National Family Mediation have provided the following information on Representing Yourself in Court:-
Since the changes to Legal Aid in April 2013, there are now a greater number of people representing themselves in court without instructing a Solicitor.
There are various informative leaflets on the www.gov.uk website that outline in detail the divorce procedure D183 etc. and also Children and Ancillary Relief applications. Leaflet EX50 explains the court fees in full. Many courts are now operating in court duty family solicitor schemes and duty in-court mediation schemes to assist unrepresented parties. Family courts are fairly informal and there is wearing of wigs in court. If at any time you do not understand what is happening, speak up.
This information sheet outlines the support available to those intending to represent themselves in court on family issues, which is often referred to as being a ‘litigant in person’.
Family Courts Without a Lawyer: A Handbook for Litigants in Person, written by Lucy Reed, a barrister at St John’s Chambers, Bristol, and the author of the PinkTape blog.
A guide to representing yourself in court, produced by the Bar Council (downloadable at the bottom of this page).
Family Court Support – http://www.familycourtsupport.co.uk/litigation.htm
Families Need Fathers – www.fnf.org.uk
– Could you do a decent job?
– Why might you want to represent yourself?
– What other considerations are there?
– Where can I obtain practical help (includes info on McKenzie friends, FNF volunteers, pro-bono solicitors and CAB’s. Also Personal Support Unit at the Royal Courts of Justice and PRFD offers people to accompany Litigants in Person to hearings but offers no legal advice)?
Wikivorce – www.wikivorce.com
Rights of Women – www.rightsofwomen.org.uk
Gingerbread – www.gingerbread.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau –www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Shared Parenting Information Group (SPIG) UK – www.spig.clara.net
Resolution – www.resolution.org.uk
Law Society – www.lawsociety.org.uk
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