What to Expect at Manchester Family Court

There are numerous family courts located across the country, but Manchester Family Court is the closest to Myerson Solicitors, which is situated in the heart of Altrincham town centre.

Manchester Family Court is in Manchester city centre and is a 15-to-20-minute walk from both of Manchester’s major train stations.

The building’s striking design is easily recognisable. It is nicknamed the “filing cabinet” due to its jutting-out floors at the end, which resemble open drawers, making it hard to miss.

The full address is as follows:

Manchester Civil Justice Centre (Civil and Family Courts)

1 Bridge Street West

Manchester

M60 9DJ

You should note that there are no parking facilities at the Manchester Family Court.

However, there is an NCP car park available on Bridge Street and plenty of other alternative car parks located in and around the city centre.

We understand that preparing yourself for any type of hearing can be stressful and that you may not have knowledge of how the court process works.

That is why we are more than willing to offer you our support and ensure that you are fully equipped for the day. 

Here are 5 top tips that can help alleviate any worries and prevent any potential problems from arising on the day: 

1. Managing emotions

   Due to the nature of the dispute, it is natural to feel anxious, but remaining calm and composed will certainly help you present your case effectively.
   
   Although they will not be allowed into the actual hearing, you may find that bringing a member of your family or a close friend along to accompany you on the day or simply reaching out to someone in your support network will help you feel calmer and allow you to regulate your feelings better.
   
   It is also beneficial to enter the court with a positive outlook and remind yourself that the judge is there to help you achieve a fair and just outcome. Reminding yourself that you are there to work collaboratively with the court should help you feel a lot more relaxed on the day.
   
   

2. Stay in touch with your solicitor

   As soon as a hearing is listed, your solicitor will inform you immediately and make appropriate arrangements for the day.
   
   In the run-up to the hearing, your solicitor will prepare your case, arrange for a solicitor or barrister to represent you and will be best placed to answer any questions you may have about the hearing.
   
   As your first point of contact, your solicitor will also provide you with all the relevant details, including the purpose of the hearing, the date, start time, estimated length, and which parties will be attending. 
   
   Therefore, we encourage you to contact your solicitor in the run-up to the hearing so that you can stay up to date about arrangements and query anything you are unsure of.
   
   

3. Gather any necessary documents

   Before the day of the hearing, we recommend that you gather any relevant documents and refresh your memory on their contents, as these will be relied upon to support your case.
   
   This may include any financial statements, communication logs, and other relevant evidence to your case.
   
   We understand there can be many documents, but you should have a good understanding of them and be prepared to answer any questions about them to the best of your knowledge.
   
   Anticipating what will happen during the day will also help you feel more relaxed and ease any fear you may have about the unknown. 
   
   

4. Ensure that you dress appropriately

   Although there is no set dress code, we would recommend that you dress smartly and appropriately at court. 
   
   This may seem like an obvious concept, but this can, in fact, often be overlooked.
   
   Dressing smartly will not only boost your confidence and help create a positive outlook for the day, but it will also help to give everyone a good first impression of you, which will only help your case.
   
   

5. Arrive on time
   

   Being punctual is always beneficial and we recommend that you arrive one hour before your hearing starts, unless instructed otherwise by your solicitor.
   
   This will allow you to go through security, record your attendance, meet with your solicitor/barrister, and find your allocated courtroom, where you can have a debrief before the hearing begins.
   
   If you are worried about navigating the court building, do not panic. Court staff will always be on hand to assist you and direct you to wherever you need to go. 

Taking the above steps will set you on the right path to feeling prepared for your upcoming court hearing. We would also strongly advise instructing a solicitor and seeking professional legal advice, as their further support will be invaluable to you.