Wigan County Court and Family Court — self-representation guide

Essentials

Address

The Court House, Wellington Street, Greater Manchester WN1 1DW

Telephone

0300 123 5577

Verified

2026-08-27

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-27

If you are representing yourself in a family matter in Wigan, you are not alone. This guide lays out, plainly and without judgement, what to expect when your family case is heard at Wigan 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 public HMCTS register and verified against the official "Find a court or tribunal" service data on 2026-08-27.

About the name. The HMCTS venue for family hearings in Wigan is Wigan County Court and Family Court, a combined County Court and Family Court sitting at The Court House, Wellington Street, Wigan, WN1 1DW — the family venue is the county-court building itself. (Note: the Wigan and Leigh Magistrates' Court is a separate building handling criminal and some civil business — it is not the family court.) Use the official name and address below, and always go to the court named on your notice of hearing.

The essentials

Address: Wigan County Court and Family Court, The Court House, Wellington Street, Wigan, WN1 1DW
Phone (HMCTS National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court – Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm): 0300 123 5577
Phone (HMCTS Divorce Contact Centre – Mon–Fri 10am–6pm): 0300 303 0642
Family public law (children in care): 0330 808 4424
Email (family matters): wiganfamily@justice.gov.uk
Email (civil enquiries): wigancivil@justice.gov.uk
Court type: County Court and Family Court (adoption, childcare arrangements, divorce, domestic abuse)
Court open (official): Monday to Friday 9am–5pm; counter service strictly by appointment only, 10am–2pm (call 0300 123 5577 to book)
verifiedAt: 2026-08-27 (checked against the official HMCTS data)

Contact and enquiries (official HMCTS details)

These are the contact routes published by HMCTS for Wigan County Court and Family Court.

Telephone

HMCTS National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court (Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm) — general enquiries: 0300 123 5577
HMCTS Divorce Contact Centre (Mon–Fri 10am–6pm): 0300 303 0642
Family public law (children in care): 0330 808 4424
If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, contact the court on 0300 123 5577 in advance.

Email (@justice.gov.uk)

wiganfamily@justice.gov.uk — family enquiries.
wigancivil@justice.gov.uk — civil enquiries (including housing).
contactfpl@justice.gov.uk — family public law (children in care), for case numbers starting with C5.
sscsa-liverpool@justice.gov.uk — social security and child support (SSCSA) matters.
wigan.breathingspace@justice.gov.uk — breathing space (debt) scheme enquiries.

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 the enforcement service. If you are unsure, do not pay anything and report the scam to Action Fraud. HMCTS scam warning (gov.uk)

Getting there & access

Wigan County Court and Family Court, The Court House, Wellington Street, Wigan, WN1 1DW

By rail: Wigan has two stations — Wigan North Western and Wigan Wallgate — both close to the town centre. From either, Wellington Street and the court are within a short walk of the central area — confirm the exact route on a map before you go. Check departures before travelling.
By bus: Wigan's town-centre bus network covers the Wellington Street area. Use a live journey planner to confirm the route on the day.

Check live travel before you go. The court is open Mon–Fri 9am–5pm with counter service by appointment only, so call ahead (0300 123 5577) if you need to ask anything in person. A hurried arrival adds stress.

Inside the building (official HMCTS facilities)

Security arch: everyone entering is searched and possessions are checked for safety. Alert the security officer at the arch if you have a pacemaker.
Disabled access: the court has disabled access and accessible toilet facilities. Parking can be arranged by contacting the court in advance on 0300 123 5577.
Parking: there is no general parking at the building, but two blue-badge parking spaces are available directly outside — contact the court in advance for allocation. There are various public pay-and-display car parks in the vicinity.
Lift: lifts are available to access the first and second floors.
Public toilets are on the first and second floors; an accessible toilet is on the ground floor.
Baby-changing facilities are available.
Refreshments: two vending machines (hot and cold drinks, snacks) plus a water dispenser are on the first floor.
Interview rooms: six interview rooms are available — useful for meeting your solicitor or a McKenzie friend before a hearing.
Waiting areas: a public waiting area sits outside each courtroom and hearing room.
Wi-Fi is available throughout; text GO to 07537 417 417 to connect.
Assistance dogs are welcome, and the court supports the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme — lanyards are available on request.
Hearing loop: the court has hearing enhancement facilities; ask the court in advance if you rely on a loop.

What cases this court handles

According to the official HMCTS register, Wigan County Court and Family Court handles:

Adoption
Childcare arrangements if you separate from your partner (C100 / child arrangements orders)
Divorce hearings
Domestic abuse (FL401 / non-molestation and occupation orders)
Financial/remedy matters on divorce

Not every family case is heard here. If you are unsure whether your matter belongs at Wigan County Court and Family Court:

Check your court documents. The notice of hearing and any correspondence give you the court and the address where you are expected.
Ask the court. Call the HMCTS National Contact Centre on 0300 123 5577 — staff there can 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 normally lasts around 30 minutes and is not the trial. It is a gatekeeping and dispute-resolution hearing — the judge checks the papers, identifies what is agreed and what is in dispute, and decides what is needed next.
The judge encourages agreement. Where it is safe, the judge will look for contact both parents can agree on, rather than deciding everything there and then.
You will likely be referred on. If issues cannot be resolved at the FHDRA, the case is typically listed for further court 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 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 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, seek help from a service you trust where the device is private.

Links you may find helpful:

A practical first visit / application checklist

Before you go, work through this list so nothing catches you out:

[ ] Confirm the court name and venue on your notice of hearing — make sure your case is listed at Wigan County Court and Family Court, The Court House, Wellington Street, Wigan, WN1 1DW.
[ ] If unsure it is the right court, call the HMCTS enquiries line on 0300 123 5577 to confirm.
[ ] Check whether you need the C100 (child arrangements), FL401 (domestic abuse) or another form — see the official links below.
[ ] Note the court's counter service is by appointment only (10am–2pm) — if you need an in-person service, call ahead so there is no wasted journey.
[ ] Apply for a family order online where possible — divorce and some family applications can be started via the official gov.uk routes (linked below) rather than on paper; you may be able to face fee help if you are on a low income or benefits.
[ ] Prepare in one page what you want the judge to know, and keep it calm and specific.
[ ] Bring photo ID, your court notices, and anything the court asked you to bring.
[ ] Plan your journey and arrival time — no parking at the building (two blue-badge spaces only), so use the stations, buses, and public car parks near Wellington Street.
[ ] Arrange childcare or time off in advance so you are not rushed on the day.
[ ] Consider a McKenzie friend or ask Support Through Court for help if that would steady you.

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, Wigan 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, 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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