Support2Court – Family Court Support for Women in Kent

Our Support2Court team can support you through the court process from beginning to end.

We’re here to give you both practical guidance and emotional support, so you don’t have to face the courts alone.

To begin with, we can explain the court process clearly and simply. Then, we can help you fill out court forms and complete any required paperwork. In addition, we will guide and advise you so that you can present your case in court to the best of your ability, aiming for a fair and just outcome.

Moreover, we can act as McKenzie Friends, offering moral support, taking notes, and helping you stay organised during hearings. Whenever possible, we will attend as many of your court hearings as you need us to (as long as we are available).

Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that you feel supported, informed, and empowered throughout the court process.

A McKenzie Friend is someone who understands how the court works and can support you if you’re going to court without a solicitor. In this situation, you’re known as a litigant in person – meaning you’re representing yourself.

They can help you:

• Fill in and submit court forms

• Write your statement and understand others

• Prepare what to say (and what not to say)

• Support you during your court hearing

• Communicate with solicitors or professionals outside the courtroom

They can’t speak for you in court unless a judge allows it, but they can guide you on how to respond and be by your side throughout the process.

Yes, all the services we provide to women and children are free thanks to grants and fundraisers.

This Support 2 Court service has been partly funded by the KCC and PCC.

We are the only service in Kent which offers this service free of charge. We are a registered charity and although our help is free, we do rely on donations to make this service possible. Please consider donating if we have helped you.  

We are at SATEDA drop ins in Swale and Maidstone where you can access advice around domestic abuse from one of our support workers. You can find these drop ins here.

Our Support2Court service covers the whole of Kent, not just Swale and Maidstone. As a result, we also attend One Stop Shops in other areas (Gillingham, Canterbury and Maidstone – but available for any woman in Kent to attend). You can find information on the one stop shops here.