Family court & support in Hastings

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29

Which court serves you

Hastings has its own family court. Family cases are heard at the Hastings County Court and Family Court, The Law Courts, Bohemia Road, Hastings TN34 1QX (verified on gov.uk's "Find a court or tribunal" service, 2026-08-29). The court handles adoption, childcare arrangements, divorce hearings and domestic abuse cases; family enquiries go to sussexfamily@justice.gov.uk. Hastings Magistrates' Court (also Bohemia Road, TN34 1ND) deals mainly with crime and is not where your family case will be listed.

HMCTS National Contact Centre: 0300 123 5577 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm) · Divorce Centre 0300 303 0642
Enforcement/family enquiries: sussexfamily@justice.gov.uk — always attend the court named on your notice of hearing.

Citizens Advice

National Adviceline: 0800 144 8848 (free; phone Mon–Fri, see local hours)
Citizens Advice East Sussex (formed from the Hastings, Rother & Wealden bureau) covers Hastings — eastsussexcab.co.uk. Drop-in capacity is limited; contact first to book.

Mediation & your MIAM

Search the FMC register for mediators covering Hastings and East Sussex: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/ — see our mediation guide for costs (£500 voucher, ~£120 MIAM, legal aid).

Domestic abuse support

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24/7) · emergency 999
East Sussex–area services via the Women's Aid directory: womensaid.org.uk — see our FL401 guide for emergency protective orders.

Children's services

East Sussex County Council children's services — contact routes via https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse. Cafcass involvement is coordinated through the Family Court at Hastings — see our Cafcass guide.

Getting to your hearing

The Law Courts are on Bohemia Road (TN34 1QX), about 10–15 minutes' walk from Hastings railway station (direct trains to London Charing Cross/Cannon Street via Tonbridge) and from the town centre bus stops. Allow time to clear security before your listed time, and check remote-hearing options if travelling is difficult — see our remote hearings guide.

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.