Terms of Service

These terms set out how we work together. Last reviewed: October 2026. Version 1.0.

Please read this before we begin. By asking us to work with you, you agree to these terms. If anything is unclear, ask us — we're happy to explain.

1. Who we are

We Are Your McKenzie Friend Ltd ("we", "us") is a company registered in England & Wales, company number 17166396. You can contact us at info@yourmckenzie.com or +44 (0)7434 760 366.

2. What we do — and what we don't

We provide non-legal support to people representing themselves ("litigants in person") in family and civil court. This includes helping you understand the process, prepare and organise paperwork, and supporting you before and during hearings.

We are not solicitors or barristers, and we do not:

Give legal advice
Represent you or speak for you in court (a judge may, at their discretion, allow a McKenzie Friend to address the court, but this cannot be guaranteed)
Conduct litigation, or file or submit documents to a court or tribunal on your behalf
Guarantee any particular outcome in your case

You remain responsible for your case and for all decisions and submissions. The final say on every decision is yours.

3. Our agreement with you

Before we start, we'll agree what support you need and confirm the cost. Where helpful, we'll set this out in writing (by email is fine). Work begins once you've confirmed you'd like to proceed.

4. Fees and payment

Our fees are as set out on our website, or as agreed with you in advance for your specific matter. All fees are confirmed before any work begins.
A 50% deposit is required before work begins or a court date is secured, unless otherwise agreed. For court attendance, the balance is due at least 7 days before the hearing.
We offer a 10% discount on our standard fees for clients receiving Universal Credit (confirmation of entitlement may be requested). Clients experiencing financial hardship are welcome to discuss their circumstances with us.
Payment plans of up to three months may be available for clients receiving benefits or experiencing financial hardship, agreed in advance.
Court fees and any admin fees charged by the court are separate and are your responsibility to pay directly to the court.
Travel is included in our fixed-fee court attendance packages within an 80-mile radius of North Oxfordshire. Attendance further afield may incur additional travel expenses, agreed in advance.

5. Cancellation and changes

If you need to cancel or rearrange, please give us as much notice as you can. Where we have reserved time for you — in particular a court attendance date — a cancellation at short notice may be charged to cover the time set aside, and deposits may be non-refundable once a date has been secured. We will always discuss this with you.

If you are a consumer and booked at a distance (for example online or by phone), you may have a statutory right to cancel within 14 days. Where you ask us to start work within that period, you may be charged for work already carried out.

6. Your responsibilities

Give us accurate, complete information so we can support you properly
Meet court deadlines — we can help you prepare, but you are responsible for submitting on time
Make your own decisions about your case

7. Confidentiality and your data

We treat everything you tell us as confidential, subject to the limited exceptions in our Privacy Notice (for example safeguarding concerns, risk of serious harm, or where the law requires disclosure). Our Privacy Notice explains how we handle your personal data.

8. Our responsibility to you (limitation of liability)

We will carry out our work with reasonable care and skill. However, because we provide non-legal support and you retain responsibility for your case:

We are not liable for the outcome of your case, or for decisions you make.
We are not liable for any loss arising from information you gave us that was inaccurate or incomplete, or from missed deadlines where submission was your responsibility.
To the extent permitted by law, our total liability to you is limited to the fees you have paid us for the specific work concerned.
Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for anything else that cannot be limited by law.

For your reassurance, we hold both public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance.

9. If something goes wrong

If you're unhappy with any part of our service, please tell us so we can put it right. See our Complaints procedure.

10. Intellectual property

Any templates, guidance or documents we prepare for you are for use in your own matter and should not be shared or resold.

11. General

These terms are governed by the law of England & Wales, and the courts of England & Wales have jurisdiction. If any part of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the rest continues to apply. We may update these terms from time to time; the version in force is the one available when you agreed to work with us.

Because these terms limit liability and cover consumer-cancellation rights, we recommend they are reviewed by a solicitor before use.