McKenzie Friend Scarborough — family court support directory
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01
What a McKenzie Friend does in Scarborough
If you are a litigant in person at Scarborough Family Court and Justice Centre (The Law Courts, YO12 7AE) or another North Yorkshire 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 Scarborough
- Find a McKenzie Friend / McKenzie Friend UK Network (mckenziefriendservice.co.uk) — operates a Scarborough family court support page for the Scarborough Family Court and Justice Centre, with McKenzie Friend training and case review led by Phil Kedge: https://www.mckenziefriendservice.co.uk/scarborough
- Find a McKenzie Friend directory (findamckenziefriend.com) — lists McKenzie Friends based in Scarborough, including practitioners specialising in child arrangements cases with safeguarding experience, offering free 30-minute consultations: https://www.findamckenziefriend.com/united-kingdom/england/scarborough
Scarborough family court
Family cases in Scarborough are heard at the Scarborough Family Court and Justice Centre. Confirm the venue and contact details on the official GOV.UK court finder: https://www.gov.uk/find-court-tribunal
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.