Will I have to give evidence?
Not at every hearing. Some hearings deal primarily with case management or dispute resolution. Others, such as fact-finding and many final hearings, may involve oral evidence. Check the latest order.
Will I have to cross-examine the other party?
Not necessarily. The nature of questioning depends on the hearing and directions. In domestic abuse cases there are statutory prohibitions on direct cross-examination in specified circumstances and the court has procedures for considering alternatives.
What if I am frightened of the other party?
Tell the court as early as possible if domestic abuse, intimidation or another vulnerability affects your ability to participate. The court must consider whether participation directions or other protective arrangements are necessary.
Can my hearing be remote?
Potentially. The mode of hearing is a judicial decision. Remote participation may be by video or telephone and may involve a fully remote or hybrid hearing. Follow the hearing notice and any later court directions.
Can I record a remote Family Court hearing?
No unofficial recording should be made without the court’s permission. Unauthorised recording can amount to contempt of court.
What if the other party sends me a statement the night before court?
Read it carefully and identify whether it contains genuinely new material, what deadline applied and whether you can deal with it fairly at the hearing. If late service creates a material procedural problem, raise that with the court calmly and explain the practical prejudice.
Do I need to print the entire court bundle?
Not necessarily. Check the court’s directions and how the hearing will be conducted. If you are using an electronic bundle, make sure you can navigate it reliably and have appropriate access during the hearing.
What if I do not understand what the judge ordered?
If you are unsure during the hearing, ask for clarification where appropriate. Afterwards, read the sealed order carefully and diary every deadline immediately.
Can JSH Law help me prepare for my hearing?
JSH Law may be able to provide privately funded, defined-scope support with court-order review, evidence organisation, chronologies, Cafcass analysis, position statements, hearing plans and practical preparation for litigants in person.
Walking into court with more papers is not the same as walking in prepared
Good preparation means understanding the hearing, knowing the evidence, identifying what you are asking for and being able to explain your position without losing the important points inside years of history.
JSH Law can help you turn a complicated case into a practical hearing plan.
Contact JSH Law Book a 15-Minute Introductory CallStart with a 15-minute introductory call
The introductory call is designed to establish what hearing is approaching, what stage the proceedings have reached and whether JSH Law may be able to assist with a defined piece of preparation.
If possible, have your latest court order and hearing date available.
The introductory call does not itself provide formal case-specific legal advice or create a solicitor-client relationship. Any paid work, scope and fee will be agreed separately before substantive work begins.
Prepare the case, not just the hearing
These JSH Law guides may also help:
Official legal and procedural sources
This guide has been prepared by reference to current official sources including:
- Family Procedure Rules Part 27 – Hearings and Directions Appointments.
- Practice Direction 27A – Family Proceedings: Court Bundles.
- Practice Direction 12B – Child Arrangements Programme.
- Practice Direction 12J – Child Arrangements and Domestic Abuse and Harm.
- Family Procedure Rules Part 3A – Vulnerable Persons: Participation in Proceedings and Giving Evidence.
- Practice Direction 3AA – Vulnerable Persons.
- Practice Direction 3AB – Prohibition of Cross-Examination in Person.
- Practice Direction 36Z – Private Law Reform: Investigative Approach / Pathfinder.
- Family Procedure Rules Part 9 and Practice Direction 9A – Financial Remedy Proceedings.
- Judiciary guidance on preparing Family Court bundles for litigants in person.
- Judiciary guidance on remote participation.
Legal and procedural information last checked: 16 September 2026.
Regulatory and service information
JSH Law provides independent litigation support, procedural guidance, document preparation assistance and practical support for litigants in person.
JSH Law is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and does not conduct reserved legal activities.
JSH Law cannot guarantee the outcome of a hearing or determine what order the Family Court will make.
Where formal legal advice, conduct of litigation, reserved advocacy, rights of audience or regulated representation are required, you should seek assistance from an appropriately authorised solicitor, barrister or other regulated legal professional.
McKenzie Friend-style support is non-representational unless the court separately grants any necessary permission. Rights of audience are not automatic.
Litigants in person remain responsible for checking and approving documents, filing and serving them where required, attending hearings, complying with court orders and meeting deadlines.
This page provides general information about Family Court hearing preparation in England and Wales. It is not case-specific legal advice. Procedure varies according to the type of proceedings, the court, the applicable procedural model and the directions made in the individual case.
If domestic abuse, intimidation, disability or another vulnerability affects your ability to participate safely or give evidence, raise it with the court as early as possible. Do not wait until you are sitting outside the courtroom if suitable arrangements may be needed.
