Represent yourself in court
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1. Overview
You have the right to speak for yourself in court without a solicitor or other legal professional.
You may choose to do this because:
- you think it鈥檚 better to talk directly to the judge, jury or magistrates yourself
- you cannot afford to pay legal fees
If you鈥檙e considering representing yourself in a civil (non-criminal) case because you cannot afford legal costs, check if you can get legal aid instead.
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
Read for advice on how to conduct your case.
There are different
Someone with you in court
You may be allowed to have someone to help you in court by taking notes and giving advice, but they cannot:
- speak for you
- interfere with proceedings
- sign documents on your behalf
This person is known as a 鈥楳cKenzie friend鈥�.
The judge will decide whether you can have a McKenzie friend with you in court.
Read guidance on .
Get legal advice
You can still get legal advice to help you with your case, even if you choose to represent yourself in court.
Read advice on for a debt, dispute or personal injury claim.
2. Divorce and separation involving children
You鈥檒l be referred to as the 鈥榓pplicant鈥� if you brought the case, for example you filed the divorce papers.
You鈥檒l be known as the 鈥榬espondent鈥� if you鈥檝e received divorce papers or a request for a separation, or a contact order or residence order for a child.
Before you go to court
You must normally go to mediation before you go to court.
The court will not hear your case until you send them a C100 form.
Read guidance about whether you should take your case to court.
Read the 鈥楪uide for Separated Parents: Children and the Family Courts鈥�.
Find out more about:
- how to apply for a court order
- the types of court order you can apply for or respond to
- what the court does after you apply for a court order
- getting free and independent
3. Divorce and separation: money and property
You鈥檒l be referred to as the:
- 鈥榓pplicant鈥� if you brought the case, for example you filed a divorce petition
- 鈥榬espondent鈥� if someone else has brought the case
Find out what you must do before you go to court if you鈥檙e divorcing or separating and you鈥檝e a dispute about money or property.
You must normally consider mediation before you go to court.
The court will not hear your case until you send them a C100 form.
4. Represent yourself in a criminal court
You can get legal advice to help you with your case, even if you choose to represent yourself in court.
Before you go to court
Read about what to expect when going to court.
Prepare evidence and witnesses
You can provide evidence and call witnesses to defend yourself.
Bring any documents you want to use as evidence to court and show them to the judge and prosecution on the day of your trial. You should also bring copies of your documents, if possible.
What will happen in court
Read .
You can get legal advice at any time, even once the trial has started.
You will be given the opportunity to ask your witnesses and the prosecution鈥檚 witnesses questions. The prosecution can also ask the witnesses questions.
You can give a closing speech at the end of the trial. You can comment on the strengths of your case and the weaknesses of the prosecution鈥檚 case. You can also remind the judge about the significance of any of the evidence presented during the trial.