Where do I go?
When going to court on a family law matter, there will be an allocated court where your hearings will be held. If you have a solicitor, they will be able to direct you to the specific court.
Each court will have an ‘Usher’s Point’. When you first arrive at the court, you will need to go through security. You can ask the security to direct you to the Usher’s Point. At the Usher’s Point you can check in with the usher and they will direct you to the correct floor and court room. Alternatively, you can arrange to meet your solicitor at an alternate point so that you know where to find them.
Can I bring things into the court room with me?
Yes. You can bring your bag and coat into the room with you. We recommend that you take a pen and paper in with you so that you are able to write down any questions during the hearing. You will then be able to ask you solicitor or barrister any questions you have written down to make sure you get all the answers you need.
If you are representing yourself and do not have a solicitor, you make have a ‘bundle’. This will be all of the documents that will be relied on during the proceedings. It is important to bring the bundle with you as the Judge or another party may wish to refer the court to look at a specific document.
What should I wear?
Some people like to dress formally when attending court. If you do not own a suit or formal attire, smart clothing will be acceptable. However, you should always wear something you are comfortable in. We understand that some family law proceedings are extremely difficult to go through, so there is no need to worry about what to wear.
Can I bring my family into the court room with me?
Unfortunately not. All children matters are ‘private’, therefore there are strict rules about who can and cannot come into the Court room. Normally there will be the Judge, and the other parties to the proceedings. The parties to the proceedings will be known before attending court so there should not be any surprises.
Members of the public are unable to attend family law proceedings due to the sensitivity of the cases concerning children. There is no Jury in family law proceedings. They may be a Judge’s Clerk in the court room who does not have any involvement in the case but can pass the Judge papers and help with any administrative issues.
How long will I be in court for?
This is dependent on the type of hearing. Some hearings can be very short and last between 30 and 60 minutes; however, some hearings can take all day. When a court lists a hearing, you will be provided with an estimate of how long the hearing is expected to take.
We know that there are many more questions that you may have about going to court and every case is unique. If you would like to speak to someone from our Family Law Department, please get in touch on 02920 475909.