WELCOME TO PHOENIX FAMILY LAW
Created to help you understand the family court process at your own pace, we provide clear and accessible legal information, wellbeing tools and guidance designed with your experiences in mind. You are not alone, you deserve clarity and the confidence to be your own best advocate.
Phoenix Family Law provides clear and accessible legal information to help you understand the UK Family Court system. On your court journey you will need to know the laws governing family law, your rights within the system, your options and the next steps ahead.
Try one of our step-by-step flowcharts if you're not sure where to begin in the 'Your Options' section that is most relevant to your circumstances. You’ll also find wellbeing support in the 'Know Your Mind' section to help you stay grounded during these difficult times and support for court hearings in the 'Court Wellbeing Tools'.
Phoenix will connect you with trusted local organisations and services in Sussex, however we also signpost you to national support and helplines to ensure you are not without a pathway to support.
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Common Concerns
When you're self-representing it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the formal language, letters and courtroom behaviour of legal professionals, causing stress and confusion. Understanding your rights and boundaries can help you feel more in control and confident. To ensure that family proceedings are fair, efficient and consistent, a body of rules govern how family law cases are managed and heard in the courts of England and Wales.
1. The Family Procedure Rules (FPR) set out the legal processes for issues like child arrangements, divorce, domestic abuse orders, and more.
2. Practice Directions (PDs) accompany the FPR and provide detailed guidance on how to interpret and apply the rules in practice, such as how to complete forms, prepare for hearings, or follow safeguarding steps.
Phoenix Family Law aims to better prepare you for court proceedings, at your own pace and on your own terms. To get you started, we've outlined some common concerns below.
'I feel overwhelmed. How do I start the process?'
'I have to respond to everything straight away'
'Will the judge believe me without a lawyer?'
In all circumstances, before applying to court you must show you have tried to resolve your case using non‑court dispute resolution (NCDR) in the form of mediation, arbitration or another approved method. The Family Procedure Rules 2010, Rule 3.3(1) sets out the court’s obligation to consider whether NCDR is appropriate at every stage of the proceedings. Sometimes, NCDR is not appropriate and there are special exemptions for these circumstances. If you're not sure where to start, choose the section under the 'Your Options' page that best fits your current situation:
The law does not require you to respond to solicitor's letters, it is not advisable to ignore them however. A solicitor's letter may urge you to reply in a specified time frame to apply pressure for a response, however you do not legally need to respond straight away. 14 days is the customary timeframe for responding to solicitors letters, give yourself time to breathe, review and respond. Our 'Solicitors FAQ' section provides template responses to common solicitors letters to support you through your court journey.
Judges are trained to treat Litigants in Person (people who self- represent) fairly and without bias under the Equal Treatment Bench Book directions. The law in the UK recognises your right to self-represent and family court proceedings are designed to be accessible to non-lawyers. The court has a duty to ensure that you are heard and understood, you are also entitled to ask for special measures if you are affected by trauma or abuse.
Our 'Family Court Guide' sections have information on each stage of the process, including how to fill out key court forms.