Plymouth Combined Court — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

The Law Courts, 10 Armada Way, Devon PL1 2ER

Telephone

0300 123 5577

Court location code

296

Verified

2026-08-27

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

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 Plymouth Combined Court so you can walk in more prepared and less uncertain. It is not legal advice — court details below are sourced from the public HMCTS register and verified against the official "Find a court or tribunal" page.

The essentials

Address: The Law Courts, 10 Armada Way, Plymouth, PL1 2ER
Phone (HMCTS court enquiries, official — paper process & private law, including C100): 0300 123 5577 (National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court — Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm)
Phone (Divorce Contact Centre): 0300 303 0642 (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm)
Phone (family public law digital, case numbers starting C5): 0330 808 4424
Email (family court / private law incl. C100): family.plymouth.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Email (general civil court enquiries): enquiries.plymouth.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
County Court location code: 296 · Family Court location code: 296 · Crown Court location code: 446 · DX: 98470 Plymouth 7
Court type: Combined Court (County Court, Family Court and Crown Court in one building — handles adoption, childcare arrangements, domestic abuse, divorce, FGM, forced marriage, financial remedy and more)
Court open (official): 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday; telephone enquiries answered Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
verifiedAt: 2026-08-27 (checked against the official HMCTS page)

Contact and enquiries (official HMCTS details)

These are the contact routes listed on the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" page for Plymouth Combined Court.

Telephone

General legal enquiries (National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court — Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm), including C100/private law: 0300 123 5577
Enforcement: 0300 123 5577
Family public law (children in care, paper process): 0300 123 5577
Divorce Contact Centre (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm): 0300 303 0642
Family public law (children in care, digital process, case numbers starting C5): 0330 808 4424
Witness service: 0300 332 1305
Front of House (disability access, hearing loop, video facilities, interview rooms): 01752 677475
If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, contact the court in advance on 0300 123 5577.

Email (@justice.gov.uk)

Family court / private law (paper process including C100 applications): family.plymouth.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
General civil court enquiries: enquiries.plymouth.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Listing: hearings.plymouth.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Family public law / children in care (digital cases starting C5): contactfpl@justice.gov.uk
Financial remedy: FR.plymouthhub@justice.gov.uk
Enforcement / bailiffs: bailiffs.plymouth.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Crown court: enquiries.plymouth.crowncourt@justice.gov.uk
Magistrates court: de-plymouthmclist@justice.gov.uk
Front of House (disability, hearing loop, video, interview rooms): Plymouth.frontofhouse@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.

Getting there & access

The Law Courts sits at 10 Armada Way, Plymouth, PL1 2ER, close to the centre of Plymouth.

By train (Plymouth)

Plymouth railway station is the closest station, served by Great Western Railway and CrossCountry with direct services from London Paddington, Bristol, Exeter and Cornwall. The court is a walk of around 20–25 minutes from the station, or a short bus/taxi ride. Check live departures on National Rail Enquiries.

By bus

Plymouth has an extensive local bus network with many routes through the city centre and near Armada Way. Use a local journey planner for live routes and times.

By car

There is no customer parking at the court itself. Paid off-site parking is available within a few metres at the Guildhall car park, and there is on-street parking at the front of the venue. Check before you leave — policies change and penalties are common.

Check live travel before you go — roadworks and train changes can alter things on the day. Arrive early; court staff deal with many people daily, and a hurried arrival only adds stress.

Facilities and accessibility (official HMCTS details)

Per the official HMCTS page for this court:

If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, contact the court in advance on 0300 123 5577.
Parking: no customer parking at the venue; paid off-site parking nearby at the Guildhall car park and on-street parking at the front.
Disabled parking: available on request to the Listing Office in advance of hearings.
Disabled access: a ramp with hand rails at the front of the building, with a bell at the bottom of the ramp so disabled users can attract the attention of security if needed; a ramp with hand rails for access to the Jury Entrance.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network: lanyards available on request.
Assistance dogs: guide dogs are welcome on site.
Hearing loop: a portable hearing enhancement system is available by prior appointment — contact Front of House on 01752 677475 or Plymouth.frontofhouse@justice.gov.uk.
Security: all users and their possessions are searched on entry; there is a security arch. Alert security if you have a pacemaker.
Lift: available to access the first floor (79.5 cm wide); a wheelchair lift for judges is available between the ground and first floor (wheelchairs up to 105 cm wide, 400 kg weight limit).
Public toilets: available in the first-floor foyer and the District Judge reception waiting area.
Disabled toilet: available in the first-floor foyer.
Refreshments: vending machines in the first-floor foyer dispensing hot drinks, cold drinks and snacks.
Interview rooms: 4 rooms available on the first floor; prior booking for special measures can be made in advance via Front of House on 01752 677475.
Waiting rooms: a public waiting area on the first floor, a separate waiting area outside Courts 3 and 4, and separate witness waiting areas.
Baby changing facility: located in the disabled toilets on the first floor.
Video facilities: court/hearing room video conferencing and prison-to-court video link available by prior arrangement — contact 01752 677475 or Plymouth.frontofhouse@justice.gov.uk.
Wireless network: PCU WiFi is available for professional court users (registration required); there is no open WiFi for the general public.
Witness service: available — witnessservice.org.uk.
Translators / interpreters: see the gov.uk interpreter guidance.

What cases this court handles

Plymouth Combined Court is a combined County Court, Family Court and Crown Court in one building. According to the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" page, this court handles:

Adoption
Childcare arrangements if you separate from your partner (C100 / child arrangements orders)
Divorce hearings
Domestic abuse (FL401 / non-molestation and occupation orders)
Financial remedy
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
Forced marriage
High court cases — serious or high-profile criminal or civil law cases
Housing, money claims and bankruptcy (county court civil work)
Crime and the single justice procedure (magistrates / Crown work)

Not every family case is heard here. If you are unsure whether your matter belongs at this court:

Check your documents. The notice of hearing and any correspondence you receive will name the court and address where you are expected.
Ask the court. Call the HMCTS enquiries line on 0300 123 5577 — court staff are there to point you in the right direction.

The C100 / FHDRA reality

For most families going through a private law matter, the first step is a C100 application for a child arrangements order, and the first hearing is the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA). Here is the reality of that first hearing for a litigant in person:

It is short and administrative. The FHDRA usually lasts around 30 minutes and is not the trial. It is a gatekeeping and dispute-resolution session — the judge checks the paperwork, identifies what is agreed and what is disputed, and decides what happens next.
The judge encourages agreement. Where it is safe, the court will look for contact that both parents can agree on, rather than deciding everything there and then.
You will likely be referred on. If issues cannot be resolved, the case is typically listed for a further directions hearing, a fact-finding hearing (where allegations of harm are examined) and/or a final hearing. Expect more than one hearing — that is normal.
Bring your evidence and be ready to speak. You do not need a solicitor, but the judge needs to understand your position, clearly and calmly. Answer directly, address the judge respectfully, and ask if you do not follow something.
Support is available. The court has a witness service on site. You are also allowed a McKenzie friend (an unpaid assistant who can sit with you, take notes and quietly advise — they cannot address the court without permission).

FL401 / domestic-abuse safety

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone, and this court takes these matters seriously — they are one of the case types this court handles. Help is available.

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.
You can contact the court for family/FL401 matters: family.plymouth.countycourt@justice.gov.uk, or call the national contact centre on 0300 123 5577.

Please use a safe device. "Safe" means a phone, computer or tablet that an abusive partner or ex-partner cannot access. Calls, messages, browsing history and app activity can be monitored on a device or account the abuser has access to, so take care when researching this information or applying for an order.

Links you may find helpful:

A practical first-visit checklist

Work through this list before your first visit:

[ ] Confirm the court name and address on your notice of hearing — make sure your case is listed at Plymouth Combined Court (The Law Courts, 10 Armada Way, Plymouth, PL1 2ER).
[ ] If unsure it is the right court, call the HMCTS enquiries line on 0300 123 5577.
[ ] Note the times: court open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri; national contact centre Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm.
[ ] If you have a disability and need help attending, contact the court in advance on 0300 123 5577.
[ ] Plan your journey and arrival time — there is no customer parking at the court, so park nearby (Guildhall car park) or come by public transport.
[ ] Bring your court documents, a form of ID, and anything the court asked you to bring.
[ ] Bring a notebook and a pen.
[ ] Dress comfortably but respectably; you may be waiting some time.
[ ] Arrange childcare or time off before you go.
[ ] Remember that court staff are there to help you navigate the building and the process — ask for help when you need it. Expect a security search when you enter.

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.

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected with HMCTS, Plymouth Combined 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. This page is general information and is not legal advice.

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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