Stafford Combined Court Centre & Family Court — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

Victoria Square, Staffordshire ST16 2QQ

Telephone

0300 123 5577

Court location code

333

Verified

2026-08-27

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

If you are representing yourself in a family matter in and around Stafford, you are not alone. This guide lays out, plainly and without judgement, what to expect so you can walk into your hearing 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.

A quick, important note on the name: family business for the Stafford area is heard at the Stafford Combined Court Centre (sometimes called "Stafford Combined Court"), at Victoria Square. If your papers say "Stafford Family Court", that is the same venue — go by the court and address named on your notice of hearing.

The essentials

Court for family matters (official): Stafford Combined Court Centre, Victoria Square, Stafford, ST16 2QQ
Phone (HMCTS National Contact Centre — civil & family, UK-wide, available to Stafford litigants): 0300 123 5577 (Mon–Fri 8.30am–5pm, paper process including C100)
Phone (Disability support for attending a hearing): 0330 808 4407 (Crime customer service centre; Mon–Fri 8.30am–5pm, Sat 8.30am–2pm)
Phone (Divorce Contact Centre): 0300 303 0642 (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm)
Email (family queries incl. C100): family.stoke.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Email (civil court hearings): hearings.stoke.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Email (family public law / children in care, paper): care.stoke.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Email (family public law, digital process, case refs starting C5): contactfpl@justice.gov.uk
Email (enforcement / bailiffs): bailiffs.stoke.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
County Court location code: 333 · Crown Court location code: 455 · DX: 703190 Stafford 4 (Crown) / 703360 Hanley 3 (County)
Court type: Combined Court Centre (hears family and civil matters, plus crime and High Court work — family matters including children, divorce and domestic abuse are heard at this venue)
Building opening times (official): 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday; counter services by prior appointment only
verifiedAt: 2026-08-27 (checked against the official HMCTS page)

Contact and enquiries (official HMCTS details)

These are the contact routes associated with this venue on the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" page, with the family-relevant lines pulled out.

Telephone

National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court (Mon–Fri 8.30am–5pm): 0300 123 5577 — the main national route for paper-based civil and family applications.
Divorce Contact Centre (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm): 0300 303 0642
Disability / help coming to a hearing: contact the court in advance on 0330 808 4407 (Mon–Fri 8.30am–5pm, Sat 8.30am–2pm).
Crown court enquiries: 01785 610 730.

Email (@justice.gov.uk)

Family queries (private law incl. C100): family.stoke.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Civil court hearings: hearings.stoke.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Family public law / children in care (paper process): care.stoke.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Family public law (digital process, case refs starting with C5): contactfpl@justice.gov.uk
Enforcement / bailiffs: bailiffs.stoke.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Breathing space enquiries: stafford.breathingspace@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 matter to Action Fraud. HMCTS scam warning (gov.uk)

Getting there & access

Stafford Combined Court Centre sits at Victoria Square, Stafford, ST16 2QQ, in the town-centre area of Stafford. Arriving early is a good idea; attendance at court moves quickly.

By train (Stafford Station)

Stafford Station is served by Avanti West Coast, London North Western and CrossCountry, with direct services from London (Euston), Birmingham, Manchester and Crewe. The court is around a 5–10 minute walk or a short taxi ride from the station. See National Rail Enquiries for live departures.

By bus / coach

Stafford town centre has a bus station a short walk from the court, served by local Stagecoach and other routes into and around the town. Check the local journey planner for live times.

By car

There is no public customer parking at the court itself; pay-and-display and public car parks are available within a short walk of Victoria Square. Disabled parking is available locally. Check signage and restrictions carefully before you leave.

Check live travel before you go — engineering works, roadworks and traffic can change 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:

Disabled access: the building has a ramp to the entrance, a lift between the ground floor and the first floor, and level access in to court rooms and hearing rooms.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: lanyards available on request.
Assistance dogs: welcome.
Hearing loop: hearing enhancement facilities available by prior arrangement — contact the court office.
Interview rooms: 4 available on the ground floor.
Baby changing: available in the disabled toilets on the ground floor.
Refreshments: available via vending machine.
Video facilities: Court/Hearing Room video conferencing and prison-to-court video link (by prior arrangement).
Witness Service: available on 0300 332 1344 — witnessservice.org.uk.
GovWifi: wireless connection available.
If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, contact the court in advance on 0330 808 4407.

What this court handles

Stafford Combined Court Centre is a multi-jurisdiction venue. On the official HMCTS page the building is listed for adoption, bankruptcy, childcare arrangements, crime, divorce, domestic abuse, High Court cases, housing, money claims and the single justice procedure. Family-relevant work handled at this venue includes:

Family law applications — child arrangements orders (C100), prohibited steps and specific issue orders
Family public law — children in care (C110A / care and supervision orders)
Domestic abuse matters (FL401 / non-molestation and occupation orders)
Divorce and financial remedy on divorce
Adoption

Not every family case will be heard in Stafford. If you are unsure where your matter belongs:

Check your court documents. The notice of hearing and any correspondence you receive will name the court and address where you are expected, which is definitive.
Ask the court. Call the HMCTS National Contact Centre on 0300 123 5577 or the court-support line on 0330 808 4407, referencing your case number.

The C100 / FHDRA reality

For most parents, 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 hearing — the judge checks the paperwork, identifies what is agreed and what is in dispute, and decides what is needed next.
The judge encourages agreement. Where it is safe, the court will look for arrangements that both parents can agree, rather than deciding everything there and then.
You will likely be referred on. If issues can't be resolved at the FHDRA, the case is typically listed for further directions, a fact-finding hearing (where allegations of harm are examined) and/or a final hearing. More than one hearing is normal.
Bring your evidence and be ready to speak plainly. You don't need a solicitor, but the judge needs to understand your position clearly and calmly. Answer directly, address the judge respectfully, and ask if you don't follow something — it's far better to ask than to guess.
Support is available. The court has a Witness Service (0300 332 1344). 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, please know you are not alone, and help is available. Domestic-abuse matters are among the case types this court deals with. 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.
Courts (domestic abuse / FL401): call 0300 123 5577 (National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court).

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, a trusted friend's or family member's home, or a library. Calls, messages, browsing history and app activity can be monitored on a device or account the abuser can access, so take care when researching this information or applying for an order. If you are worried your device may be monitored, use a service you trust or a device you know is private.

Links you may find helpful:

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 it matches the venue your case is listed at (Stafford Combined Court Centre, Victoria Square, Stafford, ST16 2QQ).
[ ] If unsure it is the right court, call the HMCTS National Contact Centre on 0300 123 5577, referencing your case number.
[ ] If you have a disability and need help attending, contact the court in advance on 0330 808 4407.
[ ] Note that the building counter is by prior appointment only — make contact ahead of your visit if you need counter services.
[ ] Plan your journey and arrival — check live train/bus times before you travel.
[ ] 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 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, Stafford 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. 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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