Written by Advicenow
This short film looks at how to represent yourself in court about a family problem if you do not have a lawyer. It deals with the things you may be worrying about and shows you simple tips that will help you put your side as well as you can.
This is just one of our resources to help you manage your separation and divorce, and save you stress and money.
You may also be interested in
- A survival guide to using Family Mediation after a break up
- How to apply for a financial order without the help of a lawyer
- A survival guide to sorting out your finances when you get divorced
- How to apply for a court order about the arrangements for your children without the help of a lawyer
- How to get a divorce or end a civil partnership without the help of a lawyer
- Getting help to pay for legal advice about a family problem
- Going to the family court – including up to date details of where and how users can access practical help and emotional support, legal advice, and representation.
We made this short film because we know that going to court without a solicitor is a very frightening and stressful experience and we want to help.
It looks at the questions people who have represented themselves told us they worried about most, and shows you simple tips that you can use to put your side as well as you can.
We are grateful to the Family Justice Council for funding this short film.
April 2018
Can you spare a few minutes?
We would be grateful if you could tell us what you think of this information by completing our Feedback survey. We will use your feedback to improve our guides, inform our future work and seek funding.
Disclaimer
The information in this guide applies to England and Wales and is for general purposes only. The law may be different if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
The law is complicated. We have simplified things in the guide to give you an idea of how the law applies to you. Please don't rely on this guide as a complete statement of the law or as a substitute for getting legal advice about what to do in the specific circumstances of your case.
The quotes and cases we refer to are not always real but show a typical situation. We hope they help you think about how to deal with your own situation.
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
child contact extension
the other year we were in court from January 2nd /March /MAY etc up till October because our son .We took a solicitor but it did no good so this year as he has started again i am going it alone and hoping to do better and a lot cheaper after watching the short film i can now get organised yahooo
Special Guardian Order grandparent age 75 thank you very much on the 10 / 05 / 2021
Great advice - thanks
Having my first family court appearance next week via telephone, but much of this advice holds. Can't afford representation so this is really helpful.
SD on the 09 / 12 / 2020
Advice video
Really good advice, clear to understand and user friendly
on the 27 / 01 / 2020
thank you
made me laugh because it was like watching myself in court i have often broke down and i cant read to good and i have to represent myself in court and it is the most horrible feeling when they have all there papers and i dont even know whats going on and the lies are soooooooo bad it makes me mad,
but watching this short film has shown me to keep my cool and try not to cry and interrupt, i talk fast anyway so its even harder when im upset.
thank you for making me see myself and how it does not help my boys i think im passionate when im trying to tell the judge everything but in reality im doin myself but most of inportantly my boys NO GOOD.
in going to court now with some hope and my mouth shut lol.
wish me luck
thank you again x
melanie on the 16 / 01 / 2020
Representing yourself in a family court.
Priceless to know how to professionally represent yourself in court.
on the 21 / 08 / 2019
Very informative
Addresses every detail, thank you sharing it
Reena on the 14 / 06 / 2019
Representing yourself in court
Thank you. This is really helpful.
on the 05 / 04 / 2019
Family disputes
I am so grateful that this video has been made easy to reach to guide people like me who cannot afford a solicitor so i can be confident and ready to stand for myself. The tips in this video are very helpful and full of knowledge what to do and say to the court. And how to behave inside the court to get a positive outcome in whatever I would be asking the court to decide for my case. MS
MRS MARIAM AKHTAR on the 23 / 11 / 2018
Super helpful
Thank you! I am very nervous and i will watch this many times.
on the 02 / 08 / 2018