# Richmond (Greater London) — which court serves my family case?

> REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

There is **no standalone county or family court in Richmond upon Thames**. People in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Barnes, Mortlake and surrounding areas) are served by the neighbouring **Kingston upon Thames County Court and Family Court**, which is the official HMCTS-designated court for the area. If you live in Richmond and your family matter is heading to court, this guide tells you which court to use, what you'll need, and what to expect.

> **This page is not legal advice.** Court details below are sourced from the public HMCTS register and verified against the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" page on 2026-08-27.

## The short answer

- **There is no Richmond county or family court.** Do not search for one — it does not exist.
- **Locally, your county and family court is Kingston upon Thames County Court and Family Court** — the official HMCTS court serving south-west London, including the Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
- **Confirm on your court documents.** The notice of hearing you receive will name the court and address where your case is listed. Where your matter is heard may occasionally differ, so trust the court's correspondence over anything you read online.
- If unsure, call the **HMCTS National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court** on **0300 123 5577** and ask which court your case is listed at.

## About Richmond upon Thames

Richmond upon Thames is a borough in south-west London bounded by the River Thames, with large suburban and riverside communities including **Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Barnes, Mortlake, East Sheen, Petersham and Ham**. There is **no courthouse in the borough** — the county and family court work that covers this area is handled by the hearing centre a short distance away in Kingston upon Thames town centre (approximately 10–20 minutes by train from Richmond/Twickenham via South Western Railway).

## The court that serves Richmond: Kingston upon Thames County Court and Family Court

Since Kingston upon Thames County and Family Court is the court serving the Richmond borough area, the full practical guide (address, phone, opening hours, cases, facilities, travel, the C100/FHDRA reality, domestic-abuse safety and the first-visit checklist) lives on the dedicated page below:

👉 **[Kingston upon Thames County Court and Family Court — full self-representation guide](kingston-upon-thames-county-and-family-court.md)**

**Quick essentials for the Kingston court (also listed in full on its own page):**
- **Address:** Kingston upon Thames County Court and Family Court, Hearing Centre, St James Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, **KT1 2AD**
- **Phone (HMCTS Civil & Family enquiries):** **0300 123 5577**
- **Phone (counter / appointments, by appointment only):** **020 8972 8709**
- **Email:** Enquiries.kingston.countycourt@justice.gov.uk · Family: family.kingston.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
- **County Court location code:** 240 · **DX:** 97890 Kingston-Upon-Thames 3
- **Court open:** Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm · **Counter:** by appointment only
- **Cases handled:** divorce, childcare arrangements (C100 / child arrangements orders), domestic abuse (FL401), housing, money claims and bankruptcy

> If you are reading this because you are preparing for a family hearing, the guidance on the Kingston page — including what actually happens at a C100 / FHDRA first hearing, how FL401 domestic-abuse applications work, and a practical first-visit checklist — applies to you just as much as it does to people living in Kingston itself.

## If you're not certain your case belongs there

- **Check your notice of hearing.** Every court letter you receive names the court and address where you are expected. That is the authoritative answer.
- **Ask HMCTS.** Call **0300 123 5577** (Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm) and describe your matter; staff will confirm the correct court.
- **Your case may be listed slightly differently**, depending on the type of matter and where the judge sits — some family hearings are heard at other designated court centres in London. This is why the court documents you receive carry more weight than a general borough-by-borough map.

## If you are experiencing domestic abuse

Abuse matters are one of the case types handled by Kingston upon Thames County & Family Court. Please know you are not alone — help is available.

- **Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline (freephone, 24/7):** **0808 2000 247**
- **Emergency:** if you are in immediate danger, call **999**.
- **Non-emergency police:** **101**.
- **Use a safe device.** "Safe" means a phone, computer or tablet that an abusive partner or ex-partner **cannot access** — e.g. a device at work, at a trusted friend's or family member's home, or in a library. Calls, messages, browsing history and app activity **can be monitored** on a device the abuser controls, so take care when researching this information or applying for an order.

Links you may find helpful:
- [Domestic violence – injunctions (non-molestation and occupation orders) — official gov.uk guide](https://www.gov.uk/injunction-domestic-violence)
- [Refuge — National Domestic Abuse Helpline (need help now)](https://refuge.org.uk/i-need-help-now/how-we-can-help-you/national-domestic-abuse-helpline)

## What to do now (a small checklist)

- [ ] If you have a **notice of hearing**, trust the court name and address it gives — do not rely on any general map.
- [ ] If not yet sure of the right court, call **0300 123 5577** and ask.
- [ ] Read the [Kingston upon Thames full guide](kingston-upon-thames-county-and-family-court.md) for travel, facilities and what happens at the first hearing (C100 / FHDRA).
- [ ] If you need the Kingston counter, **book an appointment** on **020 8972 8709** — the counter is by appointment only.
- [ ] If comfortable, arrange travel (South Western Railway serves Richmond/Kingston; check TfL for the day) and allow extra time.

Your attention to your own preparation of the practical realities — confirming the court, planning the journey, knowing what happens at the first hearing — will make a real difference on the day.

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**YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory** — we are **not** affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS, Kingston upon Thames County and Family Court, Richmond upon Thames Council, 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 (and always trust your own notice of hearing). This information is general guidance and is **not legal advice**.

**Official forms & guidance (gov.uk):**
- [Kingston upon Thames County Court and Family Court — HMCTS official "Find a court or tribunal" page](https://find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/kingston-upon-thames-county-court-and-family-court)
- [HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" (verify the court for your case)](https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/)
- [Apply for a child arrangements order / court order](https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce/apply-for-court-order)
- [C100 — Apply for a court order about a child](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-c100-application-under-the-children-act-1989-for-a-child-arrangements-prohibited-steps-specific-issue-section-8-order-or-to-vary-or-discharge)
- [CAFCASS (child arrangements / parental responsibility guidance)](https://www.gov.uk/cafcass)
- [FL401 — Apply for a non-molestation or occupation order (domestic abuse)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-fl401-application-for-a-non-molestation-order-or-an-occupation-order)
- [Apply for a divorce](https://www.gov.uk/divorce)
- [Find a solicitor (Law Society)](https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/)
- [Support Through Court (independent charity for litigants in person)](https://supportthroughcourt.org/)
- [What to expect coming to a court or tribunal](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-expect-coming-to-a-court-or-tribunal)

*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.*