Staines County Court: What to Expect at a Family Hearing

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

Staines County Court and Family Court hears family cases, including child arrangements, divorce and domestic abuse applications. If your notice of hearing names it, this guide explains what happens on the day, who will be in the room, what to bring and how long to allow. It builds on our guide to your first family court hearing, and it covers the law of England and Wales.

Our family law specialists assist and advise you before the day, so you know what to expect. The building details below come from the court’s official Find a Court or Tribunal listing, so look at it again before you travel.

Reviewed by: Iblal Iqbal, Partner & Family Law Strategist, Kabir Family Law

Where is Staines County Court, and which cases does it hear?

The court sits at The Law Courts, Knowle Green, Staines, TW18 1XH. However, letters go elsewhere: the listing gives Guildford County Court and Family Court Hearing Centre, The Law Courts, Mary Road, Guildford, GU1 4PS, as the postal address. So a Guildford address on a letter is normal. Your notice of hearing is what tells you where to attend.

The same building also houses Staines Magistrates’ Court and Family Court, which has its own listing, phone numbers and emails. Both listings mention child arrangements, divorce and domestic abuse. For that reason, follow the court name and contact details on your own notice.

• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, although the counter opens by appointment only.
• Family enquiries: [email protected], which also takes C100 applications.
• Non-molestation applications: [email protected].
• Phone: 0300 123 5577, the national contact centre for civil and family courts, from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays.

HMCTS warns that scammers copy its phone numbers and email addresses. If a caller asks you to pay and you are unsure, do not pay anything, and report it to Action Fraud. Some older directories still show other numbers for the county court at Staines, so rely on GOV.UK rather than a search result.

What happens on the day of a family hearing?

Most hearing days follow the same pattern. The steps below come from HMCTS guidance and, for children cases, from Practice Direction 12B.

1. Arrive 30 minutes early. Aim for 30 minutes before the time on your notice, but not earlier, because staff may turn you away at busy times.
2. Go through security. Staff check bags and pockets, much as at an airport. You may also walk through a detector, so leave extra time.
3. Find your hearing room. Your case number helps you find where to go in the building. After that, wait until a member of staff calls you in.
4. Meet Cafcass, if your case is about children. At a first hearing about child arrangements, a Cafcass officer attends. Where practicable, they speak to each parent separately before the hearing (PD 12B, paragraphs 14.6 and 14.7).
5. Go into the hearing. When staff say “all rise”, stand if you are able. Then someone explains who will speak and when.
6. Hear what happens next. The judge or magistrates may decide on the day, or send the decision later. Afterwards, leave the building straight away, as HMCTS asks.

If your case is about child arrangements, a Cafcass officer carries out safety checks before that first hearing. Our guide to preparing for a Cafcass interview explains their role. At the hearing itself, the aim is to help you both understand the issues and, where it is safe, reach agreement. If you agree, the court can make an order that reflects it. Otherwise, the judge sets out the next steps. Our FHDRA hearing guide covers that first appointment in detail.

Who is in the room at a family hearing?

Family hearings take place in private, so members of the public cannot come in (FPR 27.10). Rule 27.11 and HMCTS guidance describe who may be there:

• A judge, or magistrates with a legal adviser. HMCTS says a single legal adviser can also deal with some family cases.
• An usher, who shows people where to sit and helps witnesses take the oath or affirm, and sometimes a court clerk, who keeps a record.
• The parties, as well as any legal team a party has instructed.
• A Cafcass officer, especially at a first hearing about children.
• Witnesses, when the court needs to hear from them.
• Accredited journalists, and some legal professionals attending for research or public legal education under Practice Direction 27B. However, the court can exclude them, for example to protect a child or keep a party safe.
• An Independent Domestic Violence Adviser, where Practice Direction 27C allows it, and anyone else the court permits.

The room may also feel less formal than you expect. HMCTS notes that some hearings take place in the judge’s chambers, where the parties may sit around a table.

How long does a hearing at Staines County Court take?

HMCTS says the time on your letter is when the day’s cases start, and your case might not be first. So allow for waiting as well as for the hearing itself. If your notice gives a time estimate, treat it as the length of the hearing, not of your day. HMCTS also suggests arranging childcare and time off work in advance.

Waiting can be the hardest part. Bring some food and water, because not every court building has refreshments. At Staines County Court, the listing mentions only a cold vending machine on the first floor. If you need a break during the hearing, you can ask a member of staff.

One date is not always the end of the matter. After a first hearing about children, for example, the judge may set further hearings, so your case may need more than one day in court.

What should you bring to Staines County Court?

HMCTS suggests a short list. Pack it the night before, so that the morning feels calmer.

• Your hearing letter or notice, with the case number.
• Any papers you need for the hearing, including anything the court asked you to send in.
• Food and drink, including water.
• A pen and paper, since you can take notes during the hearing.
• A face covering or hand sanitiser, if you want them.

You cannot bring weapons, glass, or liquids other than non-alcoholic drinks or hand sanitiser into the building. Court buildings also refuse e-bikes and e-scooters, and they have nowhere to store them. There is no formal dress code, but HMCTS expects clothing that suits a formal public building. Apart from a face covering, you cannot wear anything on your head unless it is for religious reasons.

Before your hearing: are you ready?

The calls a checklist can’t make for you

• Which points to lead with when you may only have a few minutes.
• How to respond if the other party raises something new on the day.
• Whether to agree to a short-term arrangement, or ask for time to think.

These depend on the facts of your case, and they are easier to think about before the day than in a waiting area. You don’t have to work them out alone. Instead, talk them over with our family law specialists in a free initial consultation, where you get initial advice tailored to your circumstances. Book a free initial consultation before your hearing date.

What help can you ask for before you arrive?

Courts can make changes so that you can take part, but they need to know in advance. Contact Staines County Court before your hearing date and say what you need.

• Access. The listing confirms level access to the entrance and courtroom, a hearing loop by prior arrangement, and a welcome for assistance dogs. If you have a disability and need help, it gives 0300 123 5577 as the number to call.
• Sunflower lanyards. The building offers them on request. A lanyard shows staff that you may need extra help or more time.
• An interpreter. GOV.UK says family courts give you an interpreter if your case involves children, domestic violence or forced marriage. Ask as early as you can.
• Feeling safe. Staff may seat you apart from the other party while you wait, and a screen can stop them seeing you in the hearing room. If you tell the court you are, or are at risk of being, a victim of domestic abuse by someone in the case, it must consider whether you need measures such as a screen or a video link (FPR 3A.2A and 3A.8). Our guide to special measures in family court explains the options.
• Video. The building has video conferencing facilities by prior arrangement. The court decides how each hearing runs, so ask early if you need to join by video.
• Children. The listing mentions a children’s room, but HMCTS says staff cannot look after children while you are in the hearing. So arrange childcare for the day.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you need urgent protection before a hearing, our guide to non-molestation orders explains how that application works.

What must you not do at a family hearing?

A few rules catch people out, and breaking them can have serious consequences.

• Do not record. Using or bringing in a device to record sound, without the court’s permission, is a contempt of court (Contempt of Court Act 1981, s.9). HMCTS also says you must not take photos or videos.
• Silence your phone. HMCTS says you must silence all calls and notifications in the hearing room.
• Do not post about the case. Publishing information about private Children Act 1989 proceedings can be a contempt of court (Administration of Justice Act 1960, s.12). It is also an offence to publish anything likely to identify a child involved in the case (Children Act 1989, s.97).
• Choose your words at a first hearing. In child arrangements cases, PD 12B says that hearing is not privileged. In other words, what you say there can come up again at later hearings.
• Stay calm and polite. Speak clearly. You can call a judge “judge”, and a magistrate “sir” or “madam”.

Frequently asked questions

Is Staines County Court the same as Staines Magistrates’ Court?

They share one building, The Law Courts on Knowle Green, but GOV.UK lists them separately. Each listing has its own phone numbers and email addresses. Both mention child arrangements, divorce and domestic abuse, so use the court name and contact details on your own notice of hearing.

What are the opening hours at Staines County Court?

The official listing says the court is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. The counter opens by appointment only, so contact the court before you visit in person. Because opening details can change, look at the Find a Court or Tribunal listing again before you travel.

Is there parking at the court in Staines?

The official listing says public car parking is available, but it names no car park and gives no prices. Allow extra time to find a space, and read any local parking signs when you arrive. If you have a disability and need help getting to your hearing, contact the court on 0300 123 5577 before the day.

Can I bring my children to court?

It is usually best to arrange childcare. The building has a children’s room, but HMCTS says staff cannot look after children while you are in the hearing room. If childcare is difficult, contact the court as early as you can. Also, you can breastfeed or express milk in any court building.

Can someone come with me for support?

Yes. HMCTS asks you to bring only one person, such as a friend or family member, because more may not get in. Your supporter can wait with you, but only the court can allow them into a private hearing. In child arrangements cases, PD 12B also lets you bring a McKenzie Friend, who can give moral support, take notes and help with papers.

Will I get a decision on the day?

Sometimes. The judge or magistrates may decide at the end of the hearing, or send the decision to you later. At a first hearing about children, the court can make an order that reflects what you both agree. Otherwise, the judge gives directions for the next steps in the case.

Can I join my hearing at Staines County Court by video?

Only if the court agrees. The building has video conferencing facilities by prior arrangement, and your notice should tell you how to attend. If you need to join remotely, contact the court well before the date and explain why.

Hearing at Staines County Court coming up? Get advice before the day

A little preparation can make the day feel more manageable, although nobody can promise an outcome. Book a free initial consultation before your hearing date, or call 0330 094 5880. A free initial consultation is a conversation with a specialist, who gives you initial advice tailored to your circumstances. It does not include drafting or reviewing documents. You can also return to our guide to your first family court hearing.

General information about the law in England and Wales, not advice on your circumstances.

Expert Tip

A common worry is that the first hearing about children feels rushed. The Cafcass officer may speak to each of you separately at court beforehand, and what you say that day can come up again at later hearings. So before the hearing, write down the two or three things that matter most for your child, and keep to them. Short, calm points about your child’s routine are easier for everyone to follow than a list of complaints.

Hannah Overton, Complex Children Specialist & Client Support