Norwich Combined Court Centre (family court) — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

The Law Courts, Bishopgate, Norfolk NR3 1UR

Telephone

0300 123 5577 (enquiries); 01603 728200 (switchboard)

Court location code

285

Verified

2026-08-27

Reviewed by Sean McNamara on 2026-10-21

If you are representing yourself in a family matter, you are not alone. This guide lays out, plainly and without judgement, what to expect at the family court at Norwich Combined Court Centre so you can walk in more prepared and less uncertain.

The essentials

Address: The Law Courts, Bishopgate, Norwich NR3 1UR (Norwich Combined Court Centre — the family court sits within this building)
Phone (HMCTS court enquiries, official): 0300 123 5577
Phone (court switchboard / Crown Court listing): 01603 728 200
Court number / location code: 443 · CCI code: 285 · DX: 97385 Norwich 5
Court type: Designated Family Court within a Combined Court Centre (handles adoption, divorce, childcare arrangements, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation and forced marriage matters)
Court opening times (official): Monday–Friday 8.30am–5pm
Counter opening times (official): Monday–Friday 10am–4pm (by prior appointment only)

Contact and enquiries (official HMCTS details)

These are the contact routes listed on the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" page for Norwich Combined Court Centre. Use the family enquiry email address for general and C100 (child arrangements) applications.

Telephone

Enquiries: 0300 123 5577
Court switchboard / Crown Court listing: 01603 728 200
If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, call 0300 123 5577

Email (@justice.gov.uk)

Family court enquiries (including C100 applications): family.norwich.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
E-filing family orders following hearings: e-filing.norwich.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Adoption matters: NorwichCountyAdoptions@justice.gov.uk
Civil matters: enquiries.norwich.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Crown Court matters: enquiries.norwich.crowncourt@justice.gov.uk

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)

Getting there

Norwich Combined Court Centre is at The Law Courts, Bishopgate, Norwich NR3 1UR, on the banks of the River Wensum, a short walk from Norwich Cathedral. Parking is limited, so plan your route ahead.

By train

Norwich station is the nearest (about 1 km / a 10–15 minute walk from the court). Norwich is the eastern terminus of the Great Eastern Main Line from London Liverpool Street. Allow time for the walk across the city centre.

Parking

There are no public parking facilities at the court building itself. Paid off-site parking is available within 500 metres — for example St Helen's Wharf, 17 Bishopgate, Norwich NR3 1RZ, or Magdalen Car Park, St Saviours Lane, Norwich NR3 1SP.
2 parking spaces are reserved on site for Blue Badge holders — contact the court in advance to reserve a space.
Arrive early. Court staff deal with many people daily, and being hurried adds stress you do not need.

What cases this court handles

The family court at Norwich Combined Court Centre is a Designated Family Court, meaning it is set up to deal with a range of family matters. According to the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" page, its areas of law include:

Childcare arrangements if you separate from your partner
Divorce
Domestic abuse
Adoption
Female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage matters (the court is the designated single point of entry for children proceedings)
Public law proceedings, where a local authority is involved and the court considers the welfare of a child
Housing and money claims are also heard at this combined centre, but these are civil, not family, matters

What this court does not do is hear every kind of family case. Not all family cases are heard here. If you are unsure whether your matter belongs at this court:

Check your court documents. The notice of hearing and any correspondence you received will name the court and the address where you are expected.
Ask the listings office. Court staff are there to point you in the right direction. It is always better to ask a question than to arrive at the wrong hearing on the wrong day.

Facilities and accessibility (official HMCTS details)

Per the official HMCTS page for this court:

Disabled access: the building has level access to the building entrance and to the courtroom.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network: lanyards are available on request.
Assistance dogs: welcome.
Hearing loop: hearing enhancement facilities are available by prior arrangement — contact the court office to arrange this (facilities may not be compatible with all hearing devices).
Lift: wheelchair-access lift available to the first floor.
Baby changing facilities: available in the disabled toilets on the ground floor.
Video conference and prison video link facilities: available.
For interpreters/translators, see the official interpreter guidance.

Domestic abuse / FL401 safety

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, please know you are not alone and the court takes abuse seriously. This court handles 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 for one of these 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:

[ ] Confirm the court name and address on your notice of hearing — make sure your case is listed at Norwich Combined Court Centre (The Law Courts, Bishopgate, Norwich NR3 1UR).
[ ] If unsure it is the right court, call the HMCTS enquiries line on 0300 123 5577 to confirm.
[ ] Check the court's opening times — court open Monday–Friday 8.30am–5pm; counter open Monday–Friday 10am–4pm (by appointment).
[ ] Plan your journey and arrival time — allow time for parking on the day or a walk from Norwich station.
[ ] If you have a disability and need help attending, call the HMCTS line on 0300 123 5577 in advance (Blue Badge parking can be reserved by contacting the court).
[ ] 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 — 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, Norwich Combined Court 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):

Preparing your own papers for a hearing at Norwich Combined Court Centre (family court)? 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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