Family court & support in Lowestoft
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29
Which court serves you
Lowestoft Magistrates' Court is closed — gov.uk's Find a Court or Tribunal service confirms it is "no longer in service" and its business has been transferred to neighbouring courts. Lowestoft sits in the Waveney district of Suffolk, so most County Court and Family Court work (divorce, child arrangements, financial remedy) is handled at Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre, 8 Arcade Street, Ipswich IP1 1EJ — see our Ipswich family court guide. Some listings for the area are heard in Norfolk — see our Norwich court guide. Always check your hearing notice: it names the court you must attend. National HMCTS enquiry line: 0300 123 5577.
Citizens Advice
- Citizens Advice East Suffolk (Lowestoft) — St Margaret's House, Gordon Road, Lowestoft NR32 1JQ. Advice line 0808 278 7866 (Mon–Fri 10am–2pm); email advice@caes.org.uk; citizensadviceeastsuffolk.org.uk. Drop-in sessions Tue and Thu 10am–2pm (check current hours before travelling).
- National Adviceline: 0800 144 8848 (free)
Mediation & your MIAM
Before most family court applications you must attend a MIAM. Search the FMC register for accredited mediators covering Lowestoft: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/ — see our mediation guide for costs (the £500 voucher, ~£120 MIAM fees, legal aid) and our East of England mediation page.
Domestic abuse support
- Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24/7, free) · emergency 999
- Keep devices safe: learn how abusers track phones and accounts at https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ — see our East of England DA support page for local Waveney/Suffolk services.
Children's services
Lowestoft falls under Suffolk County Council (East Suffolk area). To report concerns about a child or contact the council's Children's Services, use the routes listed at https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse. CAFCASS involvement in family proceedings is covered on our CAFCASS East of England page.
Getting to your hearing
Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre is in central Ipswich, a short walk from Ipswich bus station and around 15 minutes on foot from Ipswich railway station; direct trains run Lowestoft–Ipswich. Allow time to clear security before your listed time.
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.