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Southampton Family Court

McKenzie Friend Support

photograph of Bristol Civil and Family Justice centre

Southampton County Court Phone Number - 023 8021 3200

Address - The Courts of Justice, London Road, Southampton, SO15 2XQ

Hours - 07.30 pm – 5.00 pm

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website : https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/southampton-combined-court-centre

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Southampton Family Court is the Southampton family court location that divorcing or separated parents attend for Child arrangement order, Non-molestation order, Occupation order and Divorce Financial settlement Hearings (Ancillary Relief

Who applies for court orders at Southampton Family Court and Why?

A Child arrangement order is commonly applied for by Fathers restricted in or denied access to their children following the end of a parental relationship.It is common for Mothers in such situations to make allegations against the Father. Fathers making c100 applications need to think carefully about how they will respond

A Non-molestation order is commonly applied for by Mothers seeking to prevent contact from their ex-partner.They can be problematic if you are a Father seeking to have regular contact with your children  

A Occupation order is commonly applied for by Mothers seeking to have a partner removed from a joint ownership or joint tenancy family home

A Divorce Financial settlement application (called Ancillary Relief) is commonly applied for by both Fathers and Mothers. The applicant will seek the English and Welsh civil courts assistance to finalise the terms and conditions of their financial separation, such how to divide up their marital assets such as Family homes

Resolve Civil Disputes at Southampton Family Court without using a Family Lawyer

If you are a Southampton parent who is divorcing or separating and cannot agree the terms of your separation with your ex-partner by consent then you may find Southampton family law solicitors costs unaffordable. You risk incurring high legal bills if no progress can be made towards a resolution

As a divorcing or separted parent faced with attending Southampton Family Court you can choose to go through the family court process without legal representation and present your own case as a litigant in person. Often you will have to present your case against family lawyers (solicitors or barristers)

Graham Fletcher successfully presented his own case as a litigant in person against family lawyers in his own divorce in 2012 and achieved shared residency of his 2 children and a fair divorce financial settlement

Graham is a Bristol Based McKenzie Friend who supports Mothers and Fathers attending Southampton Family Court to succesfully navigate the family court civil dispute process without using a family law solicitor

Graham is a published author on how family courts work and has appeared numerous times on BBC Radio.

Graham Fletcher has over 150 5 Star McKenzie Friend reviews which you can read HERE  

What's involved in presenting my own case as a litigant in person at Southampton Family Court?

You will need to:

Speak in depth to a social worker from Cafcass (Family court advisor) about your family situation

Submit paperwork as evidence

Negotiate with Lawyers prior to the court hearing

Speak to a Judge or Magistrates during the hearing

Understand how court works and what the legalese language used by Lawyers means

Respond to fast-moving court discussions in court and understand what is being agreed and disagreed

Be prepared to make sudden decisions impacting on your family at short notice

State your aims, objectives and proposals for solutions clearly

Listen carefully to what the Judge or magistrates order

Understand what actions are required from you going forward

Feel confident to stand up for yourself and to calmly present your case

What Risks are involved in presenting my own case as a litigant in person at Southampton Family Court?

There is a risk that if you choose to present your own case as a litigant in person without the support of a McKenzie Friend that your emotions on the day of court may overwhelm you and impact on how you react or come across to the Judge or Magistrates

A litigant in person may freeze or forget what they had wanted to say to a Judge

A litigant in person may be pressured into making big decisions on the spot in a fast-moving court hearing

Litigants in person often don't know how the family courts system works and risk not presenting themselves in the best way possible to the assessing court officials

A court order could be made that you don't fully understand

Key details maybe omitted from the draft court order prepared by other parties lawyer when drafting the court order for the court

What services does Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend offer Litigants in person attending Southampton Family Court ?

Reviewing your paperwork pre-court

Confidentially discussing your options through with you 

Help you develop and refine your court strategy 

Insightful tips and advice on how to improve your draft statements so that you can positively influence the court process as much as possible in your written evidence

Cafcass interview preparation sessions to help you prepare you for important interview that influence court decision making. If you are facing false allegations of domestic abuse, this is a particularly important aspect to be fully prepared for.

To help you emotionally prepare for speaking to a Judge, Cafcass and negotiating with Lawyers

Attendance at your Southampton Family Court hearing to help you negotiate with solicitors, take written notes,prompt you on key details and to quietly provide advice and emotional support during the court hearing

Co-parenting tips based on his 10 years of shared parenting experience

Trained facilitator of dynamic, holistic techniques such as Psych-k, which can reduce fears and anxiety connected with attending court hearings

What are the fees for Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend to attend Southampton Family Court ?

Graham's estimate of fees to attend Southampton Family court would be

4 hour travel to and from court £200
and 2 hours at court (for a hearing pre-listed for 1 hr duration) would be £160

total estimate of cost is £360