Chichester Combined Court Centre — self-representation guide

A calm, practical guide to representing yourself at Chichester Combined Court Centre. Written in plain English, covering the building, the case types it hears, and the realities of the day. Nothing here replaces tailored legal advice for your own situation.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31

The essentials first

Official name: Chichester Combined Court Centre
Address: Southgate, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1SX
Enquiries: 0300 123 5577 (National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court — Mon to Fri, 8:30am–5pm). A local direct line was not published in the sources consulted on the review date; use the national centre.
County Court location code: 172
Crown Court location code: 172
DX: 97460 Chichester 2
Verified: 2026-08-31, from HMCTS "Find a Court or Tribunal" register data. Confirm on the official HMCTS page before travelling.

What Chichester handles

As a combined court centre, Chichester hosts Crown Court, County Court and family business for the Chichester and west Sussex area. Family hearings — child arrangements, non-molestation and occupation orders, and finance cases following separation — can be listed here for local parties. Worthing County Court and Family Court serves the coastal strip to the east; your listing notice names the definitive venue.

Getting there

The centre is on Southgate, on the southern edge of Chichester's walled city centre — a few minutes' walk from the bus station and roughly 15 minutes from Chichester railway station. City-centre car parks fill early on court days; plan for a full morning.

The security reality

Expect airport-style security; bags are searched.
Family courts regularly hear domestic-abuse cases. Ask staff for a separate waiting area if you need one.
Arrive at least 45 minutes early.

Facilities

If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, contact the National Contact Centre on 0300 123 5577 in advance.
Need an interpreter? Ask the court well in advance.

Contacting the court

0300 123 5577 — National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court
0300 303 0642 — Divorce Contact Centre (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm)

Always quote your case number (16 digits).

Before your hearing day

1. Read the listing order — venue, time, purpose and length. 2. Prepare a short position statement and bring copies. 3. Bring the ordered bundle, plus your own copy.

Useful official links

HMCTS court finder: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/ (search "Chichester")
GOV.UK — represent yourself in court: https://www.gov.uk/represent-yourself-in-court
GOV.UK — family court hearings: https://www.gov.uk/family-court-hearings

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.

Preparing your own papers for a hearing at Chichester Combined Court Centre? EvidenceCanvas is an online tool for people who represent themselves in the family court. You add your messages, letters and orders, and it helps you put together a chronology, an exhibit bundle and a draft statement. It checks its own drafts and points out anything to fix. You check and finish every document yourself.

It is a paid tool with monthly plans and one-off options, and a limited free plan to try it. Check the current prices on its website before you choose a plan. It is not a law firm, it does not give legal advice and it cannot tell you how your case will turn out. If you can get legal advice or legal aid, consider that first.

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