# McKenzie friends — a plain-English guide to getting support in court > **Who this is for.** If you are representing yourself as a **litigant in person** at a family or civil court and want a trusted person to sit with you in the hearing for support, this guide explains what a **McKenzie friend** actually is, whether and when you can have one, exactly what they may and may not do, and honest warnings about paid or "guaranteed outcome" offers. It is general information for England and Wales, written to be fair and not take sides — it is **not legal advice**. > **REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27** --- ## What a McKenzie friend is A **McKenzie friend** is an **unqualified supporter** who helps a self-representing person (a **litigant in person**) during a court hearing. The name comes from a famous 1970 Court of Appeal case (**McKenzie v McKenzie**), which confirmed that a person representing themselves is entitled to reasonable assistance from an ordinary (lay) person who is not a lawyer. The label describes a **role, not a qualification**. Nothing about being a McKenzie friend gives the person any legal status or qualification. You remain a **litigant in person** at all times — your McKenzie friend does not take over your case, and the court always deals with you. ## What they may do Under the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary **Practice Guidance: McKenzie Friends (Civil and Family Courts)**, a McKenzie friend may: - provide **moral support** for you; - **take notes**; - **help with case papers**; and - **quietly give advice** on any aspect of the conduct of the case. ## What they may not do The same guidance is clear that a McKenzie friend may **not**: - act as your **agent** in the proceedings; - **manage your case outside court**, for example signing court documents on your behalf; or - **address the court**, **make oral submissions**, or **examine witnesses**. A simple way to think about it: they are there to help **you** — to sit beside you, take notes, and quietly pass you advice and encouragement. They generally **cannot speak for you** and are **not an advocate**. ## Whether and when they are allowed - **In the hearing:** GOV.UK's official page *Represent yourself in court* says you may be allowed someone to help you in court by taking notes and giving advice — and calls that person a McKenzie friend. But it is **the judge who decides** whether you can have one with you in court. - **You remain in control:** litigants have a **right to reasonable assistance**, but a McKenzie friend has **no independent right** to be there or to act. The court can **refuse** to allow them where the interests of justice and fairness do not require it. - **Tell the judge early:** if you want a McKenzie friend, let the judge know **as soon as possible**, saying who it will be. It is good practice for the proposed McKenzie friend to give a short summary setting out any relevant experience, and confirming they have **no interest in the case** and understand the role and their **duty of confidentiality**. ## Honest cautions — please read carefully - **They are not qualified and not regulated.** A McKenzie friend is an ordinary person. They are **not** solicitors, barristers, or legal executives, and they are **not** regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Bar Standards Board. Any advice they give is not protected advice. - **They are normally unpaid.** The role is genuinely one of voluntary support — a relative, friend, or charity volunteer helping you for free. - **Be very careful about anyone offering paid services or "guaranteed outcomes."** If someone is charging you money or promising a winning result, **slow down.** A real McKenzie friend cannot speak for you, cannot run your case, and no one can honestly guarantee the outcome of a court case. Offers of paid support that promise results — especially on family cases involving children or money — are a serious warning sign. **Never pay anyone for a promised or guaranteed outcome.** - **They cannot replace a solicitor.** If you need actual legal advice, legal aid, or someone to run your case, that is a regulated solicitor's (or other authorised adviser's) role. A McKenzie friend is support, not legal representation. ## Official sources (gov.uk / judiciary.uk) - Represent yourself in court (official GOV.UK page — who a McKenzie friend is and what they cannot do): **gov.uk/represent-yourself-in-court** - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary — Practice Guidance: McKenzie Friends (Civil and Family Courts), by the Master of the Rolls and the President of the Family Division: **judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/practice-guidance-mckenzie-friends-civil-and-family-courts** - Full legal advice under that Practice Guidance — what a McKenzie friend may and may not do, refusing/limiting assistance, and confidentiality. --- *This is general information, not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified family-law solicitor or a regulated adviser, and it does not take sides or prejudge any case. Court practice and guidance can change — always verify the current position on the official GOV.UK and judiciary.uk pages linked above before acting. If you believe you or your child are in immediate danger, call the police on 999; if you are a survivor of domestic abuse, contact Refuge (0808 2000 247) or Women's Aid. The family court decides each case on its own evidence and on the best interests of any child.* *YourFamilyCase is an independent, impartial information resource. We are not part of GOV.UK, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, the SRA, or any solicitor, McKenzie friend, or agency named or linked in this guide, and we receive no payment or preferment from any of them. The information here is provided to help you understand the system; it does not replace professional legal advice.* **AUTONOMOUS**