What to Wear to Family Court, and What to Leave at Home

Part of: Your First Family Court Hearing

What to wear to family court is simpler than most parents fear: there is no formal dress code, so clean, plain clothes you would wear to an important meeting are enough. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) asks only that your clothing is respectful and suitable for a formal public building. A few things can still go wrong at the door, such as a cap, a slogan or a belt that slows the security check. This guide covers family hearings in England and Wales, in person and by video. It goes with our guide to your first family court hearing.

Is there a family court dress code?

No. HMCTS says there is no formal court dress code, but you are expected to dress appropriately for a court setting. Its guidance gives beachwear, fancy dress and clothing with offensive images or slogans as examples of what is not appropriate. If you arrive dressed inappropriately, court staff may refuse you entry.

Unsure about one item? HMCTS suggests you contact the court before you arrive, using the details on your hearing letter. Our local family court guides also describe many of the buildings themselves.

What to wear to family court: an outfit that works

Wear clean, plain clothes that you already own and can sit in for several hours. Think of what you would wear to a parents’ evening or an important meeting, then leave out anything loud, revealing or awkward to take off.

None of this needs to be new. A suit is fine if you own one and feel comfortable in it. Still, nothing says you must wear one, and a neat jumper meets every rule HMCTS sets. Comfort matters more than people expect. The time on your letter is when the day’s cases start, and yours might not be first. So pick clothes you can wait in, with a layer you can take off.

What to wear to court, and why family court is different

HMCTS gives one set of dress guidance for every court and tribunal building it runs, whatever the type of case. What changes in a family case is who is in the room. General advice on what to wear to court often has a criminal trial in mind, with a public gallery watching. A family hearing is usually held in private instead, which means the general public has no right to be present (Family Procedure Rules, r.27.10).

Judges have relaxed their own dress too: they no longer wear wigs for civil and family hearings in open court, as the judiciary’s page on modern court dress explains. So when you decide what to wear to family court, dress for a serious conversation about your family. Aim to look like yourself on a good day, settled enough to listen and answer.

How you speak to the judge will matter more than your jacket. Our guide on how to address a magistrate or judge covers what to call them and when to stand.

Can you wear a hat or head covering to court?

Not a hat or cap, but a religious head covering or a face covering is fine. HMCTS says that, apart from a face covering, you cannot wear anything on your head in a court or tribunal building unless it is for religious reasons.

The judiciary’s own guidance backs this up. Its Equal Treatment Bench Book says Jewish, Muslim, Rastafarian, Sikh and other witnesses should not be asked to remove head coverings in court. It also tells judges to avoid unnecessary objections about dress.

A face veil can raise a separate question if you give evidence. In family and other non-criminal cases, a judge can ask a witness to remove a veil while giving evidence, if a fair trial requires it. The same guidance says the question should ideally come up at an earlier directions hearing. At the latest, it belongs at the start of the hearing. In a court building, a female member of staff can check your identity in private, without you removing the veil in the courtroom. If removal is needed, the judge may consider limiting who is in the room or using partial screens.

What should you wear for the court security check?

Wear clothes that come off and go back on quickly, such as slip-on shoes and a simple belt, and keep your pockets light. HMCTS says you may need to empty your pockets into a tray and take off your shoes, coat, gloves, hat or belt, then walk through an archway detector or be checked with a handheld scanner.

The law also sets a limit. A court security officer can search you, but cannot make you remove any clothing other than a coat, jacket, headgear, gloves or footwear (Courts Act 2003, s.52(2)). However, if you refuse a search, the officer can keep you out of the building (s.53(1)).

HMCTS asks you to arrive 30 minutes before the time on your letter, and no earlier. If you have a hidden disability, a Sunflower lanyard is worth wearing too. HMCTS staff recognise it as a sign that you may need extra help or more time, and every court building has them.

Plan what to wear to family court for your hearing

Three answers shape the advice: how you will attend, what the hearing is about and what worries you most. Choose yours and the plan fills in, one row at a time. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

What should you wear for a video or phone hearing?

For a video hearing, dress as if you were coming into the court building, because HMCTS asks you to. For a phone hearing nobody sees you, so clothes matter only for how ready you feel.

On video, the court needs to see your face and shoulders, so your top does most of the work. HMCTS also asks for something plain behind you, with the light in front of you so your face is not in shadow. Choose a quiet, private space, and tell anyone you live with that you must not be interrupted. Remember that you are on screen even while others speak, so keep your body language calm.

You can also ask the court before the hearing for arrangements that help you feel safe. For example, you can ask that another person in the case cannot see you. The court will try to arrange what you ask for, though it may not always be possible.

Does what you wear affect the judge’s decision?

Not directly. In a case about children, the court’s paramount consideration is your child’s welfare (Children Act 1989, s.1(1)), and your outfit is not part of that test.

The judiciary is also wary of reading people from how they look. Its Equal Treatment Bench Book notes long-standing scepticism about judging credibility from appearance and demeanour in a stressful courtroom. Settling what to wear to family court early does take one worry off your list. When you are not tugging at a collar or shivering in a thin shirt, you can listen to the judge and answer clearly.

Preparation does far more for you than any outfit. A short position statement sets out what you want the court to know. If you are going without a lawyer, our guide for a litigant in person covers the rest of the day.

What to wear to family court: frequently asked questions

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