McKenzie Friend
How does a McKenzie Friend help a litigant in person ?
1. Emotional support throughout the court process
2. Helps them understand how family courts work
3. Supports the development of a positive mindset
4. Provides impartial analysis of the case
5. Helps them articulate their short and long term aims
6. Review documents and offer feedback to consider
7. Assist them to understand legalese
8. Helps them in their negotiations with lawyers
9. Takes notes and supports them to stay calm and focussed
10. Helps them respond to fast moving court processes
© Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend 2020 (from "Eyes Wide Open" book)
Graham Fletcher offers his McKenzie Friend Service informed by his lived experience of:
1. Succesfully achieving a shared residence child arrangement order for his 2 children, non-molestation order and occupation order applications dismissed and negotiating a fair divorce settlement via the family court and mediation process as a litigant in person
2. Working as a professional McKenzie Friend for over 10 years
3. Being a litigant in person customer of both a direct access Barrister and a professional McKenzie Friend during his own divorce proceedings
There are 3 stages of McKenzie Friend support that Graham Fletcher is experienced in providing to separated Mothers and Fathers (Click for fees)
PRE-COURT ADVICE AND COACHING
Help to make court applications online
1 hour information sessions on how courts work
Prepare you for Cafcass Interviews
Advice on how respond to false allegations
Help to draft effective court statements
Emotional support to help you present your case properly
Develop a strategy to improve co-parenting
ON THE DAY OF COURT HEARING
Attendance at your in-person court hearing
Attendance at your online court hearing
Help you negotiate with solicitors outside court
Quietly give advice during your court hearing
Take notes of what was agreed at court
Prompt you to remember what to say
Stand your ground against a controlling ex-partner
SUPPORT AFTER THE COURT HEARING
Coaching to develop positive co-parenting relationship
Help you prepare for your next hearing
Help you enforce breaches of court orders
Help you prepare cross examination questions
Strategies to reduce conflict with your ex-partner