McKenzie Friend London — family court support directory
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31
What a McKenzie Friend does in London
If you are a litigant in person at the Central Family Court (Holborn), East London Family Court (Canary Wharf) or another London family 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 unless the judge permits it, and McKenzie Friends are not regulated legal professionals. The judiciary's Practice Guidance on McKenzie Friends sets out what they may and may not do.
Verified services covering London
- McKenzie Friend London (mckenziefriendlondon.co.uk) — London-based service run by Alex Williams-Odonkor, offering fixed-fee support with divorce, child arrangements and financial settlement matters across London and the South East: https://mckenziefriendlondon.co.uk/
- Find a McKenzie Friend directory (findamckenziefriend.com) — lists many McKenzie Friends covering London courts (including the Central Family Court), some marked "verified DBS": https://www.findamckenziefriend.com/united-kingdom/england/london/mckenzie-friend
- Supporting Family Law — London-based McKenzie Friend service (findamckenziefriend.com "Platinum Verified" listing) offering fixed-fee court attendance and pre-court preparation packages: https://www.findamckenziefriend.com/united-kingdom/london/mckenzie-friend/supporting-family-law
London family courts
London family cases are heard across several hearing centres (Central Family Court, East London Family Court, and others). Confirm the venue for your case on the official GOV.UK court finder: https://www.gov.uk/find-court-tribunal
Free alternatives
- Support Through Court — free trained volunteers who support litigants in person at court, including at the Royal Courts of Justice (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.