The Family Court without a lawyer — the complete survival guide
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29
You're a litigant in person. You're not alone.
Over 40% of family court cases have at least one party without a lawyer. You can do this — and this site gives you the tools. Here's everything you need to know in one place.
Before you start
| Step | Guide on this site | |------|--------------------| | Understand your options (court vs mediation) | No-order principle guide | | Check if you need legal aid | Legal aid guide | | Find out if you can get fees waived | EX160 guide | | Understand the court you'll attend | Your local court page |
Starting your case
| Step | Guide | |------|-------| | Consider a MIAM | Mediation guide | | Fill in the C100 (children) or Form A (money) | C100 guide / financial remedy guide | | Get help filling in forms | Support Through Court (0300 081 0006) | | Apply for help with fees | EX160 guide |
During proceedings
| What happens | Guide | |------|-------| | CAFCASS contacts you | Cafcass guide / section 7 reports guide | | You need to write a position statement | Court day practical guide | | A fact-finding hearing is listed | Fact-finding guide | | You need to build a bundle | Building the bundle guide | | You need to write a witness statement | Writing a witness statement guide | | The other side gets a solicitor | Dealing with the other solicitor guide | | You want to change something | Variation guide |
At the hearing
| What you need | Guide | |------|-------| | Know what to expect | Court day practical guide | | Someone to sit with you | Support Through Court guide | | A special measure (screen, interpreter) | Special measures guide | | Know what the judge is looking at | Welfare checklist guide |
After the hearing
| What you need | Guide | |------|-------| | Understanding the order | Court orders explained guide | | Enforcing it | Enforcement guides | | Changing it | Variation guide | | Appealing it | Appeals guide |
The golden rules
1. Be organised — index, paginate, diarise 2. Be child-focused — every argument maps to the welfare checklist 3. Be honest — never lie or exaggerate 4. Be concise — judges have 20 minutes; respect that 5. Be civil — with the court, the other side, and Cafcass 6. Be persistent — the system is slow; don't give up 7. Get help where you can — Support Through Court, Citizens Advice, unbundled solicitors, pro bono barristers
Official links
- https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce
- https://supportthroughcourt.org
- https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS or 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.