Sitting in the public gallery — attending a family court hearing
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01
Are family court hearings public?
Family proceedings are not open in the way ordinary civil courts are. Hearings involving children are generally heard in private, and the court controls who may be present. However:
- Parties themselves always have the right to attend their own hearing.
- McKenzie friends and supporters can usually attend with a party, subject to the court's permission rules.
- Accredited media representatives have traditionally been allowed into many children hearings on the basis they will not identify children (strict reporting restrictions still apply — see our media and reporting page).
- Since the transparency pilot (expanding from 2023), a defined set of professional journalists and legal bloggers has been permitted into certain family hearings in a growing list of courts, with anonymity obligations.
If you want to observe a hearing
If you are a researcher, student, supporter of a party, or member of the public with a legitimate interest:
1. Contact the court in advance — list office details are on each court's page on the find-court-tribunal service. 2. Explain who you are and why you want to attend. The judge decides on the day or in advance. 3. Expect to be excluded for parts of the hearing (for example, sensitive evidence or in-camera segments) even if allowed in generally. 4. Never publish names, photographs or identifying details of children or protected parties — doing so can be a contempt of court (breach of s.12 Administration of Justice Act 1960 or s.39 Children and Young Persons Act 1933).
Practical realities
- Court lists show hearings but rarely say the type of family case, so phone the court and ask.
- Mobile phones must normally be off; photography and recording are prohibited inside court buildings' hearing rooms.
- If attending to support someone, agree beforehand where to wait and what help they want (notes, water breaks, sitting beside them).
Official links
- https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/ (find a court and its contact details)
- https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/ (judicial guidance on reporting and transparency)
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.