Straight answers to the questions people ask most about getting help with divorce and family court without a solicitor, from Deborah Jones at Divorce Navigator.
Almost anyone can: a friend, relative or a professional lay adviser. The court decides whether to allow them, and a McKenzie Friend cannot be a party to your case. Divorce Navigator, run by Deborah Jones, is a professional McKenzie Friend service supporting people in divorce and family court proceedings across England and Wales, including in-person support in Lincolnshire.
Yes. Litigants in person in England and Wales have a presumption in favour of being accompanied by a McKenzie Friend. They can sit beside you, take notes, help with your papers and quietly give advice. They cannot normally speak for you unless the judge gives permission. Hearings in private are also open to a McKenzie Friend unless the court directs otherwise.
Divorce Navigator helps with financial remedy proceedings from start to finish: understanding the process, Form E, questionnaires, preparing for the First Directions Appointment (FDA), the Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearing, negotiation, and recording agreement in a consent order. Support is available in person in Lincolnshire and remotely across the UK.
There is no regulated rate. Charges vary by experience and by whether you pay hourly or a fixed fee, and a McKenzie Friend should be clear about costs before you start. Divorce Navigator publishes fixed prices where possible: consent order support is a fixed £450 and a D81 and consent order checking service is £120. Always ask for a written quote and compare it with the cost of a solicitor.
A McKenzie Friend can help you complete and check divorce and financial paperwork, organise evidence and prepare for hearings, usually at a fraction of solicitor costs. Divorce Navigator supports the divorce application, financial disclosure, statements, court bundles and consent orders for people representing themselves. You stay in control of your case and make the decisions.
Divorce Navigator helps you gather the documents for Form E, complete it accurately, understand what the other side has disclosed, and prepare or respond to questionnaires. Complete and honest financial disclosure matters because the court expects full disclosure from both sides.
Yes. The First Directions Appointment (FDA) is where the judge sets the timetable and decides what further information is needed. A McKenzie Friend can help you prepare your Form E and Form G, understand what to expect, and attend with you to take notes and support you.
Divorce Navigator provides remote support throughout England and Wales by phone, video and email, including preparation for remote and hybrid hearings, document review and drafting. In-person court support is available in Lincolnshire and surrounding family courts.
Divorce Navigator helps you record a financial agreement as a consent order, including the D81 statement of information, and checks drafts before you submit them to the court. A court only approves a consent order if it is properly drafted, so checking it can help you avoid costly mistakes. This is a McKenzie Friend service, not regulated legal advice.
Divorce Navigator is based in Lincolnshire (Sleaford area) and offers in-person court support at nearby family courts as well as remote help. Whichever service you choose, ask about experience, fees, references and how they handle confidentiality, and check they understand the family court's rules for McKenzie Friends.
Learn more in our McKenzie Friend guide, Lincolnshire support and consent order help. Divorce Navigator provides practical support, not regulated legal advice.
Please note: My role is to provide practical, process‑focused support. I do not give legal advice. Legal advice is often needed at key points, and I regularly encourage people to seek advice from a family solicitor. Many clients work with me alongside their solicitor, using legal advice for legal decisions and practical support to manage the process around it.
This site uses essential cookies only — required for the site to function correctly. No tracking or advertising cookies are used. Learn more