Do I need a solicitor for family court?
No. You do not need a solicitor to go to family court about your child. Many fathers represent themselves, and the court process is designed with that in mind. Whether you should get legal help depends on your case, and there are more options than “full solicitor” or “nothing”.
Can you represent yourself?
Yes. Someone who represents themselves is called a litigant in person. In the most recent quarter for which figures are published, neither parent had a lawyer in 49% of the private law children cases that concluded in England and Wales. You will not be unusual, and judges are used to explaining the process to parents without lawyers.
Can you get legal aid?
For disputes about child arrangements, legal aid is usually only available if you can show evidence of domestic abuse or child abuse, and you also meet the financial test. Legal aid for family mediation is more widely available, and if one parent qualifies, the MIAM for both parents is free. The GOV.UK legal aid checker tells you whether you might qualify.
Options between doing it alone and paying a solicitor throughout
A one-off advice appointment. Many family solicitors offer a fixed-fee first meeting. An hour with a specialist early on can tell you where you stand and what to prioritise.
Paying for specific pieces of work. Some solicitors will help with just one part, such as checking a statement or preparing for one hearing, rather than running the whole case. This is sometimes called limited-scope or unbundled help.
A barrister for a hearing. Some barristers accept work directly from the public, without a solicitor, for a single hearing.
A McKenzie friend. Someone who sits with you in court, takes notes and quietly gives support. Some are unpaid friends or family; some charge. Read our guide to McKenzie friends first.
Free practical support. Support Through Court is a charity whose volunteers help people without lawyers understand the process, complete forms and attend hearings. It does not give legal advice. Citizens Advice and Advicenow also publish free guides.
When legal advice is most worth considering
Getting at least some specialist advice is especially worth considering if there are allegations of abuse against you or the other parent, if the court is holding a fact-finding hearing, if the other parent has a lawyer and you are struggling to keep up, or if there are international or relocation issues. These are the situations where the process is most technical and the stakes of a mistake are highest.
If you represent yourself
Keep a clear written record from the start, answer the court’s directions on time, and prepare a short position statement for each hearing. Court staff can explain the process but cannot give legal advice. The family court process, step by step shows what happens at each stage.
Related guides
- McKenzie friends
- What is a position statement, and what goes in it?
- What happens at the first family court hearing (FHDRA)?
- The family court process for fathers, step by step
- Free checklist: your first 30 days in Family Court
Sources
- MoJ, Family Court Statistics Quarterly, January to March 2026 (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, Legal aid: what you can get legal aid for, and Check if you can get legal aid (gov.uk)
- Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Support Through Court (supportthroughcourt.org)
- Advicenow (advicenow.org.uk)
Sources checked 27 September 2026. The law and procedure change, so check that each source is current before relying on it.
This guide gives general information about the law and process in England and Wales. It is not legal advice, and the law and procedure change. Full disclaimer