People and roles of the Family Court

Apply for a lay assistant

Where to start
Quick Exit

Click anywhere on the banner to exit the page.

Press the shrink icon to the right to reduce this banner's size.

Overview

A Lay Assistant can support you in court by helping you take notes. Sometimes this role is called a McKenzie Friend. They usually don’t talk to anyone other than you. A Lay Assistant isn’t usually a qualified lawyer. For example, you might ask a friend who knows a lot about the Family Court because they have been to court.

People are in the court room in front of a judge. A woman is writing notes for someone who is representing herself in court.

How to apply

1

Understand what you need

The person you want to bring to court as a lay assistant must fill in the Undertakings by proposed lay assistant form.

Undertakings by proposed lay assistant [PDF, 8 KB]

2

Complete an application form

You’ll need to fill in the following form.

Apply to appoint lay assistant form [PDF, 6 KB]

To have the forms sent to you, freephone 0800 224 733. You can also pick them up from the court.

Find your nearest court

You must print the forms single sided.

3

Get all your documents together

Your application must include:

  • a completed and signed Apply to appoint lay assistant form
  • a completed and signed Undertakings by proposed lay assistant form.
4

File your application

You can file your application electronically, by post, or in person. When you file your application, it must have the original signatures. You must file your application at the correct courthouse. If you file your application in person or by post, you’ll need to provide enough exact copies for everyone named as a party to your application and keep a copy for yourself.

How to file documents

Court staff will contact you if they need more information.

Feeling overwhelmed?

Going to Family Court can be hard. It's normal to feel overwhelmed. There are services available to help and support through this time.

Visit our help page