McKenzie Friend Bristol — family court support directory
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31
What a McKenzie Friend does in Bristol
If you are a litigant in person at Bristol Family Court (2 Redcliff Street) or another South West court, a McKenzie Friend can sit with you at hearings, take notes, help with case papers, and quietly give advice. They cannot conduct litigation or act as your advocate without the court's permission, and McKenzie Friends are not regulated legal professionals. The judiciary's Practice Guidance on McKenzie Friends sets out their role.
Verified services covering Bristol
- Family Court Support (familycourtsupportmckenziefriend.co.uk) — offers low-cost McKenzie Friend support for hearings at Bristol Family Court, covering child arrangements, non-molestation and financial matters: https://familycourtsupportmckenziefriend.co.uk/family-court-bristol
- Graham Fletcher McKenzie Friend — Co-parenting Advisor — Bristol-based McKenzie Friend (listed on Yell) who supports separated parents presenting their own case, covering Bristol, Bath and surrounding courts; the listing itself notes he is not legally trained: https://www.yell.com/biz/graham-fletcher-mckenzie-friend-co-parenting-advisor-bristol-8256318
- McKenzie Friend UK Network (mckenziefrienduk.net) — national network (director Philip Kedge) providing cost-effective McKenzie Friend support and training, covering Bristol Family Court: https://mckenziefrienduk.net/courts/bristol-family-court.htm
Bristol family court
Family cases in Bristol are heard at Bristol Family Court / Bristol Civil Justice Centre. Confirm the venue and contact details on the official GOV.UK court finder: https://www.gov.uk/find-court-tribunal
Note: the local family court information site (nottsandderbys.familycourtinfo.org.uk) reports that in Bristol the Family Court asks McKenzie Friends to complete a form before attending — check with the court in advance.
Free alternatives
- Support Through Court — free trained volunteers who support litigants in person (no legal advice): https://supportthroughcourt.org
- Check legal aid eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid
Things to check before paying anyone
- Ask for written fees, experience, DBS status, and a short CV (judges can require this before allowing assistance).
- McKenzie Friends are unregulated — no required qualifications, training, or insurance. Verify everything yourself before engaging.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Services are listed from their own public websites and directories; always verify directly before engaging anyone. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent directory; we take no referral fees.
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.