Citizens Advice — Leeds: free advice for families going through separation and court

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

When a relationship breaks down, the problems rarely arrive one at a time — money, housing, benefits and children all come at once. Citizens Advice Leeds (whose formal operating name is Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre) is an independent local charity that gives free, confidential and impartial advice on exactly those issues, helping more than 30,000 people a year. This page is about the Leeds service, verified against the charity's official website, its published Client Charter, and the judiciary's own Leeds contacts page on 2026-08-27. It is general information, not legal advice — always confirm current opening times directly with the charity before travelling.

What this service is

Citizens Advice Leeds is a member of the national Citizens Advice network and, uniquely in Leeds, also operates as a Law Centre — it defends the legal rights of people who cannot afford a lawyer. Its trained advisers can:

Give advice on welfare benefits, debt, money, housing, employment, discrimination and family matters.
Run a short assessment/gateway interview (by phone, digital or drop-in) and route you to the most appropriate help — including specialist casework where needed.
Help you understand your options in a family breakdown — using the national Citizens Advice family guidance on separating, sorting out money, making arrangements for children, and dealing with domestic abuse.
Provide a Deaf Advice Service and an Energy Affordability Helpline (0800 448 0721) covering all of West Yorkshire.
Campaign and represent on the root causes of poverty and injustice, as a member of the Law Centres Network.

Important: Citizens Advice gives advice and information — it does not act as your solicitor or represent you in court hearings. For free practical support at the Leeds courthouse itself, see our page on Support Through Court — Leeds.

Who it helps

Anyone who lives in Leeds (the 0808 278 7878 line is for Leeds residents only; the energy helpline covers the whole of West Yorkshire).
People facing separation or divorce who need to understand benefits, debt, housing and money consequences — often the practical issues a family court expects you to have a plan for.
People who cannot afford a lawyer — there is no means test to get first-stage advice, and the service is free.
Family court users generally: the judiciary's own Leeds Combined Court Centre contacts page lists Citizens Advice Leeds as a source of help for court users.

How to use it (steps)

1. Call Adviceline on 0808 278 7878 — free from mobiles and landlines, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. You will get a short assessment interview and be routed to the right help. 2. Or use digital routes — webchat/email via the charity's website (national online chat at citizensadvice.org.uk covers debt, Universal Credit, energy and general problems), or email through the contact form on the Leeds site. 3. Drop in if you can on a Wednesday — the Advice Hub drop-in runs Wednesdays, 9am–1pm at Oxford House, Oxford Row, Leeds LS1 3BE. No appointment needed; expect an assessment interview first. 4. Book an appointment — pre-booked face-to-face appointments run Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm. 5. Bring your paperwork — benefit letters, court orders, bank statements, any correspondence — so the adviser can give concrete advice rather than generalities. 6. If you are outside Leeds, call the national Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848, or the national debt helpline 0800 240 4420 (9am–8pm Mon–Fri, 9.30am–1pm Sat).

Contact & location (verified)

These details are published on the charity's official Contact Us page and Client Charter, and in the judiciary's Leeds contacts listing (verified 2026-08-27):

Address: Oxford House, Oxford Row, Leeds, LS1 3BE — directly opposite the Leeds Combined Court Centre (The Courthouse, 1 Oxford Row, LS1 3BG).
Adviceline (Leeds): 0808 278 7878, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm (free number).
Energy Affordability Helpline: 0800 448 0721 (West Yorkshire-wide).
Advice Hub drop-in: Wednesdays 9am–1pm at Oxford House.
Pre-booked appointments: Monday–Friday 9am–4pm.
Email: via the contact form on citizensadviceleeds.org.uk.
Deaf Advice Service: available via the charity's website.
Status: operating name of Leeds Citizens Advice Bureau — registered charity 700314, company 2228358, FCA-regulated (FRN 617646).

Costs (honest)

The service is free. The charity's own Client Charter confirms advice is free, independent, confidential and impartial; calls to 0808 278 7878 and 0800 numbers are free from mobiles and landlines.
There is no means test for first-stage advice; the charter states that if another organisation will charge, they will explain that to you.
The charity is funded by donors and funders (including Leeds City Council and Northern Powergrid) — it does not charge clients.
Watch out for anyone charging for "advice" at court — genuine Citizens Advice help is free. Verify through the official site linked below.
If your case needs a solicitor, that cost sits outside this service. See our legal aid guide for help funding representation.

How it fits your court case

Before applying to court: advisers can help you sort the practical side — benefits after separation, rent/mortgage arrears, debt — which strengthens your position and your paperwork. Use the national family guidance on making arrangements for children and our own preparing for a hearing guide.
During the case: pair free advice from Citizens Advice Leeds with court-day support from Support Through Court — Leeds — the two charities sit practically opposite each other on Oxford Row and do different jobs.
After a hearing: if an order affects your money, benefits or housing, advisers can help you work out the next step, challenge wrong decisions, or prepare appeals on benefits decisions.
It complements, not replaces, legal help: Citizens Advice explains rights and options; it cannot represent you or tell you what to argue in a family case. A McKenzie friend may fill that gap.
Domestic abuse: the national family guidance includes gender violence routes (including safety planning and legal options) — raise it in your assessment interview and they will route you to specialist help.

Official links

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Citizens Advice, Leeds Citizens Advice & Law Centre, HMCTS, or gov.uk. Service details above are sourced from the charity's official website (citizensadviceleeds.org.uk), its published Client Charter, the national Citizens Advice website, and the judiciary's Leeds contacts page, verified on 2026-08-27; opening times and service arrangements can change, so always confirm directly with the charity before travelling. This page is general information and is not legal advice. Nothing on this page is an endorsement of any legal service, and Citizens Advice does not endorse this site.

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.