08/07/2024
Why did I become a McKenzie Friend?
I am dedicated to providing support and guidance to individuals navigating the family court system. I have many years as a leader, coach and mentor within corporate businesses in the construction and engineering sector. I bring my own personal experiences of going through mediation and a long drawn out and extremely costly financial remedy case following the tragic loss of my son followed by the breakdown of my second marriage when I left the marital home for my mental health. After 5 stressful years and the costly involvement of solicitors and barristers and court hearings, a consent order was finally agreed by a McKenzie friend who proactively worked with us separately to agree the financial settlement. My previous skills have enhanced my ability to provide the support my clients need.
Check out my site:
Home | S Springer Coaching
08/07/2024
Check out my new website
susannespringercoaching.com
Bringing coaching into Family Court to support people through the stress and challenges following separation and divorce.
08/07/2024
McKenzie friends can provide you with both emotional and practical support for hearings. Including:
Helping you prepare your court paperwork.
Making notes for you so that you can focus on the hearing itself.
They can pass notes over to you and/or quietly advise you, and generally just be there to provide you with some much-needed support during a potentially difficult and daunting time.
What is a McKenzie Friend?
A McKenzie friend is an individual who can support somebody in court when they are unrepresented by a solicitor or other legal professional.
McKenzie v McKenzie (1970) was a divorce case where the husband could no longer afford the fees of his solicitor, so the firm sent someone for free to represent him in court. The person that was sent was not a lawyer and the court did not allow him to represent Mr McKenzie. When the case went badly, Mr McKenzie appealed to the Court of Appeal where they held that the judge had been wrong, and that Mr McKenzie should have been given permission to have assistance in the court. The Court of Appeal were clear that the individual was only there to prompt and make suggestions to the husband.
McKenzie friends can provide you with both emotional and practical support for hearings.
Including:
Helping you prepare your court paperwork.
Making notes for you so that you can focus on the hearing itself.
They can pass notes over to you and/or quietly advise you, and generally just be there to provide you with some much-needed support during a potentially difficult and daunting time.
However, McKenzie friends cannot:
Speak on your behalf in court.
Interfere with proceedings.
Sign documents on your behalf.
