Family court & support in Kensington and Chelsea

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28

Which court serves you

Family cases for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are principally heard at Central Family Court, First Avenue House, 42–49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP — confirmed on gov.uk's Find a Court or Tribunal (https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/central-family-court). Applications line: 0330 808 4424; general HMCTS enquiries (Mon–Fri 8.30am–5pm): 0300 123 5577; divorce enquiries: 0300 303 0642 (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm). Kensington and Chelsea shares its Designated Family Judge group with Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham, so some listings may sit alongside Westminster cases. It handles adoption, childcare arrangements, divorce, domestic abuse, financial remedy, forced marriage and FGM cases. See the full Central Family Court guide.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Kensington and Chelsea (part of the Kensington & Chelsea Advice Partnership with Nucleus and North Kensington Law Centre) — see citizensadvicekc.org.uk
Local Adviceline: 0808 278 7982 (Mon–Fri 10am–4pm); drop-ins at 37 Pembroke Road W8 6PW (12–2pm) and Chelsea Theatre SW10 0DR
National Adviceline: 0808 223 1133 (consumer) or 0800 144 8848
Note: our Westminster hub covers the Citizens Advice Westminster service, which some residents on the borough border also use.

Mediation & your MIAM

Before most applications you must consider a MIAM. Search the FMC register for mediators covering Kensington and Chelsea and central London: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/ See our London 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
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea publishes local domestic-abuse services; ask Citizens Advice Kensington and Chelsea for a referral to specialist borough support — see our London DA support page
On a shared phone? Use safe devices (library, Citizens Advice office, friend's phone).

Children's services

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea children's services (social services line 020 7361 3013) — find contact routes via https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse (postcode lookup). See our children's services London page. Cafcass covers Kensington and Chelsea in its London region — see our Cafcass London page.

Getting there

Central Family Court is on High Holborn (WC1V 6NP), between Chancery Lane and Holborn tube stations (Central and Piccadilly lines); buses along High Holborn stop outside, and City Thameslink and Farringdon stations are short walks away. From Kensington and Chelsea take the Central line from Notting Hill Gate or Holland Park, or the Piccadilly line from Earl's Court, and allow extra time for security screening — the building is busy on listing days.

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.