North London Family Court — self-representation guide

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-26

If you are representing yourself in a family matter, you are not alone. This guide lays out, plainly and without judgement, what you need to know about North London Family Court — including the most important, up-to-date fact of all: HMCTS currently lists North London Family Court as no longer in service. That changes where you need to go, and this page tells you exactly what to check next.

The essentials

Current official status: Per the HMCTS Find a court or tribunal service (verified 26 August 2026), North London Family Court is no longer in service — the official page states: *"This court or tribunal is no longer in service. Business has been transferred to other neighbouring courts."*
What this means for you: If your notice of hearing, letter or email names "North London Family Court," do not assume it still sits at its old address. Your case has very likely been transferred to a neighbouring north London family court. HMCTS does not currently publish contact details, a location code or opening hours for this court name because it is no longer a live listing.
The addresses HMCTS publishes today for the neighbouring family courts you are most likely to be moved to: - Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre — St Marys Court, Regents Park Road, Finchley Central, London N3 1BQ - Edmonton County Court and Family Court — Court House, 59 Fore Street, Edmonton, London N18 2TN - East London Family Court — 6th and 7th Floor, 11 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD
First action: read the court name and address on your recent court correspondence. If it no longer says "North London Family Court," follow that document — it tells you where your hearing is. If you are unsure, use the HMCTS National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court on 0300 123 5577 (Monday–Friday 8.30am–5pm) to confirm your case location.
verifiedAt: 2026-08-26 (source: official HMCTS Find a court or tribunal page).

Safety note on scams: HMCTS warns that scammers impersonate genuine HMCTS phone numbers and email addresses and may demand payment, claiming to be from HMRC or enforcement. If you are unsure, do not pay anything and report the scam to Action Fraud. HMCTS scam warning (gov.uk)

Is North London Family Court still open?

Short answer: as of 26 August 2026, the official HMCTS record for "North London Family Court" says it is no longer in service and that its business has been transferred to other neighbouring courts. The name no longer appears in HMCTS's active list of courts.

This has happened as part of HMCTS's long-running reorganisation of the London family court estate. The practical, plain-English consequence is simple:

Any new family application (child arrangements, domestic abuse, adoption, care orders) that would once have gone through North London Family Court is now dealt with by neighbouring north London family courts.
The north London boroughs' family work is now commonly heard at Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre and Edmonton County Court and Family Court (alongside East London Family Court for some matters). For example, published care-proceedings judgments for the London Borough of Haringey (a north London borough) record hearings sitting at Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre (see London Borough of Haringey v A & Ors [2023] EWFC 301 (B)).

Do not travel to an old North London Family Court building without confirming. Always go to the court named in your most recent notice of hearing or letter.

Getting there & access (neighbouring courts)

Because your hearing is most likely now at Barnet or Edmonton, here is how to get to each, based on the official HMCTS listings.

Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre — St Marys Court, Regents Park Road, Finchley Central, London N3 1BQ

Nearest London Underground station: Finchley Central (Northern line, Zone 4), a short walk away.
Official opening times: Monday–Friday 9am–4pm, and 10am–4pm by appointment only.
Facilities (official): level access to the entrance and courtroom; Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards on request; assistance dogs welcome; hearing loop (available by prior arrangement — contact the court office in advance); private interview rooms; baby changing in the disabled toilets on the second floor.
Professional codes (for correspondence): County Court location code 117, Family Court location code 117, DX 122570 Finchley (Church End).

Edmonton County Court and Family Court — Court House, 59 Fore Street, Edmonton, London N18 2TN

Nearest rail/transport hub: Edmonton Green station area, then a short walk on Fore Street.
Official opening times: Monday–Friday 9am–4pm; urgent civil and family applications by prior appointment only.
Facilities (official): ramp to the entrance, a lift between ground and first floor, and level access into courtrooms and hearing rooms; Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards on request; assistance dogs welcome; baby changing available.
Professional codes: County Court location code 194, DX 136686 Edmonton 3.

For both buildings: if you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, contact 0300 123 5577 in advance. See the official What to expect coming to a court or tribunal guide.

Before you travel, check the exact court name and address on your notice of hearing and confirm opening times, which can change. Court staff are used to helping people navigate — ask if you are unsure.

What cases these courts handle

The neighbouring north London family courts are Designated Family Courts / Family Courts, meaning they deal with the range of family matters that North London Family Court used to handle, including:

Child arrangements (C100) when parents separate
Domestic abuse applications (FL401 — non-molestation and occupation orders)
Divorce hearings
Adoption
Public law / care proceedings, where a local authority is involved because of safeguarding concerns
Financial remedy on divorce, and related matters

Check your documents first. Not every family case is heard at the same venue. The notice of hearing and any correspondence you received will name the court and the address where you are expected. If you are unsure whether your matter is at Barnet, Edmonton or East London, call the HMCTS National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court on 0300 123 5577 to confirm rather than guessing.

The C100 / FHDRA reality

If you are applying about your children using form C100, you will usually be invited to a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA). For a litigant in person, this is what it realistically involves:

It is a directions and early-concerns hearing, not a final decision. The court checks the papers, identifies what the issues are, and tries to steer you toward agreement where safe to do so.
A Cafcass officer (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) is usually involved early on, carrying out safeguarding checks and reporting back to the court.
You may not see a full trial. The FHDRA often resolves issues or narrows them down. If you are representing yourself, you will be expected to have thought about what arrangements you believe are in the child's best interests and to be ready to discuss them calmly.
Arrive prepared and early. The court will try to make sure you understand the process — ask if you do not follow something.

FL401 / domestic-abuse safety

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, please know you are not alone and the court takes abuse seriously. The family courts that have taken over North London Family Court's work handle domestic abuse matters, and there is help available to you.

FL401 is the court application form used to apply for a non-molestation order (which stops someone threatening or using violence towards you) or an occupation order (which decides who can live in the family home). You can often apply urgently, sometimes without telling the other person first.

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline (freephone, 24/7): 0808 2000 247
Emergency: if you are in immediate danger, call 999.
Non-emergency police: 101 for non-urgent concerns or to report something that is not an emergency.

Please use a safe device. "Safe" means a phone, computer or tablet that an abusive partner or ex-partner cannot access — for example a device at work, at a trusted friend or family member's home, or a library. Calls, messages, browsing history and app activity can be monitored on a device or account that the abuser has access to, so take care when researching this information or applying for an order. If you are worried your device is being monitored, consider seeking help from a service you trust or where you know the device is private.

Links you may find helpful:

What to expect at a family hearing

A family hearing is a formal but controlled setting. Knowing what is routine can take much of the fear out of it.

You will wait. Hearings run late and overrun. Bring water, something to read, and a clear idea of what you want to say.
Security and checks are normal. Allow time to pass through.
The judge is there to make decisions in the child's best interests, not to judge you as a person. Speak calmly, address the judge respectfully, and answer questions directly.
Representing yourself means the court will try to ensure you understand the process. You are allowed to take notes, and you should feel able to ask the judge or court staff to explain anything you do not follow. It is far better to ask than to guess.
Outcomes vary. A hearing may result in a decision, or it may simply be a step toward another hearing. Not every day in court produces a final answer, and that is normal.
You are likely to feel overwhelmed. Court is intimidating even for professionals. Take it one step at a time.

A practical first-visit checklist

Before your first visit, work through this list so nothing catches you by surprise:

[ ] Read your notice of hearing and note the exact court name and address it gives — it will name the living court (likely Barnet, Edmonton or East London), not a closed North London Family Court listing.
[ ] If your paperwork says "North London Family Court," call 0300 123 5577 to confirm which neighbouring court now holds your case and the address.
[ ] Check the court's opening times on that court's HMCTS listing before you travel (Barnet 9am–4pm; Edmonton 9am–4pm, urgent applications by appointment).
[ ] Plan your journey to the correct venue and allow generous time — these are real high-street/transport-hub locations, so confirm the route in advance.
[ ] If you have a disability and need help attending, call 0300 123 5577 in advance.
[ ] Bring your court documents, a form of ID, and anything the court asked you to bring.
[ ] Bring a notebook and pen to record anything important.
[ ] Dress comfortably but respectably; you may be waiting some time.
[ ] Arrange childcare or time off in advance so you are not rushed on the day.
[ ] Prepare in plain words what you want the judge to know, and keep it calm and specific.
[ ] Remember that court staff are there to help you navigate the building and the process — ask for help when you need it.

You are entitled to a fair hearing. Preparing for the practical realities — confirming the right venue, the travel, the waiting, the uncertainty — is one of the best things you can do to give yourself a steadier day.

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS, North London Family Court, any neighbouring 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, because court listing and status information changes.

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.