Family court & support in Margate

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29

Which court serves you

There is no family court in Margate. Margate Magistrates' Court (The Courthouse, Cecil Square, Margate CT9 1RL) is open, but HMCTS lists it as handling Crime and Single Justice Procedure only — no family work (verified on the official "Find a court or tribunal" service, 2026-08-29). Family cases for Margate and the Isle of Thanet are heard at the Canterbury Combined Court and Family Court Hearing Centre, The Law Courts, Chaucer Road, Canterbury CT1 1ZA — about 19 miles away. See our full Canterbury court guide.

Family enquiries: Family.Canterbury.CountyCourt@justice.gov.uk (including C100 applications)
National enquiry line: 0300 123 5577 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm) · Divorce Centre 0300 303 0642
Family public law (children in care, case numbers starting "C5"): contactfpl@justice.gov.uk
Always attend the court named on your notice of hearing — listings can vary.

Citizens Advice

National Adviceline: 0800 144 8848 (free; phone Mon–Fri, see local hours)
Citizens Advice Thanet — Margate — 2nd Floor, Mill Lane House, Mill Lane, Margate CT9 1LB. Adviceline 0808 278 7998 (Mon–Thu 9:30am–2:30pm, CT7/CT8–CT12 postcodes; canek.org.uk). In-person visits are pre-booked appointments only — contact first (enquiries@canek.org.uk).

Mediation & your MIAM

Search the FMC register for mediators covering Thanet: 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
Kent-area services via the Women's Aid directory: womensaid.org.uk — see our FL401 guide for emergency protective orders.

Children's services

Kent County Council children's services cover Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate (Thanet is KCC, not Medway) — contact routes via https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse. Cafcass involvement is coordinated through the Family Court at Canterbury — see our Cafcass guide.

Getting to your hearing

Direct trains run Margate → Canterbury West (~25–30 min); Chaucer Road is a short walk from the station. Allow time to clear security (a full arch search applies) 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.