{"id":100,"date":"2025-10-18T15:55:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T15:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everymanjustice.co.uk\/?p=100"},"modified":"2026-02-08T08:58:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T08:58:36","slug":"what-a-mckenzie-friend-can-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/everymanjustice.co.uk\/hu\/what-a-mckenzie-friend-can-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What a McKenzie Friend Can (and Can\u2019t) Do in Family Court"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When someone faces family court without a solicitor, the process can feel overwhelming \u2014 full of forms, hearings, and legal jargon.
That\u2019s where a McKenzie Friend<\/strong> can make a real difference. But before you rely on one, it\u2019s essential to understand exactly what a McKenzie Friend can and can\u2019t do<\/a><\/strong> under English law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2705<\/strong> What a McKenzie Friend Can<\/em> Do<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right to have a McKenzie Friend is well-established in England & Wales. It comes from case law (McKenzie v McKenzie [1970] 3 All ER 1034)<\/strong> and is recognised in Family Procedure Rules 2010, Practice Direction 27A<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you\u2019re legally entitled to expect from a McKenzie Friend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Provide quiet support in court<\/strong>
    They can sit beside you, help you stay calm, and take notes while you speak to the judge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Help you organise and understand documents<\/strong>
    Many parents struggle with forms like C100<\/em>, C1A<\/em>, or Position Statements<\/em>.
    A McKenzie Friend can help you prepare and present these clearly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Offer moral and emotional support<\/strong>
    Especially in stressful hearings involving children, having a calm, experienced person beside you can make a huge difference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Give practical guidance on procedure<\/strong>
    They can explain what happens at each stage \u2014 from MIAM<\/strong> to FHDRA<\/strong>, fact-finding hearing<\/strong>, or final hearing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Negotiate informally outside the courtroom<\/strong>
    A good McKenzie Friend helps you communicate constructively with the other side \u2014 focusing on solutions, not conflict.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Parents often ask whether McKenzie Friends are regulated and what protection exists in practice. This is explained in more detail here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \u274c<\/strong> What a McKenzie Friend Cannot<\/em> Do<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Despite the name, a McKenzie Friend is not a solicitor, barrister, or legal adviser<\/strong>.
    The court allows them to assist you<\/em>, not to act for<\/em> you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are clear limits under current rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. They cannot speak for you in court (no \u201crights of audience\u201d)<\/strong>
      Only in rare cases \u2014 with permission of the judge \u2014 can a McKenzie Friend address the court directly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. They cannot sign or submit documents on your behalf<\/strong>
      All filings must be made by you personally as a \u201clitigant in person\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. They cannot give formal \u201clegal advice\u201d<\/strong>
      They can explain processes and options, but not advise in the way a solicitor would under a regulated framework.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. They cannot claim to be legally qualified unless they actually are<\/strong>
      Anyone pretending to be a lawyer or using misleading titles breaches the Legal Services Act 2007.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      \ud83e\udded<\/strong> Why Many People Still Choose a McKenzie Friend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      According to the 2018 MoJ research on fee-charging McKenzie Friends<\/strong>, most clients choose them for three reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n