Frequently Asked Questions

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A McKenzie Friend is a person who provides both practical and emotional support to a client during family court proceedings in the UK. In family cases heard before the courts in England and Wales, each party has the right to represent themselves.

There is no obligation to instruct a solicitor or barrister. A person who represents themselves is known as a Litigant in Person (LIP). A Litigant in Person has the right to attend court with a supporter — a McKenzie Friend — who assists them throughout the proceedings.

During the hearing, a McKenzie Friend does not address the judge directly but may give advice, guidance, and support to the client. At any stage of the hearing, the client may ask to consult their McKenzie Friend. This support ensures that the client does not feel alone in court and can rely on both practical and emotional assistance throughout the hearing.

An additional advantage of working with a McKenzie Friend is that the client remains entirely in control of their case at every stage and is not dependent solely on what a solicitor may say on their behalf. Both their effectiveness and their affordability drive the growing popularity of McKenzie Friend services. Legal fees in the UK are very high, often ranging from £200 to £400 per hour. Access to Legal Aid has been significantly restricted in recent years, leading many individuals to seek support from a McKenzie Friend.

Typical responsibilities of a McKenzie Friend include:

• assisting with the preparation of documents
• explaining court procedures in a clear and accessible manner
• taking notes during hearings
• providing organisational and emotional support to the client

Yes — absolutely. It is possible to consult only a single document.

The client always determines the scope of support. You may decide to have just one specific document reviewed or discussed, without committing to long-term cooperation.

Our team of McKenzie Friends tailors the level of support to the client’s individual situation, needs, and expectations, providing flexible, practical assistance exactly where it is required.

McKenzie Friend support is significantly more affordable than solicitor services, whose hourly rates in the UK often range from £200 to £400.

Our consultations start at £65 per hour. The scope and cost of any further support are agreed on an individual basis, depending on the client’s needs and circumstances. This ensures that you pay only for the support you genuinely require, without unnecessary expense.

Yes — your case remains entirely confidential.

A McKenzie Friend has a strict duty to maintain the confidentiality of the matter and not to disclose any details to third parties, particularly in proceedings before the UK family courts.

Absolutely not.

We take every possible step to ensure that we do not advise or work with the opposing party. At the initial stage of contact, we ask each client to provide the personal details of their former partner or spouse.

This ensures that at no stage of the case will we provide support, advice, or assistance to the other party.

As a result, you can be confident in our full loyalty, confidentiality, and the absence of any conflict of interest.