Edmonton County Court: Your Family Hearing Guide

Part of: Family Court Guides: Find Your Court Before the Hearing

Edmonton County Court and Family Court is at Court House, 59 Fore Street, Edmonton, N18 2TN, and it is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. It hears children cases, divorce hearings and applications for protection from domestic abuse, but not financial remedy cases, which go to Central Family Court (GOV.UK court finder). Its counter is not a drop-in desk either: it opens only by prior appointment, for urgent civil and family applications.

So this guide begins with who to call instead. Then it shows which building hears your case, how to reach Fore Street, the step-free route inside and what happens on the day.

It covers family proceedings in England and Wales only, and it is one of our family court guides. Court details can change at short notice, so check the court finder before you travel.

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

How do I contact Edmonton County Court?

Most enquiries go through national HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) contact centres rather than the building itself. Have your case number ready before you call or email, as staff will ask for it first.

HMCTS warns that scammers copy its phone numbers and email addresses. If a call or email asks you to pay money or share bank details, hang up and check the number against the court finder listing before doing anything. If you are still unsure, do not pay, and report it to Action Fraud.

What cases does Edmonton County Court hear?

The building is both a county court and a family court. If a letter or a friend refers to Edmonton Family Court, it means this same building. Alongside civil work such as money claims and housing possession, it hears the family matters below. The one that catches people out is money on separation: another court deals with financial remedy applications for this area.

That split means one family’s case can run in two buildings at the same time: a children or protection case on Fore Street, and a financial case in High Holborn. Each hearing notice names its own court, so read the address on every letter before you plan the journey.

If you are not sure which order fits your situation, our guides to child arrangements orders and non-molestation orders explain what each one does.

How do I get to Edmonton County Court?

The court is on Fore Street, and public transport is the simplest way to arrive on time. Check TfL Journey Planner on the morning of your hearing, as services change.

• By train. Silver Street station, on the Weaver line, is about 550 metres from the court in a straight line.
• By bus. Routes 149, 259 and 279 (and the N279 at night) stop at Nutfield Close, about 100 metres from the court. Routes 34, 102, 144, 444, 491 and SL1 stop at Angel Corner by Silver Street station, about 500 metres away.
• By car. Edmonton is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, which runs every day except Christmas Day. A vehicle that does not meet the standard is charged £12.50 a day (TfL).

Is there parking at Edmonton County Court?

The GOV.UK court finder lists no parking information for this court, so do not plan on parking at the building. If you need to drive, check Enfield Council’s website for public car parks and street restrictions near Fore Street, and allow extra time to find a space and walk in. After all, a hearing can start without you if you are late, which is why most people find the train or bus less stressful.

What access support does the court offer?

The court finder lists the following. Access arrangements can change, so contact the court before your hearing if you need support on the day.

• Entrance. There is a ramp to the building entrance.
• Inside the building. A lift runs between the ground floor and the first floor, and there is level access into court rooms and hearing rooms.
• Hidden disabilities. Sunflower lanyards are available on request.
• Other support. Assistance dogs are welcome, and there are baby changing facilities.

If you are worried about seeing the other person at court, you can ask for special measures, such as a separate waiting area or a screen in the courtroom (Family Procedure Rules, Part 3A). Our guide to attending court with a history of domestic abuse explains what to expect on the day.

What happens at a family hearing at Edmonton County Court?

Most family hearings take place in private (Family Procedure Rules, Part 27), so only the people involved in your case, and any accredited journalists, are normally allowed in. The day usually runs like this:

1. Check which court your notice names. A financial remedy hearing is listed at Central Family Court, not here, so confirm the address before you plan your route.
2. Arrive and go through security. Security staff check bags on the way in, so leave sharp items and anything you would not want searched at home. Aim to arrive 30 minutes before your listed time.
3. Tell the usher you are there. Give your name and case number. The usher will show you where to wait and call you when the judge is ready. Hearings often start later than listed.
4. Ask for distance if you need it. If you applied for protection and still need a separate waiting area or a screen, tell court staff as soon as you arrive.
5. The hearing itself. A judge or magistrates hear from each side in turn. In children cases, the judge will already have Cafcass’s safeguarding information, gathered before the first hearing (PD12B). When you are invited to speak, keep to the facts.
6. Decisions and next steps. The court may make an order on the day, or set out directions such as a report from Cafcass or a further hearing. Ask the usher or court staff if you do not understand what was ordered before you leave.

For a fuller walk-through of the first children hearing, see our guides to your first family court hearing and the FHDRA.

Edmonton Family Court hearing: are you on track?

Run through this list the evening before. It is there to steady your nerves, not to score you.

Can I speak to a specialist before my hearing?

Yes. Our nearest office is in Fulham. You do not need to travel to get started: your free initial consultation begins with a callback, so you can talk things over from home before your hearing.

Frequently asked questions

Expert Tip

We are often contacted by parents who arrive at a family hearing expecting to sort out the house and savings at the same time. At this court, that cannot happen: financial remedy applications for the area are heard at Central Family Court. Read every notice for the court’s address, keep your children application and any financial application in separate folders, and ask for advice early if both are running at once.

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