St Helens County Court and Family Court — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

Corporation Street, Corporation Street WA10 1SZ

Telephone

0300 123 5577

Verified

2026-08-31

A calm, practical guide to representing yourself at St Helens County Court and Family Court. It is written in plain English, takes you through the building, the types of case it hears, and the realities you are likely to face on 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: St Helens County Court and Family Court
Address: Corporation Street, St Helens WA10 1SZ
Enquiries: 0300 123 5577 (National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court — Mon to Fri, 8:30am–5pm)
Divorce enquiries: 0300 303 0642 (Divorce Contact Centre — Mon to Fri, 10am–6pm)
Social security and child support: 0300 123 1142 · Bailiffs: 01744 627241
Location code (County Court): 315 — HMCTS publishes a single code for this venue; no separate Family Court code is listed on the register · DX: 725020 St Helens 4
Court opening times: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4pm. Counter service by appointment only, for urgent civil and family applications; bailiff office 8:30am–10:30am (per HMCTS — the court's official "Find a Court or Tribunal" listing). Confirm before travelling.
Verified: 2026-08-31, from the HMCTS "Find a Court or Tribunal" register.

Getting there & security reality

The court sits on Corporation Street in the middle of St Helens, close to the town's shopping core and well served by buses and rail. Plan to arrive well before your listed time — a first visit always takes longer than you expect.

Getting there

St Helens Central railway station (Liverpool–Wigan line) is a short walk away; St Helens Junction is also an option with a longer walk or a short bus ride.
The town's main bus station is nearby, with frequent services from Liverpool, Warrington, Wigan and Knowsley.
There is no parking at the building — the register points to paid off-street parking on Birchley Street, adjacent to the venue.

The security reality

You will pass through a security arch; all users and their possessions are searched. Tell the security officer if you have a pacemaker.
Allow extra time at busy morning listings — the queue can move slowly.
Bring only what you need. Avoid large bags and unnecessary electronics.
Family courts regularly hear domestic-abuse cases. Staff are used to people who are anxious or upset — it is okay to say you need a moment or help finding your courtroom.

Facilities once inside (verified from the official listing)

Level access at the entrance, a lift to the first floor (plus a wheelchair lift, 410kg limit) and level access into courtrooms.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards on request; assistance dogs welcome.
Portable hearing enhancement system available by prior arrangement — contact the court in advance.
Eleven interview/consultation rooms on the first floor — genuinely useful for meeting a supporter, McKenzie friend or solicitor privately before a hearing.
Baby-changing facilities on the ground floor, and a separate room can be made available for mothers who wish to breastfeed.
Free Wi-Fi throughout; vending machine and water cooler for refreshments.
Need an interpreter? Ask the court in advance (see gov.uk guidance below).

Contacting the court (published by HMCTS)

family.sthelens.countycourt@justice.gov.uk — family court
civil.sthelens.countycourt@justice.gov.uk — civil court
StHelensBailiffGroup@justice.gov.uk — bailiffs
COPManchester@justice.gov.uk — Court of Protection enquiries
sthelens.breathingspace@justice.gov.uk — Breathing Space (debt) enquiries

Beware of scammers: HMCTS warns that scammers mimic genuine court phone numbers and emails and may demand payment claiming to be from HMRC or enforcement. Never pay anyone who phones or emails demanding money — report approaches to Action Fraud.

What this court handles

HMCTS lists the following areas of law for this location:

Childcare arrangements if you separate from your partner (applications typically on form C100)
Domestic abuse (protective applications on form FL401)
Divorce hearings and adoption
Money claims, bankruptcy, housing and enforcement (civil work)

This list is general. If you are unsure whether St Helens is the right venue, check with the court or a family-law adviser before filing — venue affects where your case is heard.

The C100 / FHDRA reality for a litigant in person

If you are applying about a child without a lawyer, you will most likely begin with a C100 application and your first hearing will probably be a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA).

The FHDRA is largely administrative: identify the dispute, check safeguarding, and explore agreement with a judge and, where available, a CAFCASS officer.
It is not a final trial. Expect process decisions — what information is needed next, whether a further hearing is required, and interim arrangements.
Bring your completed form and documents even if you think they may not be needed; hearings can be short and crowded.
Because the counter sees people by appointment only and only for urgent applications, make sure any filing is arranged in advance by phone or email rather than relying on walking in.

FL401 / domestic abuse safety

This court handles domestic abuse applications, usually on form FL401 (non-molestation or occupation order).

If you are in danger right now: call 999. The Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline — 0808 2000 247 is free, confidential and open 24/7.

Safety note about devices: an abusive person may monitor calls, messages and browsing history. Research and prepare your application on a safe device they cannot reach, and check passwords and location-sharing settings first if it is safe to do so. Keep a written record of incidents, dates and communications; tell the court about any police involvement or earlier orders.

A practical first-visit checklist

[ ] Case number and location code 315 written down
[ ] ID, copies of your application or order, and your papers
[ ] Any counter appointment arranged in advance (urgent applications only) and access/safety needs told to the court
[ ] Arrive early — security screening takes time; ask front-of-house for your courtroom
[ ] Meet your supporter in one of the interview rooms if you have one
[ ] Your three points ready: what you ask, why, and what would help now

This guide gives general information about self-representation at St Helens County Court and Family Court. It is not legal advice and does not replace a consultation with a qualified family-law solicitor or a regulated adviser. For advice specific to your situation, contact a family-law professional — and if you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS, St Helens County Court and Family 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.

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.

Preparing your own papers for a hearing at St Helens County Court and 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.

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