Canterbury Combined Court: Your Family Hearing Guide

Part of: Your First Family Court Hearing

Canterbury Court, officially Canterbury Combined Court and Family Court Hearing Centre, sits at The Law Courts, Chaucer Road, Canterbury, CT1 1ZA. The building is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Family Court, County Court and Crown Court cases all run from this one address, so not everyone in the building is there for a family case (GOV.UK court finder).

The detail that catches people out here is the counter. The family counter opens only for urgent matters, and only by appointment, so you will handle almost everything by phone or email before the day. That is why this guide puts the contacts first, then the family work this court hears, then how a hearing day usually runs. It is one of our family court guides and covers the law in England and Wales.

Reviewed by: Hannah Overton, Complex Children Specialist & Client Support, Kabir Family Law

Where is Canterbury Court and how do I contact it?

Letters may call it Canterbury County Court or Canterbury Family Court. In fact, both names point to this one building. Every line below comes from the court’s own listing, so save the numbers you need before you travel.

Which family cases does Canterbury Combined Court hear?

The court finder lists four kinds of family work in this building. What your hearing looks like depends on which one brought you here.

Disputes about children. A parent usually starts with Form C100, which costs £270, and this court’s family inbox accepts C100 applications by email. Our C100 form guide covers the application itself. Orders about where a child lives or spends time are made under the Children Act 1989, s.8.

Before the first hearing, Cafcass usually carries out safety checks with the police and the local council (Practice Direction 12B). Our guide to the FHDRA hearing explains that first appointment.

Children in care. Cases brought by a local authority, with case numbers starting C5, run through a digital process with their own phone line and inbox, shown in the card above. If a council has started proceedings about your child, get advice as early as you can.

Divorce. Divorce questions go to the Divorce Contact Centre on 0300 303 0642. The court finder does not list financial remedy (money and property after divorce) for this building. So if your paperwork is about finances, check which court it names before you travel.

Domestic abuse. Applications for a non-molestation order or an occupation order use Form FL401, and there is no court fee. Where it is just and convenient, the court can make an order before the other person is told (Family Law Act 1996, s.45). Our guide to attending court with a domestic abuse history covers the day itself.

Adoption. Adoption is also on this court’s list. An adoption order gives parental responsibility to the adopters and ends the parental responsibility anyone else held (Adoption and Children Act 2002, s.46). Our adoption orders guide explains more.

What happens on the day at Canterbury Combined Court?

No two hearings are the same. Even so, most family hearing days in this building follow roughly this shape.

1. Set off with your notice. Bring the hearing notice with your case number, plus copies of anything you have filed. Papers the court asked for should already be in the family inbox, because the counter won’t take them on the day unless urgent and booked.
2. Clear security at Chaucer Road. Leave time for the security check when you arrive. The building also serves Crown Court and County Court users, so tell staff you are there for a family hearing and give your case number.
3. Ask for what you arranged. If you booked hearing enhancement, a disabled space or a separate place to wait, remind staff on arrival. There is level access, two disabled lifts and 21 interview rooms if you need somewhere private to talk.
4. Wait within earshot. Put your phone on silent, then stay close enough to hear your name called. The cafeteria opens at 9am, serves hot food until 2pm and closes at 2:30pm. After that, there is a cold drinks machine.
5. Go in when called. Family hearings take place in private (Family Procedure Rules, rule 27.10). Then the judge or magistrates hear from each side in turn. Recording sound without permission is a contempt of court (Contempt of Court Act 1981, s.9).
6. Leave with the next step clear. Before you go, write down what the judge decided and any dates for statements or a further hearing. If anything is unclear, ask the usher how you will receive the order.

For what goes on inside the room at a first hearing, read our guide to your first family court hearing.

How do I get to Canterbury Combined Court, and where can I park?

By train. Two mainline stations serve the city, Canterbury East and Canterbury West. Use a live journey planner for the walk or taxi to Chaucer Road, as the time depends on where you start.

By bus. Routes and times change, so check Stagecoach or Traveline on the morning of your hearing.

By car. Put CT1 1ZA into your sat nav. The court finder says there is free public parking at or near the court. Canterbury City Council also runs pay-and-display car parks in the city centre, with current charges on canterbury.gov.uk.

Blue Badge holders. The court has only a limited number of disabled spaces. Phone the court before the day if you need one, rather than hoping for a space when you arrive.

What can you ask the court to arrange before your hearing?

Several things at this court work only if you ask first. Phone or email in good time, and quote your case number.

• Hearing enhancement. The building has a portable hearing enhancement system, available by prior arrangement.
• Video. Hearing room video conferencing is available by prior arrangement. Whether you can take part by video is for the court to decide, so ask early.
• A disabled parking space. Spaces are limited, so phone ahead.
• Feeling safe. If you are worried about seeing the other person, ask about special measures, such as a screen.
• Hidden disabilities. Sunflower lanyards are available on request, and assistance dogs are welcome.

Also on site: baby changing facilities and wifi within the building.

Is everything arranged before your day at Canterbury Combined Court Centre?

Because so much here has to be booked or sent in advance, use this list to spot gaps while there is still time to fill them.

Frequently asked questions

Expert Tip

Many people don’t realise they cannot sort out paperwork at the front desk on the day. Here, the family counter only opens for urgent matters, and only if you book first. The building also hosts the Crown Court and County Court. So email the family court with your case number well before your hearing. Bring spare copies of everything you have filed, too.

Garry Steedman, Family Law Consultant (Divorce, Children & TOLATA)