Family court & support in Ipswich
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28
Which court serves you
Family cases for Ipswich are heard at the Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre, 8 Arcade Street, Ipswich IP1 1EJ — confirmed on gov.uk's Find a Court or Tribunal (https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/ipswich-county-court-and-family-hearing-centre). The old Ipswich County Court at 1 The Square has closed; family hearings now take place at the Arcade Street hearing centre. Family enquiries: 0300 123 5577 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm); family court email: family.chelmsford.countycourt@justice.gov.uk (family business is administered through Chelmsford County Court — check your hearing notice). Court open 8:30am–4pm Mon–Fri; counter service by appointment only for urgent civil and family matters — contact the court before travelling.
Citizens Advice
- National Adviceline: 0808 278 7995 (free) — generalist advice, including family law
- Suffolk residents: find local Suffolk Citizens Advice offices via the national finder at citizensadvice.org.uk — see our Citizens Advice page
Mediation & your MIAM
Before most applications you must consider a MIAM. Search the FMC register for mediators covering Ipswich and Suffolk: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/ — East of England mediators serve Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford, Norwich, Cambridge and Peterborough. See our East of England mediation page and 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
- Local Suffolk and East of England services — see our East of England DA support page
- On a shared phone? Use safe devices (library, CA office, friend's phone).
Children's services
Suffolk County Council children's services — find contact routes via https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse (postcode lookup). See our children's services guide. Cafcass covers Suffolk in its Area A14 (East of England) region — national enquiries 0300 456 4000; see our Cafcass East of England page.
Getting there
The Hearing Centre is on Arcade Street (IP1 1EJ), a short walk from Ipswich town centre and the railway station. Ipswich is on the main line from London Liverpool Street, with local and regional bus routes into the town centre. Plan to arrive well before your listed time — security takes longer than most people expect on a first visit.
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.