Family court & support in Bracknell

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29

Which court serves you

There is no family court in Bracknell itself. Family work for Bracknell Forest (divorce, child arrangements, domestic abuse applications, financial remedies and care proceedings brought by Bracknell Forest Council) is heard at Reading County Court and Family Court, 160–163 Friar Street, Reading RG1 1HE — see our full Reading court guide. Published care cases involving Bracknell Forest Council are listed there ("In the Family Court at Reading"), and some cases may be listed at the Family Court sitting at Slough instead — check your hearing letter.

Main enquiries (HMCTS National Contact Centre, Mon–Fri 8.30am–5pm): 0300 123 5577; divorce enquiries: 0300 303 0642 (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm); the court can be reached on 0118 987 0500. Arrive 30 minutes early for airport-style security.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice East Berkshire (Bracknell): Bracknell Open Learning Centre, Rectory Lane, Bracknell RG12 7GR — Adviceline freephone 0808 278 7914 (Mon–Fri 10am–4pm); office visits by pre-booked appointment only; caeb.org.uk - General advice drop-in: Bracknell Library (lower ground floor), 2 Town Square, RG12 1JD, Thursdays 10am–12pm
National Adviceline: 0800 144 8848 (free)

Mediation & your MIAM

Before most family applications you must consider a MIAM. Search the FMC register for mediators covering Bracknell and east Berkshire: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/ — see our mediation guide and Home Counties mediation page for costs (£500 voucher, ~£120 MIAM, legal aid).

Domestic abuse support

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24/7) · emergency 999
Thames Valley services (Refuge and Women's Aid members across Berkshire) via the Women's Aid directory: womensaid.org.uk
On a shared phone? Use safe devices (library, CA office, friend's phone) — see our Berkshire & Oxfordshire DA support page and the FL401 guide for protective orders.

Children's services

Bracknell Forest Council's children's services handle local referrals — find contact routes via https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse (postcode lookup). CAFCASS in this region is Cafcass Thames Valley, which covers Bracknell Forest.

Getting there

Reading County Court and Family Court is about 10–15 minutes' walk from Reading rail station (direct GWR trains from Bracknell, roughly 15–20 minutes) via Station Road and Friar Street. Allow time for airport-style security on arrival.

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory 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.