Living in Scotland or Northern Ireland? Which service covers you
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27
Important: the family court system is different
YourFamilyCase guides cover the England and Wales system (C100, FL401, Cafcass, HMCTS courts). Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legal systems — different courts, different forms, and different agencies:
- Scotland: sheriff courts handle family cases; children's hearings are a distinct system; the welfare agency is SAFECASS-equivalent: no — it is the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) for children's hearings, and Parenting Across Scotland is a good starting charity. Start at mygov.scot: https://www.mygov.scot/child-contact-and-custody
- Northern Ireland: the Family Division of the High Court, family care centres and magistrates' courts (family proceedings) handle family cases; the welfare agency is the Northern Ireland Court and Tribunals Service plus Health and Social Care (HSC) trusts. Start at nidirect: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/contact-and-residency
What still applies from this site
- The safety information (Refuge 0808 2000 247 covers UK-wide callers;999 everywhere)
- The general principles — child-focused decisions, MIAM-equivalent mediation consideration, honest evidence — travel across borders, but the forms, courts and agencies do not
Where to get help locally
- Scotland: Citizens Advice Scotland (cas.org.uk) local bureaux; Parenting Across Scotland (parentingacrossscotland.org)
- Northern Ireland: Citizens Advice NI (citizensadvice.co.uk); Family Mediation NI (familymediationni.org.uk)
Official links
- Scotland (gov): https://www.mygov.scot/child-contact-and-custody
- Northern Ireland (gov): https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/contact-and-residency
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory covering England and Wales in detail, and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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.