Interpreters, accessibility & adjustments — every tool for a fair hearing

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28

You should not have to fight the process as well as the case

The family justice system has formal obligations to make hearings fair for everyone: BSL users, disabled parties, those with dyslexia or mental-health conditions, and anyone who doesn't speak fluent English. This page collects every adjustment in one place — request them early, in writing.

The full menu of adjustments

Language

Free court interpreters for hearings (state language + dialect at listing; courts book via the agency)
Documents in evidence may need certified translation (yours to arrange for your own evidence)
Support person who can translate informally is NOT a substitute for a professional interpreter at hearings

Hearing & communication

Hearing loops (all courts have them by arrangement)
Remote/video attendance where travel or health makes attendance hard
Speech-to-text reporter (palantypist) for deaf parties in longer hearings
Documents in large print / easy-read (court can direct)

Waiting & safety

Separate entrance and waiting rooms (PD12J cases; see our DA safety pages)
Different arrival/departure times to avoid contact with the other party
Support person beside you (McKenzie friend or family — see our McKenzie page)

Processing

Extra breaks; hearings split over days
Special measures for giving evidence (screens; judge-led questioning — see our s.28 page)
Easy-read versions of orders — ask the judge to explain the order in plain language and confirm your understanding on the record

How to request

File a short C2/application or position statement headed "Application for participation directions" listing what you need and why; or email the listing office with the hearing reference. Do this at least 7 days before the hearing where possible. Quote PD3AA (vulnerable parties) and PD3B (interpreters) — the rules are on your side.

If the court refuses

Ask for reasons; some refusals are appealable. The诉求 should be proportionate — but the starting assumption is that adjustment is normal, not exceptional.

Official links

PD3AA: https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family
Court deaf/accessibility services: https://www.gov.uk/court-hearing-accessibility

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.