Bedford County Court and Family Court — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

Shire Hall, 3 St Paul's Square, Bedfordshire MK40 1SQ

Telephone

0300 123 5577

Court location code

124

Verified

2026-08-27

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

If you are representing yourself in a family matter in or around Bedford, you are not alone. This guide lays out, plainly and without judgement, what to expect at the Bedford County Court and Family Court so you can walk in more prepared and less uncertain. It is not legal advice — court details below are sourced from the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" register and verified on 2026-08-27.

About the name and venue. The official HMCTS name for the venue that handles Bedford's family work is Bedford County Court and Family Court, at Shire Hall, 3 St Paul's Square, Bedford. It is a combined County Court and Family Court, so family matters — childcare arrangements, divorce, domestic abuse, financial remedy, adoption and public-law (children in care) work — are heard here directly. This court also covers the Luton area; the administration (postal) address is the Luton Justice Centre, but the visiting court for the Bedford side is Shire Hall. Always go to the exact address named on your notice of hearing.

The essentials

Address: Bedford County Court and Family Court, Shire Hall, 3 St Paul's Square, Bedford, MK40 1SQ
Phone (HMCTS National Contact Centre for Civil & Family — general/family enquiries): 0300 123 5577 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm)
Phone (HMCTS Divorce Contact Centre): 0300 303 0642 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm)
Phone (counter appointment bookings): 01582 506722 (from 9am to 5pm)
Email (family matters, incl. C100 enquiries): lutoncountyfamily@justice.gov.uk
Email (civil enquiries): enquiries.luton.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
Email (adoption / public law — children in care): caseprogression.luton.countycourt@justice.gov.uk
DX: DX 97760 Luton 4
Court type: Family Court and County Court (childcare arrangements, divorce, domestic abuse, financial remedy, adoption, housing, money claims and some High Court cases)
County Court location code: 124
Court open (official): Monday to Friday 9am–4pm; counter open by prior appointment only 10am–2pm
verifiedAt: 2026-08-27 (checked against the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" page)

Contact and enquiries (official HMCTS details)

These are the contact routes shown on the official HMCTS "Find a court or tribunal" page for the Bedford County Court and Family Court.

Telephone

HMCTS National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court — general/family enquiries: 0300 123 5577 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm)
HMCTS Divorce Contact Centre: 0300 303 0642 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm)
Counter appointment bookings: 01582 506722 (from 9am to 5pm)
Social security and child support: 0300 123 1142
If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, contact the court in advance on 0300 123 5577.

Email (@justice.gov.uk)

lutoncountyfamily@justice.gov.uk — family matters, including C100 child arrangements and family enquiries.
enquiries.luton.countycourt@justice.gov.uk — general (usually civil) enquiries.
caseprogression.luton.countycourt@justice.gov.uk — public law / adoption cases.
For anything you are unsure of, call the National Contact Centre on 0300 123 5577 and ask to be pointed in the right direction. Do not attempt to contact the judge directly — all queries go through the court office.

Safety note on scams: HMCTS warns that scammers impersonate genuine HMCTS phone numbers and email addresses and may demand payment, claiming to be from HMRC or enforcement. If you are unsure, do not pay anything and report the scam to Action Fraud. HMCTS scam warning (gov.uk)

Getting there & access

Shire Hall sits on St Paul's Square, in the centre of Bedford, close to the town's main square and civic buildings.

By rail: Bedford railway station (Bedford Midland) is around a 20-minute walk or a short bus/taxi ride from St Paul's Square. It is served by Thameslink and East Midlands Railway. Check live departures on the National Rail website before travelling.
By bus: numerous Stagecoach and Grant Palmer local bus routes run through the town centre close to St Paul's Square. Use a live journey planner to confirm routes on the day you travel.
By car: town-centre parking in Bedford is limited and paid, and St Paul's Square is pedestrian-friendly. Plan and book parking in advance rather than relying on finding a space on the day.

Check live travel before you go — the walk from Bedford station takes time and town-centre traffic can add to a hurried arrival. Arrive early; court staff deal with many people daily, and time to find the right entrance and room reduces stress.

Facilities and accessibility

Per the official HMCTS page for this court:

Translators / interpreters: the court can arrange interpreters — see Get an interpreter at a court or tribunal (gov.uk).
The court participates in the Professional users' court and tribunal access scheme.
If you have a disability or a specific access need, contact the court in advance on 0300 123 5577 so they can prepare for your visit. Building-specific arrangements (hearing loops, step-free routes, assistance dogs, baby-changing, private interview rooms) can change, so confirm directly with the court rather than relying on this guide.

What cases this court handles

The Bedford County Court and Family Court is a Family Court and County Court. According to the official HMCTS register, cases handled here include:

Childcare arrangements if you separate from your partner (C100 / child arrangements orders)
Divorce hearings
Domestic abuse (FL401 / non-molestation and occupation orders)
Financial remedy (money and property when a relationship ends)
Adoption and public-law (children in care) work
Housing
Money claims
Bankruptcy
High Court cases — serious or high-profile criminal or civil law cases

Because this is a combined Family and County Court, family matters — including C100 child arrangements, divorce, financial remedy and domestic-abuse applications — are heard here directly. You do not need to be sent elsewhere for family jurisdiction.

Not every family case is heard here. If you are unsure whether your matter belongs at this court:

Check your court documents. The notice of hearing and any correspondence will name the court and the address where you are expected (Shire Hall for the Bedford side).
Ask the court. Call the HMCTS enquiries line on 0300 123 5577 — court staff are there to point you in the right direction.

The C100 / FHDRA reality

For most parents, the first step is a C100 application for a child arrangements order, and the first hearing is the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA). Here is the reality of that first hearing for a litigant in person:

It is short and administrative. The FHDRA usually lasts around 30 minutes and is not the trial. It is a gatekeeping and dispute-resolution hearing — the judge checks the paperwork, identifies what is agreed and what is in dispute, and decides what is needed next.
The judge encourages agreement. Where it is safe, the court will look for arrangements both parents can agree on, rather than deciding everything there and then.
You will likely be referred on. If issues can't be resolved at the FHDRA, the case is typically listed for further directions, a fact-finding hearing (where allegations of harm are examined) and/or a final hearing. Expect more than one hearing — that is normal.
Bring your evidence and be ready to speak plainly. You don't need a solicitor, but the judge needs to understand your position clearly and calmly. Answer directly, address the judge respectfully, and ask if you don't follow something — it's far better to ask than to guess.
Support is available. Independent charity Support Through Court assists litigants in person (linked below). You are also allowed a McKenzie friend (an unpaid assistant who can sit with you, take notes and quietly advise — they cannot address the court without permission).

FL401 / domestic-abuse safety

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, please know you are not alone, and this court takes abuse matters seriously — domestic abuse is one of the case types it handles. Help is available.

FL401 is the court application form used to apply for a non-molestation order (which stops someone threatening or using violence towards you) or an occupation order (which decides who can live in the family home). You can often apply urgently, sometimes without telling the other person first.

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline (freephone, 24/7): 0808 2000 247
Emergency: if you are in immediate danger, call 999.
Non-emergency police: 101 for non-urgent concerns.

Please use a safe device. "Safe" means a phone, computer or tablet that an abusive partner or ex-partner cannot access — for example a device at work, at a trusted friend's or family member's home, or a library. Calls, messages, browsing history and app activity can be monitored on a device or account the abuser has access to, so take care when researching this information or applying for an order. If you are worried your device is being monitored, consider seeking help from a service you trust or where you know the device is private.

Links you may find helpful:

Financial remedy note

If your case concerns money or property when a relationship ends, the court treats financial disclosure seriously. You will usually be asked to complete Form E (a detailed statement of your financial position) and to give full and frank disclosure — you must honestly set out your income, assets, debts and outgoings. Failing to disclose hidden assets can damage your position and erode the court's trust in you. Ask the court which forms apply to your case.

A practical first-visit checklist

Before your first visit, work through this list so nothing catches you by surprise:

[ ] Confirm the court name and address on your notice of hearing — for the Bedford side this is Bedford County Court and Family Court, Shire Hall, 3 St Paul's Square, Bedford, MK40 1SQ.
[ ] If unsure it is the right court, call the HMCTS enquiries line on 0300 123 5577 to confirm.
[ ] If you need to use the counter, note it operates by prior appointment only (Mon–Fri, counter 10am–2pm) — call 01582 506722 to arrange.
[ ] If you have a disability and need help attending, contact the court in advance on 0300 123 5577.
[ ] Plan your journey and arrival time — confirm the walk from Bedford station and check live rail/bus status.
[ ] Bring your court documents, a form of ID, and anything the court asked you to bring.
[ ] Bring a notebook and pen to record anything important.
[ ] Dress comfortably but respectably; you may be waiting some time.
[ ] Arrange childcare or time off in advance so you are not rushed on the day.
[ ] Prepare in plain words what you want the judge to know, and keep it calm and specific.
[ ] Remember that court staff and charity volunteers (e.g. Support Through Court) are there to help you navigate the building and the process — ask for help when you need it.

You are entitled to a fair hearing. Preparing for the practical realities — the travel, the waiting, the uncertainty — is one of the best things you can do to give yourself a steadier day.

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS, the Bedford County Court and Family Court, or gov.uk. Court details are sourced from the official HMCTS register and reviewed for accuracy; always confirm the latest position directly with the court, because court listing and status information changes. This page is general information and is not legal advice.

Official forms & guidance (gov.uk):

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.

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