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Graham Fletcher : Your Trusted McKenzie Friend, Based in Bristol

In-person family court support for parents at South West England and Wales court hearings

Welcome to the website of Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend, your trusted McKenzie Friend in the UK. Author of "Eyes Wide Open : How to present your own case in family courts against lawyers"

With over a decade of experience Graham provides expert coaching and mentoring assistance to separated parents across England and Wales to prepare for and attend family court hearings, either in-person or at remote family court hearings

McKenzie Friends with a high number of reviews online are a viable trusted option for a divorcing parent to consider when assessing who to get impartial and insightful support from

Many divorcing parents can find the threat of legal action or letters from lawyers intimidating or overwhelming. McKenzie Friends can help reduce this stress by explaining processes without using legal jargon and coaching you focus on the aspects that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes

McKenzie Friends could help you achieve positive outcomes in a divorce or separation without incurring high solicitor fees

Why Choose Graham Fletcher as your McKenzie Friend?

Graham Fletcher achieved a 50/50 shared residency child arrangements order in family courts in his own divorce in 2014. Graham successfully presented his own case against solicitors and barristers as a litigant in person. He can help you do the same. With the support of a McKenzie Friend, Graham was successful in getting a non-molestation and occupation order application dismissed and went on to negotiate a fair divorce financial settlement

Graham is a qualified Mentor and felt his professional training combined with his lived life experience was key to achieving his successful outcomes. McKenzie Friends are not regulated. Graham Fletcher is not legally trained and makes no claim that he offers legal advice

Graham has over 150+ 5 star reviews online describing how he saved his clients £1000's when compared the solicitor fees they previously paid. The reviews outline how he empowered his clients to understand and engage with the often "shrouded in mystery" legal divorce process

What is a McKenzie Friend ?

McKenzie Friends are defined in the President’s Office of the English and Welsh family court rules (click to read)

In a civil family court hearing you can choose to attend without a solicitor, as a "litigant in person". Family courts allow a lay person to help a litigant in person as their "McKenzie Friend". Mckenzie Friends have a long established role the English and Welsh family court system. A McKenzie Friend has the courts permission to quietly give advice to the litigant in person in the courtroom, take notes and can assist in negotiations with solicitors outside the courtroom. McKenzie Friends do not conduct litigation on behalf of the litigant in person

Why choose a McKenzie Friend over a Solicitor?

When compared with the fees of family law solicitors, you could save £1000's in legal fees by using the cost effective McKenzie Friend service of Graham Fletcher

McKenzie Friends do not communicate in the legalese language used by lawyers. McKenzie Friends can help review your paperwork so you submit high quality paperwork. McKenzie Friends can help you keep calm in a fast-paced courtroom environment. With the right emotional support behind you, you increase your chances of positively influencing a family court judge or magistrates when you speak

Divorcing or separating often has multiple different legal dimensions to consider. As a divorced Father, with over 10 years experience of co-parenting after divorce, Graham advises a key dimension to focus on first is the pattern of how and when the children spend time with either parent.

Family courts deal with these types of civil dispute in a child arrangement order

Often separating parents will also be unable to agree on how to share or divide their marital asset's during their attempts at discussing divorce financial settlements . Family courts call these civil disputes ancillary relief.

If domestic abuse is alleged (a strategy which solicitor's often encourage) then non-molestation orders and occupation orders may be applied for.

Graham Fletcher has personal and professional experience of these different types of cases and will help you fully understand the court processes without the using the legal jargon solicitors use

What services does Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend offer?

Graham can review your paperwork and confidentially discuss your options through with you. Tips and advice on how to improve draft statements. Coaching sessions to prepare you for important cafcass interviews. Attend your court hearing to help you negotiate with solicitors,take notes and provide advice and emotional support during the court hearing

Graham's service covers family court hearings in Bristol, Bath, Weston supermare, Newport, Gloucester,  Swindon,  Cardiff,  Blackwood, Taunton, Worcester, Hereford, Salisbury, Swansea,  Oxford, Pontypridd, Reading, Basingstoke, Yeovil and Remote court hearings across England and Wales