Support Through Court — what the service actually provides
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29
The free service you can walk into
Support Through Court (formerly the Personal Support Unit) is an independent charity whose trained volunteers support anyone facing court without a lawyer. It is completely free.
What a volunteer actually does
- Sits with you before and during the hearing
- Helps you organise your papers and understand the order
- Explains court procedure (who speaks when, what the judge is doing)
- Accompanies you into the courtroom and stays nearby
- Helps you plan the next steps after the hearing
- Helps you fill in forms — they'll guide you, not do it for you
What they cannot do
- Give legal advice (what order to seek, whether to accept a settlement)
- Represent you or speak to the judge on your behalf
- Take over management of your case
Where they are
Support Through Court operates in most major courts:
- London: Royal Courts of Justice, Central Family Court
- Regional: Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Cardiff, Newport, Nottingham, Chelmsford, Southend and others
- If no office at your court: the national helpline (0300 081 0006) and online service cover all of England and Wales
How to use it
1. Book or drop in — check supportthroughcourt.org for your local office's hours 2. Bring your case papers — every order, every letter, everything 3. Tell them what stage your case is at and what you need help with 4. They'll help you prepare — but the case is still yours to run
Pairing Support Through Court with this site
| Support Through Court does | This site provides | |---|---| | Helps fill in forms | Guides explaining what the forms ask and why | | Sits with you at court | Court-day practical guide | | Explains procedure | Step-by-step procedural guides | | Helps organise papers | Bundle-building and evidence guides | | Emotional support | Signposting to specialist charities |
Official links
- https://supportthroughcourt.org
- Helpline: 0300 081 0006 (Mon–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm)
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with Support Through Court or HMCTS.
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.