Hearing Support & McKenzie Friend Services
Go into family court knowing what the hearing is for and what you need to do
Practical hearing preparation and McKenzie Friend support for litigants in person who want to be organised, focused and able to follow what is happening in court.
Court can feel overwhelming when you are trying to listen to the judge, locate documents, take notes, respond to what is being said and remember the points you need to make at the same time. Good preparation reduces that burden.
You should not arrive at court still trying to work out what the hearing is about.
A hearing becomes much harder when you are carrying the entire case in your head. There may be years of history, several previous orders, disputed allegations, Cafcass recommendations, messages, statements, professional reports and arguments about what should happen next.
Hearing preparation is about reducing that material to what matters at this hearing: the purpose of the hearing, the live issues, the important evidence, the orders being sought and the points you may need to respond to.
JSH Law can provide preparation before the hearing and, where agreed and permitted, practical McKenzie Friend assistance during the hearing itself.
Hearing support
Support before, during and after court
You may need preparation only, attendance only, or support across several stages. The scope is agreed according to what is actually useful for your hearing.
McKenzie Friend Assistance
Practical assistance at court may include moral support, taking notes, helping with case papers and quietly giving advice while you remain the litigant conducting your own case.
Explore McKenzie Friend assistance →Remote & In-Person Hearing Preparation
Preparation for hearings taking place at court or remotely, including the purpose of the hearing, live issues, papers, practical arrangements and the points you need to be ready to address.
Explore hearing preparation →Note-Taking & Real-Time Procedural Support
Help following what happens during the hearing, locating papers, recording important directions and keeping track of issues while you concentrate on participating.
Explore real-time support →Post-Hearing Debriefs & Order Explanations
Review what happened, identify the directions made, organise your notes and work through what the resulting order means for your next practical steps.
Explore post-hearing support →Referrals & Signposting to Appropriate Professionals
Sometimes the right next step is not more McKenzie Friend support. If the issues require regulated representation, specialist advocacy, expert evidence or another professional service outside JSH Law's scope, that should be identified rather than blurred.
Explore referrals and signposting →Court-readiness
What support can look like at each stage
Prepare
- review the latest order;
- identify the purpose of the hearing;
- identify the live issues;
- organise key papers;
- review any Cafcass or professional material;
- identify the orders you want considered;
- prepare a position statement where appropriate; and
- plan how you will explain your position clearly.
Follow
- keep track of what is being discussed;
- locate relevant documents;
- take detailed notes;
- identify directions and deadlines;
- help you keep your place in the papers;
- quietly provide appropriate advice;
- help you stay focused on the current issue; and
- record important points for the post-hearing review.
Understand
- review what happened;
- identify what the judge decided;
- check the directions made;
- record deadlines;
- compare the sealed order when received;
- identify evidence or documents still required;
- prepare for the next stage; and
- identify where specialist assistance may be needed.
Understanding the role
What does a McKenzie Friend actually do?
A McKenzie Friend supports a litigant in person. The litigant remains responsible for conducting their own proceedings.
A McKenzie Friend may ordinarily help by
- providing moral support;
- taking notes;
- helping with case papers; and
- quietly giving advice about the conduct of the case.
A McKenzie Friend does not automatically
- address the judge for you;
- make oral submissions for you;
- question witnesses;
- act as your litigation representative;
- sign court documents as your representative; or
- conduct the litigation on your behalf.
The court retains control over the assistance given by a McKenzie Friend. In family proceedings heard in private, the court also controls attendance. The published Practice Guidance describes a strong presumption in favour of permitting a McKenzie Friend to attend, but assistance can be restricted or refused where the circumstances justify it.
A McKenzie Friend has no independent right of audience. If a litigant asks the court to allow a lay person to address the court or exercise another right of audience, that is a separate matter for the judge and is considered case by case. JSH Law does not promise or assume that such permission will be granted.
Different hearings have different jobs
Preparation should match the hearing you are actually attending
A first hearing should not be prepared as though it were a final hearing. A fact-finding hearing raises different issues from a directions hearing. The preparation needs to fit the decision the court is being asked to make.
FHDRA / First Hearing
Clarify the issues, safeguarding position, areas of agreement and what directions may be needed.
Directions / Case Management
Focus on what evidence, reports, disclosure or procedural steps are required before the case can progress.
Fact-Finding Hearing
Prepare carefully around disputed allegations, evidence, schedules and the factual questions the court has directed should be determined.
Dispute Resolution Appointment
Understand the recommendations, remaining disputes and what can or cannot realistically be resolved before a final hearing.
Final Hearing
Bring together the live evidence, welfare issues, proposals and orders sought in a focused way.
Enforcement / Variation Hearings
Identify the existing order, what is said to have happened since it was made and what remedy or change is actually being sought.
Make the hearing manageable
What I want you to know before you walk into court
Nobody can remove all of the uncertainty from a family-court hearing. But preparation should mean you are not discovering the basic shape of the case while the hearing is already happening.
- Why are we here? You should understand the purpose of this hearing.
- What is actually disputed? Separate the live issues from the entire history of the relationship.
- What does the court already have? Know what has been filed and where the important documents are.
- What do you want the court to do? Be able to identify the order or direction you are asking the judge to consider.
- What might the other side say? Think about the points you may need to answer rather than being surprised by them.
- What happens afterwards? Be ready to record directions, deadlines and anything required for the next stage.
Is your hearing already listed?
Tell me the exact hearing date and time when you contact JSH Law
If court is approaching, include the hearing date, the type of hearing and any filing deadline in your enquiry. Please also identify the most recent court order.
Capacity for urgent work cannot be assumed. Sending papers or making an enquiry does not mean that responsibility for a hearing or deadline has been accepted. The scope and timescale must first be expressly agreed.
If there is an immediate risk of serious harm or an emergency requiring urgent protection, do not rely on a website enquiry or consultation booking as an emergency service.
Client experience
What people say about working with JSH Law
Preparation should leave you clearer about the process, the evidence and what you need to focus on.
Jessica’s support helped me approach court in a completely different way. Instead of reacting emotionally, I learned how to prepare documents, focus on relevant issues, and present myself appropriately at hearings. Her guidance made the process feel manageable and helped me move forward with confidence.
Anonymised — Former client, hearing preparation support
I needed practical support understanding family court procedure and preparing documents correctly as a litigant in person. Jessica explained the process clearly, helped me structure my case, and ensured I was properly prepared for each stage.
Anonymised — Former client, procedural court support
Jessica helped me make sense of safeguarding concerns and professional involvement when I felt out of my depth. She supported me in organising timelines, understanding reports, and preparing clear written material so I could engage with the process properly.
Anonymised — Former client, safeguarding-related proceedings
Prepare before you pay for support
Free guidance for litigants in person
JSH Law also publishes practical guidance to help you understand court preparation before deciding whether you need individual support.
Preparing Your Case Like a Barrister
A practical guide to issues, evidence, case theory and making your material easier for the court to follow.
Read the guide →Family Court Position Statements
Understand what a position statement is for and how to keep it relevant to the hearing.
Read the guide →Family Court Document Checklist
A practical checklist for keeping papers and preparation under control before your hearing.
Read the checklist →Explore JSH Law services
Your hearing is one part of the wider case
Move between the four core service areas according to what needs attention.
Family Court Navigation & Case Analysis
Understand where the case has reached, what the orders mean and what needs to happen next.
Explore →Safeguarding, Cafcass & Professional Reports
Deal with safeguarding concerns, professional evidence and Cafcass material.
Explore →Court Documents, Statements & Submissions
Prepare clearer written material, evidence schedules and court documents.
Explore →Hearing Support & McKenzie Friend Services
Prepare for court and receive practical assistance around the hearing itself.
Current serviceClear boundaries
You remain the litigant in person
JSH Law provides non-reserved legal services, litigation support and McKenzie Friend assistance. JSH Law is not an SRA-authorised solicitors' firm.
JSH Law can help with
- pre-hearing preparation;
- reviewing agreed case papers;
- identifying live issues;
- organising documents;
- hearing notes;
- quiet advice where permitted;
- post-hearing review; and
- other agreed non-reserved support.
JSH Law does not automatically
- become your solicitor on the court record;
- conduct litigation on your behalf;
- address the judge on your behalf;
- question witnesses;
- sign court documents as your legal representative;
- accept responsibility for your deadlines; or
- guarantee a particular result.
Any request for a lay person to exercise a right of audience is a separate issue for the court. Attendance as a McKenzie Friend should not be confused with acting as an advocate or conducting the litigation.
Court support pricing
McKenzie Friend court attendance
This is the current rate for agreed McKenzie Friend court attendance.
Preparation, travel, waiting time and reserved hearing time may also be chargeable where agreed in advance. Preparation-only work may instead fall within JSH Law's standard support or fixed-fee arrangements.
Before substantial paid work begins, the scope and charging basis will be agreed so you know what JSH Law has actually been instructed to do.
View Full PricingHave a hearing coming up?
Start with a 15-minute consultation
Tell me when the hearing is, what type of hearing it is and what is causing you the most difficulty. We can then identify whether preparation, McKenzie Friend attendance or another form of support may be appropriate.
A clear first step
Request your consultation
You do not need to explain your entire proceedings in the booking form.
Give me the hearing date and time, the type of proceedings, the type of hearing if you know it, and a short description of what you need help with.
If the hearing is approaching: please state the exact date and time in the booking notes. JSH Law cannot assume responsibility for a hearing or deadline unless the work and timescale have been expressly accepted.
Choose a convenient time
Include the date of your next hearing and any imminent filing deadline.
Your enquiry will be handled in accordance with the JSH Law Privacy Policy .
JSH Law
The goal is not to make court easy. It is to make sure you are not walking in unprepared.
Understand the purpose of the hearing, organise the papers, identify the issues and know what you are asking the court to consider. If you need practical support around that process, JSH Law can discuss a defined piece of work with you.
Please see the Pricing, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, Complaints Procedure and Safeguarding Statement.
Paid client work is governed by the applicable JSH Law Client Agreement and Terms of Business and any matter-specific Task Confirmation.