McKenzie Friend Service of Graham Fletcher
I am a experienced McKenzie Friend, with over a decade of experience working in the area of English and Welsh Family courts.
My area of expertise is divorce/separation related court cases such as child arrangement orders, divorce financial settlements, non-molestation and occupation order family court hearings
Featured on BBC Radio - Published Author on how family courts work
Creator of "McKenzie Friend explains how family courts work" youtube channel with over 100k views
Confidential analysis of your family court dispute
You can share with me your cafcass report, social services report and letters from your ex-partner's solicitor to get my insightful, impartial feedback on what your options are going forward as a litigant in person.
I offer you a experienced, impartial viewpoint to help you consider how you conduct your litigation
Information sessions explaining how family courts work
Let me help you feel calmer and fully informed about how family court processes work without using the legal jargon solicitors use
You can then start to plan a strategy for achieving a positive outcome, like I did in my child arrangements and divorce financial settlement
Be prepared for important cafcass interview
In child arrangements cases, a lot will rest on a short interview with a cafcass social worker. I have worked as a youth worker and a ex-partner of mine was a social worker so I know their assessment criteria and approach
Many of my clients are able to positively influence cafcass to recommend a positive way forward after one of my cafcass coaching sessions
Review of draft statements
As a litigant in person, you can send me your draft position statement.Based on my decade of court experience I can send it back to you with suggested amendments,edits and highlight areas for improvement
Be sure to present your case as best possible and in line with the criteria judges are interested in.With this kind of support you increase you chances of success as a litigant in person
Support to negotiate with divorce lawyers
Family lawyers are often skilled at extending disputes and communicating dismissively with litigants in person in divorce negotiations
I can help you consider whether to stand your ground on a issue and make solution focussed counter proposals
Help you negotiate with solicitors outside court
Family lawyers often approach pre-court negotiations in a passive aggresive way that feels intimidating for a litigant in person
I can help you keep calm, consider your options and do your best to negotiate effectively outside the court room
Note taking in fast moving court hearings
Court hearings often move quickly and feature legalese language unfamiliar to the lay person
McKenzie Friend notes from a court hearing can often be very helpful if the opposing lawyer tries to draft a court order that favours their client and you need to contest the proposed content
Quietly give advice during the court hearing
Emotions can often get the better of you when talking about your family in court or faced with a intimidating lawyer making allegations.
I can prompt you during the hearing to raise the key points of your argument to the judge in case you freeze or forget what to say
Develop a strategy to improve coparenting
With over ten years experience of co-parenting with shared residence court order and journeying from acrimony to a positive co-parenting outcome, I can offer you tips and advice that aim to help you move forward to the positive future your family deserves