How It Works & FAQ

The courts' Practice Guidance (McKenzie Friends: Civil and Family Courts) [2010] sets out the role. A McKenzie Friend may provide moral support, take notes, help with case papers and quietly suggest points — but has no right of audience (speaking in court) and no right to conduct litigation. As a rule, only authorised lawyers may do those things — a court can grant a McKenzie Friend permission in exceptional cases.

Our support sits within — and is narrower than — that role: we help you prepare forms, organise papers and get ready to speak for yourself. You remain the litigant in person throughout. Our free McKenzie Friends guide explains the role in more detail.

Honesty first: the Practice Guidance does allow a McKenzie Friend, with the court's permission, to sit beside you in a hearing for moral support and note-taking. We have chosen not to offer that. Unlike a traditional McKenzie Friend, we do not accompany you to hearings — our service is deliberately limited to preparation, where lived experience adds the most value and the legal boundaries are clearest.

What we do instead, on the Full Preparation tier, is pre-hearing coaching: helping you feel ready to speak for yourself before the day.

No. We can explain how processes work, share general information and pass on lived experience — but we cannot advise you on the merits of your case, tell you what to argue, or predict what a court will decide.

Practically, that means we might explain what a C1A form is for and help you set out your own account clearly, but we will never tell you what your account should say or whether your case is strong. If you want advice on the law, you need a solicitor or barrister — our free Do I Need a Lawyer? guide can help you decide.

It's a free, 15-minute conversation — not a sales call. We ask what stage you're at and what kind of help you're looking for, explain honestly whether our support fits, and confirm in plain terms what your fixed fee would be. If free help would serve you better, we say so and point you to it. There is no commitment: you can end the call and never contact us again, and that's fine.

For the fit call: nothing. You don't need to send documents or case details — just a rough sense of where you are in the process.

Once work begins, it helps to gather what you already have: any court forms or orders you've received, key dates, and your own notes. We'll tell you exactly what's useful at each step — never send anything you're not comfortable sharing.

Payment is by invoice and bank transfer after you accept your engagement letter; card payments are coming soon. Every engagement carries a 14-day cooling-off period: cancel within it before work starts and you get a full refund; if you expressly asked us to start early, you pay only a proportional amount for work already done — and if the work is fully completed within the 14 days at your request, the right to cancel ends. The full rules are on our Cancellation & Refunds page, linked below. You never need to give a reason for cancelling.

• Cancellation & Refunds
• Indicative pricing

We pause and suggest the next tier before any extra work is done — there are no surprise charges, ever. Nothing beyond your tier is charged without your written agreement first, and you can always choose to stop at your tier's limit instead.

No. We never contact the court, the other party or anyone else on your behalf — no letters, emails, calls or filings in your name or ours. You review, approve, sign and file all documents yourself. This boundary is fundamental: it keeps you in control of your own case and keeps our support lawful.

Free support exists and is sometimes the better route. Start with these:

• Check if you qualify for legal aid — the official gov.uk checker.
• Support Through Court — free practical and emotional support for people facing court alone.
• RCJ Advice / CourtNav — free family law help.
• FLOWS — free legal support for women experiencing domestic abuse.

Our own support services and specialist services pages list many more, and our free guides are free forever.