Winchester Combined Court Centre — self-representation guide

A calm, practical guide to representing yourself at Winchester Combined Court Centre. Written in plain English, covering the building, the case types it hears, and the realities of 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: Winchester Combined Court Centre
Address: The Law Courts, Winchester SO23 9EL (High Street, Winchester)
Enquiries: 01962 814 100 (local direct line); 0300 123 5577 (National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court — Mon to Fri, 8:30am–5pm)
Verified: 2026-08-31, from HMCTS "Find a Court or Tribunal" register data mirrored by official advice-finder listings. Confirm details on the official HMCTS page for Winchester Combined Court Centre before travelling.

What Winchester handles

Winchester is a combined court centre: it hosts Crown Court, County Court and High Court (district registry) business, and family work is heard here for the Winchester area. If your case started in the family court or county court online, check your case papers — the court name and address printed on your correspondence is the venue that matters.

For divorce and end-of-marriage finance cases, filings are digital and your case may be administered by a contact centre rather than this building, but hearings still list here.

Getting there & security reality

The Law Courts sit on Winchester's High Street, a short walk from the city centre. Winchester is a compact city — most visitors arrive by train (Winchester station is roughly a 15–20 minute walk) or park in one of the city car parks. Plan your journey with a generous margin — many family hearings involve travel from across central Hampshire.

The security reality

Expect airport-style security at the entrance; bags are searched.
Bring only what you need and allow extra time.
Family courts regularly hear domestic-abuse cases. Staff are used to anxious or upset visitors — say so if you need a moment, a separate waiting area, or help finding your courtroom.

Facilities

If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, contact the court in advance (or the National Contact Centre on 0300 123 5577).
Need an interpreter? Ask the court well in advance.
The Witness Service supports witnesses and, in many centres, parties facing cross-examination — see www.witnessservice.org.uk.

Contacting the court

0300 123 5577 — National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court (Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm)
01962 814 100 — Winchester Combined Court Centre direct line
0300 303 0642 — Divorce Contact Centre (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm)

Always quote your case number (16 digits) and the name of the case.

Before your hearing day

1. Read the order or notice listing the hearing — it says what the hearing is for and how long it lasts. 2. Prepare a short position statement (1–2 pages) and bring copies for the judge/ magistrate and the other side. 3. Bring your bundle with tabs, if one has been ordered, plus your own copy. 4. Arrive at least 45 minutes early for security.

Useful official links

HMCTS court finder: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/ (search "Winchester Combined Court Centre")
GOV.UK — represent yourself in court: https://www.gov.uk/represent-yourself-in-court
GOV.UK — family court hearings: https://www.gov.uk/family-court-hearings

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 Winchester Combined Court Centre? 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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