Employers, HR & your rights at work during family proceedings
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27
Why your employer matters during a family case
Hearings arrive at short notice; documents must be produced; stress affects work. Knowing your rights keeps your job safe while you handle the case.
Your workplace rights
- Time off: there is no general right to paid time off for court hearings — but employers must consider flexible-working requests and reasonable unpaid leave for dependants in emergencies (gov.uk/time-off-for-dependants)
- Flexible working: parents of children (and carers) can request flexible working from day one of employment; employers must handle requests reasonably
- Confidentiality: you choose what to tell HR. A brief note ("family court proceedings, need X date off") is usually enough — you don't owe details
- Discrimination protection: as a parent or carer you are protected from discrimination for family status in most workplaces
Practical tips
- Diarise hearings as soon as you know; give your employer as much notice as possible
- Ask your Support Through Court volunteer or the court about remote/video hearing options
- Keep papers secure and private — not on shared work systems (especially in abuse situations: use a safe device)
How this fits your family court case
Financial stability supports your case (housing, ability to pay fees). Pair this page with our financial remedy guide if money is in dispute.
Official links
- https://www.gov.uk/time-off-for-dependants
- https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with 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.