What We Do

Assisting people through the processes of:

• Termination of a marriage/civil partnership or cohabitation
  • Filing for Divorce/annulment; advice on cohabitation splits.
  • Filing for financial provision and/or division of property/assets/spousal/child maintenance
• Assist clients through the process of applying for domestic violence related proceedings such as Non-Molestation Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders, Specific Issues Orders and Occupation Orders.

• Child arrangement order applications
  • Child maintenance (case dependent)
  • Who the child should live with
  • Who the child should spend time with and what contact they should have, direct/indirect
  • Parental responsibility
• Grandparents’/step parent applications

 

Paperwork assistance

• Working with the client to help with preparing and drafting statements for applications, documents, and other correspondence (e.g., liability and asset schedules, witness statements, documenting evidence, Form E’s etc)
• Helping clients with their bundles, if it’s their responsibility to collate
• Assisting with the organisation of all relevant documents relating to their case so they can find important documents quickly

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Court assistance

• Liaising with the court or helping the client to liaise regarding any prior requests for hearings ie separate rooms/screens/vulnerable witness provisions
• Assisting with any pre-court discussions/negotiations alongside CAFCASS or Counsel, if involved, should this be necessary and requested
• Keeping the clients focused, calm and level headed both before and during the proceedings

McKenzie Friends can:

• provide moral support
• take notes
• help with case papers
• quietly giving advice in court

Mckenzie Friends cannot:

• Address the Court directly, question witnesses or talk to the judge directly
• Conduct litigation or exercise a right of audience. The court may grant those rights in individual cases, but it is unlikely to do so
• act as an agent