Support services around the family court — the complete map

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

Going to family court without a lawyer is not something you do alone. A whole network of free and low-cost services exists around the courts — this page maps them, and every service has its own page on this site.

The journey and where to get help at each step

1. Understanding your options (before any application)

Citizens Advice (local offices + national advice line) — options, forms, money problems
Family mediation (FMC-accredited mediators) — the MIAM and the calmer path; £500 voucher for eligible child cases; see our mediation guides

2. Applying to court

gov.uk — C100/FL401 forms and guidance (linked from every court page here)
Support Through Court — helpline 0300 081 0006 and local offices: form-filling, procedure

3. Safety concerns

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24/7)
Regional DA services (see our domestic abuse support pages by area)
In an emergency: 999; use a safe device when researching

4. The children in the middle

Cafcass (England) / Cafcass Cymru (Wales) — safeguarding and welfare advice; see our regional Cafcass pages
Childline 0800 1111, The Mix, YoungMinds — neutral support for young people

5. Free legal help

Rights of Women — free legal advice lines for women on family law
LawWorks clinics & Advocate — pro bono advice (and sometimes representation)
Legal aid — still exists for many family situations; see our legal aid guide

6. Day of the hearing

Support Through Court / PSU volunteers — someone beside you in the big courts
Our preparing-for-a-hearing guide and your court's page (facilities, check-in, security)

7. Wider family

Kinship (Grandparents Plus) — relatives raising or seeking contact with children
Both Parents Matter — helpline for separated parents (0300 0300 363)
OnlyMums & OnlyDads — whole-picture support for lone parents

Browse by type

Support Through Court — `/institutions/support-through-court-*.html`
Citizens Advice — `/institutions/citizens-advice-*.html`
Cafcass regions — `/institutions/cafcass-*.html`
Mediation — `/institutions/family-mediation-*.html`
Domestic abuse support — `/institutions/domestic-abuse-support-*.html`
Children's services — `/institutions/childrens-services-*.html`

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory, takes no payment from any listed service, 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.