[Solved] Guide to Representing Yourself In Court

Dear Gooneraj,

It is correct that court proceedings take place where the application is filed. In this regard mum will be expected to attend the Court where you file the application. However, it is possible for a party to apply to have the proceedings transferred to another court, this sometimes happens where the court is not local to where the child lives. The proceedings are then transferred to a court local to where the child is living. If there is no request to transfer proceedings, or the court does not grant such a request, then yes, mum would have to travel to the Court you have filed with.

Northern Ireland, whilst a part of the UK, is a separate legal jurisdiction. A resident parent is able to move within England and Wales and therefore Northen Ireland would require dad's consent, and a prohibited steps order could be put in place in regards to a move to Wales.

If you are representing yourself in court the only costs you will have will be the application fees (£200 per application). Mum may apply for you to pay her costs but this is not commonly granted in family cases.

If webchat is not convenient you might prefer to contact our child law advice line on 0808 8020 008, open between 8am and 8pm.

We hope this information has been of use to you. Please do contact us again should you have further questions.

Yours faithfully

The Coram Children's Legal Centre

Yoji (or anyone else that may have this answer),

When you meet with the defence (in private you say), are you allowed your support to sit in on the meeting? Or is it literally just you and them?

Thanks in advance.

Hi

Might be worth ringing the CCLC on their freephone number (probably Wednesday before they are open again) just to follow up their posting and get an answer to your question on this one, unless anyone else gives an answer before then.

Hi gooneraj,

Its up to the other legal team if they are OK with this. Its more or just as likely that they may have an additional person in.

Where the line should be drawn is where other family members (of both sides) who may be vocal are not in meetings. This can avoid confrontation and escalations in viewpoints 🙂

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. Please could someone tell me if "meeting the defence" and the "first hearing" are done on the same day or separate days?

Hi gooneraj,

Yes meeting the defence usually happens at every hearing, from first to last. It should be noted that it doesn't "always" happen mind. Barristers are far more likely to meet, a Solicitor on the other hand may try and avoid it (from my experience).