McKenzie Friend Reading — family court support directory
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01
What a McKenzie Friend does in Reading
If you are a litigant in person at Reading County Court and Family Court (160-163 Friar Street, Reading RG1 1HE) or another Berkshire 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 Reading
- McKenzie Friend Law Support (mckenziefriendlawsupport.co.uk) — Reading/Berkshire page offering a free 30-minute consultation on family court processes, the role of Cafcass and child arrangements plans; states it is not a regulated law practice: https://www.mckenziefriendlawsupport.co.uk/reading
- Find a McKenzie Friend directory (findamckenziefriend.com) — searchable directory of McKenzie Friends covering Berkshire: https://www.findamckenziefriend.com
Reading family court
Family cases in Reading are heard at Reading County Court and Family Court. Confirm the venue and contact details 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 (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.