Understanding the Services of a McKenzie Friend

Understanding the Services of a McKenzie Friend

McKenzie Friends help lay people, choosing to act as litigants in person in civil court hearings in England and Wales.The McKenzie friend does not conduct litigation for the litigant in person but can help a lay person prepare for and engage with the processes involved in civil family court disputes

Based on Graham's personal experience of paying a Direct access barrister and a McKenzie Friend in his own divorce, Graham offers the following services of a McKenzie Friend:

Pre court preparation

Help you via telephone or video advice calls to discuss how to improve your co-parenting relationship with your ex-partner and to see if you can achieve some positive outcomes outside of the family court process.

Review your documents such as letters from solicitors and social workers and give feedback and advice on how to improve your draft statements you submit to court by email.

Support you to correctly interpret and respond to emails from your ex-partner’s solicitor.

Coaching sessions on how to prepare and approach important Cafcass /social worker interviews.

Assistance to interpret and respond to important Cafcass recommendations.

Development of a negotiation strategy to inform the division of the marital financial assets.

Co-parenting tips and advice to navigate difficult co-parenting conflicts that court cannot resolve or address.

Positive mindset approaches he knows work, based on his ten years of 50/50 shared parenting experience.

Add detail to the specific child arrangements that you want for both your child/children's short and long term future.

Specific issues such as seeking or opposing school or home relocations.

Information sessions on how family courts work in reality with a focus on how they may view the specific details of your case.

Attendance at court hearings

Help in pre-court discussions outside the courtroom with Cafcass family court advisors and your ex-partners solicitor or barrister. This process can often lead to a high percentage of issues being resolved. If issues remain then you can discuss them in the courtroom.

Emotional support to help you manage your emotions as the fast paced court hearing unfolds and to stay focussed on your aims and the details you want the court order to have.

Help you understand “legalese” language used in court by lawyers and the implications on agreeing or not agreeing to any proposals or orders. It is important to understand the important nuanced difference between proposals and a judge ordering something particular to happen.

Debrief you afterwards, to ensure you fully understand the implications of any of the decisions made within the court hearing. Graham will give you clarity on the paperwork and actions you need to complete before before the next hearing.

Take written notes during the court hearing. These are important if the opposing lawyer is asked by the court to draft up an order for the court. The draft order should be shared with you prior to being sent to the court for approval. You can share the draft order with Graham, who can advise on whether the lawyer's draft order (prepared for the judge as a servant of the court) attempts to insert wording that was not reflective or mentioned by the judge or magistrates.

Post court support

If orders are “breached” then Graham can help explore what options you have in regards to making the court order work. In some cases, enforcement applications may be necessary to make sure child arrangement or divorce financial settlement court orders are followed.

Co-parenting strategy to help you explore both out of court and court based strategies to improve the situation if your case has dynamics of one parent having strong, underlying anxiety or controlling behaviour patterns.

Graham Fletcher's McKenzie Friend fees are outlined HERE