McKenzie Friend Derby — family court support directory

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01

What a McKenzie Friend does in Derby

If you are a litigant in person at Derby Combined Court Centre (Morledge) or another Derbyshire court, a McKenzie Friend can sit with you at hearings, take notes, help with case papers, and quietly give advice. They cannot conduct litigation or act as your advocate without the court's permission, and McKenzie Friends are not regulated legal professionals. The judiciary's Practice Guidance on McKenzie Friends sets out their role.

Verified services covering Derby

Find a McKenzie Friend (mckenziefriendservice.co.uk) — operates a Derby family court support page with free consultation, covering application forms, hearings, position statements, court bundles and more: https://www.mckenziefriendservice.co.uk/derby
Find a McKenzie Friend directory (findamckenziefriend.com) — searchable directory of McKenzie Friends in Derby, England, with free 30-minute consultation listings: https://www.findamckenziefriend.com/united-kingdom/england/derby/mckenzie-friend

Derby family court

Family cases in Derby are heard at the Derby Combined Court Centre, Morledge, Derby DE1 2XE. Confirm the venue and contact details on the official court finder: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/derby-combined-court-centre

Free alternatives

Support Through Court — free trained volunteers who support litigants in person (no legal advice): https://supportthroughcourt.org
Check legal aid eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid

Things to check before paying anyone

Ask for written fees, experience, DBS status, and a short CV (judges can require this before allowing assistance).
McKenzie Friends are unregulated — no required qualifications, training, or insurance. Verify everything yourself before engaging.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Services are listed from their own public websites and directories; always verify directly before engaging anyone. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent directory; we take no referral fees.

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.