Boston County Court and Family Court — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

55 Norfolk Street, Boston PE21 6PE

Telephone

0300 123 5577

Verified

2026-08-31

A calm, practical guide to representing yourself at Boston County Court and Family Court. Written in plain English, covering the building, the case types it hears, and the realities of the day. Nothing here replaces tailored legal advice for your own situation.

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31

The essentials first

Official name: Boston County Court and Family Court
Address (visits): 55 Norfolk Street, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 6PE · Write to: Lincoln County Court, 360 High Street, Lincoln LN5 7PS
Enquiries: 0300 123 5577 (National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court — Mon to Fri, 8:30am–5pm)
Divorce enquiries: 0300 303 0642 (Divorce Contact Centre — Mon to Fri, 10am–6pm)
Family public law (children in care): 0330 808 4424 (digital process for case numbers starting "C5")
Location code (County Court): 138 — HMCTS publishes a single code for this venue; no separate Family Court code is listed on the register · DX: 703231 Lincoln 6
Court opening times: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (per HMCTS — the court's official "Find a Court or Tribunal" listing). Confirm before travelling.
Verified: 2026-08-31, from the HMCTS "Find a Court or Tribunal" register.

Getting there & security reality

The court sits on Norfolk Street in Boston town centre, close to the market place and the landmark St Botolph's Church ("Boston Stump"). Boston serves a wide agricultural hinterland, so many visitors travel in from the Fens and surrounding villages — plan a generous margin for the journey.

Getting there

Boston railway station (Poacher Line to Grantham/Skegness) is a 10–15 minute walk from Norfolk Street.
Town-centre bus stops serve Spalding, Sleaford, Lincoln and the surrounding villages.
Parking can be arranged by contacting the court in advance (per the official listing) — otherwise use town-centre pay-and-display car parks.

The security reality

Expect airport-style security at the entrance; bags are searched.
Bring only what you need and allow extra time.
Staff are used to people who are anxious or upset — it is okay to say so and ask for help finding your courtroom.

Facilities once inside (verified from the official listing)

Disabled access and disabled toilet; parking (by prior arrangement) for those who need it.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards on request; assistance dogs welcome.
Three interview rooms on the first floor — useful for meeting a supporter or McKenzie friend.
Baby-changing facilities available.
Video conferencing and prison-to-court video link available by prior arrangement (email hearings.lincoln.countycourt@justice.gov.uk).
Vending machine for refreshments. Need an interpreter? Ask the court in advance.

Contacting the court (published by HMCTS)

enquiries.lincoln.countycourt@justice.gov.uk — general enquiries (administered via Lincoln County Court)
hearings.lincoln.countycourt@justice.gov.uk — video/hearing queries
contactfpl@justice.gov.uk — family public law, children in care (C5 case numbers)
boston.breathingspace@justice.gov.uk — Breathing Space enquiries

Important administrative note: correspondence is handled through Lincoln County Court — send papers there, not to Norfolk Street, to avoid delays.

Beware of scammers: HMCTS warns of scammers mimicking genuine court numbers and emails demanding payment. Never pay anyone who demands money by phone or email — report to Action Fraud.

What this court handles

On the official register, HMCTS lists the following for Boston:

Bankruptcy, housing, money claims and claims against employers
Some High Court civil work

Note that the register's "this location handles" list for Boston is civil-focused; family case papers are administered through Lincoln County Court. If your matter is a child arrangements (C100) or domestic abuse (FL401) application, confirm the correct venue and filing route with the court or a family-law adviser before filing.

The C100 / FHDRA reality for a litigant in person

If you do attend for a family hearing without a lawyer, it will most likely flow from a C100 application, starting with a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA).

The FHDRA is largely administrative: identify the dispute, check safeguarding, and explore agreement with a judge and, where available, a CAFCASS officer. It is not a final trial.
Bring your completed form and documents; hearings can be short, and waiting is normal.
Because admin runs through Lincoln, build in extra time for correspondence and filing.

Domestic abuse safety

If you are in danger right now: call 999. The Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline — 0808 2000 247 is free, confidential, 24/7.

An abusive person may monitor calls, messages and browsing history — research and prepare on a safe device. Keep a written record of incidents, dates and communications; tell the court about any police involvement or earlier orders. You are a survivor, not to blame.

A practical first-visit checklist

[ ] Case number and location code 138 written down
[ ] ID, copies of your application or order, and your papers
[ ] Parking arranged with the court in advance if needed; access/safety needs told to the court
[ ] Arrive early; ask front-of-house for your courtroom
[ ] Your three points ready: what you ask, why, and what would help now

This guide gives general information about self-representation at Boston County Court and Family Court. It is not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact a family-law professional — and if you are in immediate danger, call 999.

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS, Boston County Court and Family Court, or gov.uk. Court details are sourced from the public HMCTS register and reviewed for accuracy; always confirm the latest position directly with the court.

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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