Family court & support in Worthing
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29
Which court serves you
Family cases for Worthing are heard at the Worthing County Court and Family Court, The Law Courts, Christchurch Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1JD — confirmed on gov.uk's Find a Court or Tribunal (https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/worthing-county-court-and-family-court). The court handles adoption, childcare arrangements (C100), divorce and domestic-abuse (FL401) matters. Enquiries: HMCTS National Contact Centre 0300 123 5577 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm); Divorce Contact Centre 0300 303 0642 (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm). Family enquiries email: sussexfamily@justice.gov.uk. Always check your hearing notice — some cases are listed elsewhere (often Brighton or Horsham); confirm the venue at https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk. For a self-representation walkthrough see our Brighton County Court and Family Court guide or Horsham County Court and Family Court guide.
Citizens Advice
- Citizens Advice Worthing (part of Citizens Advice in West Sussex) — see https://www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/centre/worthing for local opening times and drop-ins
- National Adviceline: 0800 144 8848 (free) — generalist advice, including family law; webchat at citizensadvice.org.uk
- Citizens Advice Worthing can help with benefits, debt and housing issues that often sit alongside a family case
Mediation & your MIAM
Before most applications you must consider a MIAM (mediation information and assessment meeting). Search the FMC register for mediators covering Worthing and West Sussex: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/ — South East mediators serve Worthing, Brighton, Crawley and Horsham. See our Home Counties mediation page and our mediation guide for costs (the £500 voucher scheme, ~£120 MIAM, and legal aid eligibility).
Domestic abuse support
- Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24/7, free) · emergency 999
- On a shared phone or tablet? Use a safe device — public library, Citizens Advice office, or a trusted friend's phone — to look up local services
- See our Home Counties domestic abuse support page for refuges and specialist West Sussex services, and our FL401 injunctions guide
Children's services
West Sussex County Council is the children's services authority for Worthing (including referrals about a child's safety) — routes to your local authority via https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse (postcode lookup), or contact West Sussex County Council at https://www.westsussex.gov.uk. Cafcass covers Worthing in its South East Central region — see our Cafcass South East Central page. See our children's services guide.
Getting there
Worthing County Court and Family Court is on Christchurch Road (BN11 1JD), just south-west of Worthing town centre near the seafront — about a 15-minute walk from Worthing railway station (direct Southern and Thameslink trains from London Victoria and London Bridge, plus Gatwick via Horsham). There is pay-and-display parking on and around Christchurch Road. Coach and bus services connect Worthing with Brighton and Chichester. Allow extra time for security screening on arrival.
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS, gov.uk or Citizens Advice.
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.