McKenzie Friend Family Court Support

McKenzie Friend for family courts in England and the UK

McKenzie Friend Family Court Support is a non-lawyer legal assistance service aimed at parents who represent themselves in family proceedings in England and the UK. It is provided by Christopher James Coutanche, who presents himself as an advanced-level McKenzie Friend and has accumulated over thirty years of experience supporting parents in high-conflict family litigation. His work focuses on preparation and practical support during the process, not on legal representation.

Areas of practice in family law

The service covers a broad spectrum of matters typical of family courts. These include proceedings on custody and contact arrangements, disputes between parents, divorce and associated financial matters, family dispute resolution, international child abduction cases under the Hague Convention and appeals to the High Court. It also deals with matters related to domestic abuse, non-molestation orders, finding of fact hearings, parental alienation, supervised or supported contact, shared care, specific issue orders, prohibited steps orders and proceedings on parental responsibility.

Support in high-conflict cases and child protection

The service profile emphasises complex cases. Coutanche states experience in over 3000 hearings related to disputes over custody and the child's welfare, concerns about the safety of children in the other parent's care, Cafcass involvement, allegations of domestic abuse, parental conflict, drug and alcohol use, mental health issues, parental responsibility, relocation and Hague Convention proceedings, including high-conflict cases and High Court appeals. It also addresses the assessment of parenting capacity and each parent's suitability to meet the child's physical, emotional, developmental and welfare needs, as well as their ability to provide appropriate care, stability, supervision and protection.

Specific tasks undertaken by a McKenzie Friend

The work described consists of helping the parent understand the legal and procedural issues in their case, identify the points that need to be addressed, prepare for hearings and court directions, organise and analyse documentary evidence, respond to statements and allegations, understand expert reports and professional assessments, identify inconsistencies or omissions in the evidence, prepare questions for professionals or other parties, formulate their position clearly and present their case within the limits permitted to a McKenzie Friend. The service stresses that it does not replace a solicitor or a barrister.

Working approach and judicial recognition

The stated method begins with understanding the individual child and not just the case file, considering their needs, circumstances, relationships and experiences alongside the evidence. Coutanche states that his experience has received judicial acknowledgement, recorded in the appendix to the 2012 High Court judgment known as The Voice of a Child. He also presents himself as someone who has experienced high-conflict litigation from the position of a litigant, not only as an external adviser, and offers a realistic assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each case.

Complementary services and resources

The site lists other topics and resources it handles: non-molestation applications and urgent help, breach of court orders by the other parent, parental alienation and its relationship with the judiciary, specific issues, Hague Convention, prohibited steps orders, child abduction, drug testing, links to mediation, parental alienation and obstructed contact, Scott Schedule, supervised or supported contact, shared care, taking children abroad, Cafcass safeguarding, in-person questioning, ICFA service, planning together for children, Cafcass dispute resolution, Section 7 reports and applications for special guardianship orders (SGO).

Contact and availability

Assistance is channelled through a UK support line and an email address, as well as a contact form to request a call back. The service is presented as a low-cost alternative for parents facing family proceedings without legal representation.