A McKenzie Friend is someone who sits with you in court to give quiet support if you are representing yourself — taking notes, helping you stay organised, and offering advice under their breath. They cannot speak for you or run your case, but for the many people going through the family court without a solicitor they can make a real difference. This guide explains what a McKenzie Friend can and cannot do, how to tell the court you want one, how someone becomes one, and what it costs.
McKenzie Friends in the Family Court
The name comes from a 1970 case, McKenzie v McKenzie, in which the Court of Appeal confirmed that a litigant in person is entitled to reasonable help from a layperson in court. That principle now governs civil and family courts across England and Wales under the Practice Guidance on McKenzie Friends issued in July 2010, which starts from a presumption that you may have one unless there is a good reason to refuse.
McKenzie Friends have become far more common since 2013, when legal aid was withdrawn from most divorce, child arrangements and financial cases. A large share of people in the family court now attend without a lawyer, and a McKenzie Friend is one way to get support without paying for full representation.
A McKenzie Friend can sit beside you in court, take notes, help you stay organised, and quietly give you advice and suggestions. They cannot address the court, question witnesses, sign court documents, or run your case for you unless a judge gives special permission. In short, they support you while you remain the person conducting your own case.
What Is a McKenzie Friend
A McKenzie Friend is any person who assists a litigant in person in court. They do not need to be legally qualified, and they can be a friend or relative, a volunteer, or a paid "professional" McKenzie Friend. What defines the role is not who they are but what they are allowed to do: they help you present your own case rather than presenting it for you.
- Sit next to you during the hearing and give moral support
- Take notes of what is said
- Help you find and organise your documents
- Quietly give you advice on the case and on court procedure
What they cannot do is act as your lawyer. Without the court's permission a McKenzie Friend cannot speak to the judge on your behalf, cross-examine the other side's witnesses, sign statements of truth or court forms, or conduct the litigation by dealing with the court and the other party for you. Those limits protect both you and the fairness of the process, and a McKenzie Friend who oversteps them can be asked to stop assisting.
Telling the Court — Is There a Form?
There is no single official "McKenzie Friend form" to fill in. You do not apply for permission in the way you apply for an order; instead you tell the court that you wish to have a McKenzie Friend and the court decides whether to allow it. The best practice, and what most judges expect, is to raise it as early as possible rather than springing it on the court on the day.
- Notify the court in writing before the hearing where you can, naming your McKenzie Friend
- Provide a short CV or statement setting out their experience and any relevant background
- Confirm they understand their duty of confidentiality and have no personal interest in the case
- If you could not give notice in advance, ask the judge at the start of the hearing
Giving the judge this information in advance makes it far more likely that your McKenzie Friend will be allowed to help, because the court can satisfy itself there is no unfairness or conflict. In family cases the court is entitled to see who is assisting you, particularly where children's welfare or sensitive evidence is involved, and you are allowed to share confidential court papers with your McKenzie Friend for that purpose.
Can a McKenzie Friend Speak for You?
As a rule, no. A McKenzie Friend does not have a right of audience, which is the right to address the court, nor the right to conduct litigation. These rights are normally reserved to solicitors, barristers and other authorised people. A court can grant them to a McKenzie Friend, but only exceptionally and case by case.
A judge might allow it where, for example, you have a health condition that makes it very difficult to speak for yourself, or where the particular circumstances make it fair and sensible. You would need to ask the court and explain why it is justified, and the court will treat it as the exception rather than the norm. If speaking in court for you is what you really need, that is a strong sign you should consider a barrister or solicitor rather than a McKenzie Friend.
How to Become a McKenzie Friend
There is no formal qualification, licence or exam required to become a McKenzie Friend. Because the role is defined by the court's permission rather than by any professional body, anyone can in principle act as one, whether as an unpaid friend supporting someone they know or as a fee-charging professional.
That said, the people who do it well tend to build genuine knowledge of family procedure and courtroom conduct. Many gain experience by supporting litigants informally, complete relevant training, and join the Society of Professional McKenzie Friends, a voluntary body whose members agree to a code of conduct and hold professional indemnity insurance. None of this is legally required, but it reassures courts and clients and it distinguishes a serious practitioner from someone with only general legal knowledge.
Fee-charging is allowed, but unregulated. Professional McKenzie Friends may charge for their time, yet they are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or Bar Standards Board, and there is no compulsory insurance or complaints scheme. A "McKenzie Friend salary" therefore varies widely, and anyone relying on one should check experience, insurance and references carefully.
Costs and Free McKenzie Friend Help
A friend or relative acting as your McKenzie Friend normally does so for free. Professional McKenzie Friends charge much less than a solicitor — often an hourly rate in the tens of pounds, or a fixed fee for a hearing that includes some preparation — compared with solicitor rates that typically run into the hundreds of pounds per hour. The saving is real, but so is the trade-off: you get support rather than representation, and no regulatory protection if something goes wrong.
Free help is also available. Support Through Court (formerly the Personal Support Unit) provides trained volunteers at many court centres who can sit with you and help you through the process. University law clinics and some charities offer similar support, often free of charge under supervision. These services have limited capacity and usually need booking ahead, but they come with oversight that independent fee-charging practitioners do not always have.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a McKenzie Friend and what can they do?
A McKenzie Friend is a person who helps someone representing themselves in court. They can sit with you, take notes, help you stay organised, and quietly give you advice. They cannot address the court, question witnesses, sign court documents, or run your case for you without the judge's special permission. They support you while you conduct your own case.
Is there a McKenzie Friend form for the family court?
There is no single official form. You tell the court you want a McKenzie Friend, ideally in writing before the hearing, giving their name and a short CV and confirming they understand confidentiality and have no interest in the case. If you could not give advance notice, you can ask the judge at the start of the hearing.
Can a McKenzie Friend speak in court on my behalf?
Usually not. A McKenzie Friend has no automatic right to address the court or question witnesses. A judge can grant those rights in exceptional cases — for instance where a health condition makes it very hard for you to speak yourself — but this is rare and must be justified. If you need someone to speak for you, consider a solicitor or barrister.
How do I become a McKenzie Friend in the UK?
No qualification or licence is required. Anyone can act as a McKenzie Friend with the court's permission. People who do it professionally usually build experience supporting litigants, undertake relevant training, and join the voluntary Society of Professional McKenzie Friends, which asks members to follow a code of conduct and hold insurance — none of which is legally compulsory.
Are McKenzie Friends regulated?
No. McKenzie Friends are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or Bar Standards Board, and there is no mandatory insurance or complaints scheme. The Society of Professional McKenzie Friends offers voluntary self-regulation, but membership is optional. This is why checking a professional's experience, insurance and references before instructing them matters so much.
How much does a McKenzie Friend cost?
A friend or relative usually helps for free. Professional McKenzie Friends charge far less than solicitors — commonly a modest hourly rate or a fixed fee per hearing including some preparation — but without regulatory protection. Free support is also available through Support Through Court, university law clinics and some charities, subject to their capacity.
Can the court refuse to allow my McKenzie Friend?
Yes. The starting point is that you may have one, but a court can refuse where the person would disrupt the hearing, create unfairness, has a personal interest in the outcome, or cannot be trusted with confidential material. Giving the court advance notice and a short CV for your McKenzie Friend makes refusal far less likely.
Where can I find free McKenzie Friend support?
Support Through Court, which used to be called the Personal Support Unit, provides trained volunteers at many court centres. University law clinics and some charities offer similar help, often under supervision and free of charge. These services have limited availability and usually need booking in advance, so contact them or your local family court early.
Qualified solicitors who can speak for you in court, conduct your case and give regulated legal advice
Experienced help with child arrangements, financial remedies and divorce, from first application through to final hearing
Honest advice on when a McKenzie Friend is enough and when full representation will better protect your interests
If your case is complex or a lot is at stake, professional representation may protect you better than support alone, so speak to the family team at Connaught Law today.
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