Central Family Court, London — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP

Telephone

020 7421 8611 (adoption); 0330 808 4424 (applications)

Court location code

115

Verified

2026-08-26

A calm, practical guide to representing yourself at the Central Family Court. It is written in plain English, takes you through the building, the types of case it hears, and the realities you are likely to face on the day. Nothing here replaces tailored legal advice for your own situation.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-26

The essentials first

Address: First Avenue House, 42–49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP
Enquiries line: 0300 123 5577
Applications line: 0330 808 4424
Counter appointments (urgent only): 020 7421 8639
Adoption line: 020 7421 8611
Fax: 0870 739 5973
Family Court location code: 115 (use this on C100 and other court forms when asked where the case is being heard) · DX: 160010 Kingsway 7
Court opening times: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm (per HMCTS — the court's official "Find a Court" listing). Confirm before travelling, as arrangements can change.

Getting there & security reality

The Central Family Court sits on High Holborn in central London, a full working court building rather than a small local office. Plan to arrive well before your listed time — the building is genuinely busy, and security screening plus locating your courtroom takes longer than most people expect on a first visit.

Getting there

The nearest stations are Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines) and Chancery Lane (Central line). Both are a short, level walk on foot.
Parking on site is very limited, but per HMCTS parking can sometimes be arranged by contacting the court 48 hours in advance where spaces are available. Public transport is still the realistic choice for most visitors — leave extra time if you have never made the journey before.

The security reality

You will pass through airport-style security at the entrance. Bags are searched; you may be asked to open your belongings.
Allow extra time for this — the queue can move slowly during busy morning listings.
Bring only what you need. Avoid unnecessary electronics, large bags, and any item that could be queried at the barrier. Checking in is simpler and calmer if you are not carrying excess baggage.
Because of the many domestic-abuse cases heard in this and other family courts, the building takes security seriously and staff are used to people who are anxious or upset. It is okay to say that you are nervous, need a moment, or need help finding where you should go.

Facilities once inside

Disabled access and a disabled toilet are available.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards are available on request — ask at the court if that would help you.
A hearing loop is available — but you usually need to give the court notice in advance so the room can be set up. If you rely on the loop, ask the court as soon as you know your hearing date.
There is a private interview room that can be useful for meeting your supporter, a McKenzie friend, or your solicitor before a hearing.
A children's waiting room on the 4th floor is available for children who must be brought to court.
Baby-changing facilities are provided.
If you are a survivor of abuse and worry about being in the same space as the other party, tell the court in advance. Courts are used to arranging for people to wait separately and to hear cases in a way that respects your safety. Practically, ask ahead so the listing team can plan for you.

Contacting the court (published by HMCTS)

The court's official contact details are on the gov.uk "Find a Court or Tribunal" page. The main Enquiries number is 0300 123 5577; the List Office (listing enquiries) can also be emailed at cfc.listoffice@justice.gov.uk. Useful department email addresses published by HMCTS include:

cfc.privateapps@justice.gov.uk — C100 child arrangement applications
cfc.urgentapplications@justice.gov.uk — urgent "without notice" applications, e.g. non-molestation orders and prohibited steps orders
cfc.listoffice@justice.gov.uk — List Office (hearing/listing enquiries)
cfc.courtorders@justice.gov.uk — Court Orders Department (pre and post court)
cfc.hearings@justice.gov.uk — lodging documents for existing cases
FRCLondon@justice.gov.uk — Financial Remedy Court Department
cfc.adoptions@justice.gov.uk — Adoption Department

Beware of scammers: HMCTS warns that scammers mimic genuine court phone numbers and email addresses and may demand payment, claiming to be from the court, HMRC or enforcement. Never pay anyone who phones or emails you demanding money claiming to be from the court, and report such approaches to Action Fraud. HMCTS is also candid that for some enquiries (e.g. financial remedy) it aims to respond to emails within around 10 working days — so phone where a matter is urgent.

What this court handles

The Central Family Court is one of the busiest family courts in the country and hears a wide range of private and public family law. Among the common types of case you may encounter here:

Child arrangements (applications about where a child lives and who they spend time with — typically started on form C100)
Divorce and dissolution (ending a marriage or civil partnership)
Domestic abuse and protection (safety applications on form FL401)
Financial remedy (dividing money, property, and pensions on separation or divorce)
Adoption
Female genital mutilation (FGM) protection orders
Forced marriage protection and related orders

This list is general. If you are unsure whether the Central Family Court is the right venue for your case, check with the court or speak to a family-law adviser before filing — the correct venue affects where your case is heard.

The C100 / FHDRA reality for a litigant in person

If you are applying about a child without a lawyer, you will most likely begin with a C100 application and your first hearing will probably be a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA).

What the FHDRA actually is

It is an early, largely administrative hearing. Its main purposes are to identify what the dispute is about, check what safeguarding information the court needs, and explore whether you and the other parent can reach agreement with the help of a judge and, where available, a CAFCASS officer.
It is not a final trial. No one expects you to persuade the court of every argument at this first hearing.
Very often, decisions at an FHDRA focus on process — what information is still needed, whether a further hearing is required, and whether interim arrangements can be agreed — rather than a final ruling on where the child lives.

Practical realities of self-representing

A judge at an FHDRA will usually do what they can to make the process navigable for a litigant in person. Speak clearly, keep to the point, and remember that the aim at this stage is progress, not a perfect performance.
Bring your completed form and any documents you have with you, even if you think they might not be needed. Being able to produce something when the judge asks for it is one of the cheapest ways to build credibility.
Hearings can be short and crowded. You may wait a while and only be in front of the judge for a few minutes. That is normal and not a reflection on your case.
Do not take the other party's legal documents or wider papers (like your bank PIN or passwords) into the courtroom. Leave sensitive personal material out of the bundle unless it is genuinely relevant and properly disclosed.
If the court asks you to consent to the use of the child arrangements programme or similar support, it is worth listening with an open mind — courts see these as helping parents resolve matters without the cost and strain of a contested trial.

FL401 / domestic abuse safety

If you are seeking a protective order against someone who has been abusive, the application is usually on form FL401. This court and the family courts more generally treat domestic abuse seriously and will take your safety into account.

If you are in danger right now, ask for help before anything else

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (free, confidential, 24 hours a day).
You can also contact the police in an emergency on 999, or on 101 for non-emergencies.

A vital safety note about devices and calls

If you are planning, or even thinking about, a protective application, be careful when you research it online or talk about it on a phone, computer, or tablet that an abusive partner or family member may be able to access:

Calls and messages can be monitored, and browsing history can be seen. An abusive person may check devices, install monitoring software, or see records of what you have typed and searched.
Use a "safe" device — one that the abusive person does not know about and cannot reach. That might be a friend's or relative's device, a library computer, or a work phone you are sure is private.
Consider using an incognito/private browsing window, but remember it is not fully private on a device that someone else physically controls, because search and network records can still exist.
If a partner has access to a shared account, change your passwords and check location-sharing settings before you begin your application, if it is safe to do so.
If your safety plan means you cannot safely use this page or make an application from home, reaching a trusted person, the helpline, or the police from a safe device is the priority.

Survivor-first language and your experience

You are a survivor of abuse — the harm was done to you, not caused by you, and it does not define your worth or your case. A protective order is a tool for keeping you and, where relevant, your children safe; it exists because the law acknowledges your right to protection. You do not have to be perfect or to hold all the details in your head on the day — that is exactly what written documentation and the court's process are for.

(Note on language: in this guide we use "survivor" rather than "victim" deliberately. In a criminal-law context, where the term "victim" is a formal legal designation, it may still be used by the authorities — but when describing your experience, you are a survivor.)

Preparing your FL401 evidence

The court will want to know about the incidents of abuse, when they happened, and whether there is a materially recent concern. Keep a written record of dates, what happened, and any communications (with copies you can produce).
Tell the court about any other legal steps already taken — a police report, an arrest, or an earlier order — so it has the full picture.
If you are in imminent danger, an urgent application may be possible; make the urgency clear. This is exactly the situation where calling the helpline or police first can protect you while the legal process moves.

Financial remedy

If you are separating and need to divide money, property, or pensions, the financial part of proceedings can take longer and feel more technical than the children's case. A few honest realities:

In financial remedy work, full and frank financial disclosure is the whole game. You must give the court an accurate picture of what you own, what you owe, your income, and your outgoings. Papers may be public (in the sense of disclosed to the other side) and inconsistent figures slow everything down.
You will be expected to complete a financial statement (Form E) and supporting documents. This is detailed and time-consuming to do properly — set aside real hours for it rather than rushing the night before.
The court will generally be interested in fairness and what is reasonable in the circumstances, informed by your needs, the children's needs, and the assets. A genuine, realistic proposal you can explain is usually in your favour more than pushing an unrealistic maximum.
Consider speaking to a family-law adviser or using a free initial advice slot even if you intend to self-represent in the hearings. Getting the early paperwork and expectations right saves more time than you would think.
Remember: financial proceedings and children's proceedings can run at different speeds and be decided separately. The court will steer you through what needs deciding in your case.

A practical first-visit checklist

Print this or keep it on your phone before the day. It is a checklist, not legal advice — it just helps you get through the building and the hearing calmly.

Before you leave

[ ] You have your case number and location code 115 written down.
[ ] You have your identity document (as required by the court) and copies of any order or application.
[ ] You have told the court in advance of any access needs (hearing loop, wheelchair, assistance dog, separate waiting) and about safety concerns about the other party.
[ ] You have agreed a safe place to leave your belongings and a way to contact a trusted person.
[ ] If relevant, you have a safe device for calls and were researched privately, and are not carrying sensitive personal records into the courtroom.

At the building

[ ] Arrive early — security screening takes time.
[ ] Tell security and front-of-house staff you are attending a hearing and ask where your courtroom is.
[ ] Meet your supporter/McKenzie friend in the private interview room if you have one.
[ ] If children are with you, use the children's waiting room (4th floor) if it helps.
[ ] Go over your three main points in your head or on a card — what you are asking for, why, and what would help now.

In the room

[ ] Listen before you speak, and take a note of what the judge asks you to do next.
[ ] You do not have to win the day — you have to move the case forward safely and clearly.
[ ] If you are a survivor of abuse and feel unsafe at any point, say so or get your supporter to tell the usher/staff.

This guide gives general information about self-representation at the Central Family Court. It is not legal advice and does not replace a consultation with a qualified family-law solicitor or a regulated adviser. Fees, court dates, and the details of your own case vary and are not set out here. For advice specific to your situation, contact a family-law professional or an organisation such as Refuge (0808 2000 247) - and if you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS, the Central Family Court, or gov.uk. Court details are sourced from the public HMCTS register and reviewed for accuracy; always confirm the latest position directly with the court.

Official forms & guidance (gov.uk):

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