Chelmsford Justice Centre (County & Family Court) — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

Priory Place, New London Road, Essex CM2 0PP

Telephone

0300 123 5577; 0300 303 0642 (divorce); 0330 808 4424 (family public law)

Court location code

167

Verified

2026-08-27

A calm, practical guide to representing yourself at the family and county court in Chelmsford (officially "Chelmsford Justice Centre"). 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 2026-08-27

The essentials first

Official name: Chelmsford Justice Centre (a combined county court and family court)
Address: Priory Place, New London Road, Chelmsford CM2 0PP
Enquiries: 0300 123 5577 (National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court — Mon to Fri, 8:30am–5pm)
Divorce enquiries: 0300 303 0642 (Divorce Contact Centre — Mon to Fri, 10am–6pm)
Family public law (children in care): 0330 808 4424 (digital process for case numbers starting "C5")
Family Court location code: 167 (use this on C100 and other family court forms when asked where the case is being heard) · County Court location code: 167 · DX: 97660 Chelmsford 4
Court opening times: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm. Urgent Civil and Family applications are dealt with by prior appointment only (per HMCTS — the court's official "Find a Court or Tribunal" listing). Contact the court before travelling, as arrangements can change.
Verified: 2026-08-27, from the HMCTS "Find a Court or Tribunal" register.

Getting there & security reality

Chelmsford Justice Centre is a large combined court hub on Priory Place, off New London Road, close to Chelmsford town centre. As with any court building, plan to arrive well before your listed time — finding the entrance and passing through security takes longer than most people expect on a first visit.

Getting there

Chelmsford is on the Greater Anglia main line from London Liverpool Street, and there are bus routes through the town centre. Check your route the night before and leave generous extra time.
Parking near the centre is limited and mostly town-centre pay-and-display. Allow time to find a space if you are driving.

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.
Because family courts regularly hear domestic-abuse cases, 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 (verified from the official listing)

Disabled access — disabled toilet facilities are available.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards are available on request.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
A hearing loop (hearing enhancement) is available by prior arrangement — ask the court in advance if you rely on it (note it may not be compatible with all hearing devices).
Refreshments — hot and cold vending machines are available on the first and second floor.
Interview rooms — 13 interview rooms and a multi-faith room are available, useful for meeting a supporter, McKenzie friend, or solicitor before a hearing.
Baby-changing facilities are available on the ground floor.
Video facilities are available (excluding prison-to-court video links).
Witness service — The PSU is available on site to provide assistance to witnesses.
If you need an interpreter, ask the court — arrangements can be made (see gov.uk "Get an interpreter at a court or tribunal").

Contacting the court (published by HMCTS)

Enquiries for this court are handled through the national contact centres, which deal with urgent Civil and Family applications by prior appointment:

0300 123 5577 — National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm)
0300 303 0642 — Divorce Contact Centre (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm)
0330 808 4424 — family public law / children in care (digital process for "C5" case numbers)

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, and report such approaches to Action Fraud.

What this court handles

Chelmsford Justice Centre is a combined county court and family court. HMCTS lists it as also hearing High Court cases (serious or high-profile civil cases). For family and civil users, the areas of law relevant here include:

Childcare arrangements if you separate from your partner (applications typically on form C100)
Domestic abuse (safety/protective applications on form FL401)
Divorce hearings
Adoption
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) protection orders
Housing cases
Money claims (note: new online/postal money claims are processed centrally by the Civil National Business Centre — a local hearing at this court may still happen if one is needed)

This list is general. If you are unsure whether Chelmsford Justice Centre 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.
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 sensitive papers (like bank PINs or passwords) into the courtroom. Leave sensitive personal material out of the bundle unless it is genuinely relevant and properly disclosed.

FL401 / domestic abuse safety

Chelmsford Justice Centre handles domestic abuse cases, so if you are seeking a protective order against someone who has been abusive, the application is usually on form FL401. The family courts 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.
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 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. You do not have to be perfect or 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 the term "victim" 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.
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.

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 167 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 — and noted that urgent civil and family applications are by prior appointment, so contact the court first.
[ ] 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 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 one of the interview rooms if you have one.
[ ] If you have a baby, the baby-changing facility is on the ground floor.
[ ] 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 Chelmsford Justice Centre. 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, Chelmsford Justice Centre, 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):

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.

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