Prisoners' families — maintaining contact and running a case from prison

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28

The situation

A parent in prison keeps parental responsibility and can still be a full participant in family proceedings — applying for child arrangements, defending care cases, seeking contact. The practical barriers (security, phone limits, transfers) are real but manageable, and there is a dedicated support sector for families on the outside.

Family court participation from prison

Court lists can accommodate video hearings from prison (request early via the prison's legal visits/MOJ liaison)
Legal aid for family cases from prison follows the normal rules (see our legal aid guide); many prisons have legal-aid surgery referrals
Documents: send/receive via the prison's legal mail route (free legal correspondence) — keep copies of everything
Child arrangements: a prisoner can apply for contact (C100). Courts weigh the sentence length, the child's existing stability, and the prior relationship — contact orders can provide for visits (family days), video calls and letters
Care proceedings: parents in custody get automatic legal aid (like all parents in care cases) and must be included in assessments and contact planning

Support for the family outside

Prisoners' Advice Line (Prison Advice & Care Trust/Pact) — free helpline for prisoners' families: 0808 808 2003
Family Links workers in most prisons — arrange visits, explain the process
Prisoners' Families Helpline (run by Pact): 0808 808 2003 — same number, for relatives
Visits: book through the prison's visiting line; ID rules apply for children

Safeguarding interactions

Care proceedings involving a prisoner-parent follow the same 26-week timetable — the court and Cafcass must make reasonable efforts to include them (video attendance, assessments in custody). Non-participation by choice is treated differently from exclusion by the system — engage.

Official links

Prisoners' families: https://www.pact.org.uk
Visiting a prisoner: https://www.gov.uk/stay-in-touch-with-someone-in-prison

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with Pact, HMPPS 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.