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Family Court Support: I am a ‘McKenzie Friend’ - You Don't Need Family Lawyers

What is a McKenzie Friend?

A McKenzie Friend is a term used primarily in common law jurisdictions, including England and Wales. It refers to a person who provides assistance and support to an individual representing themselves in a court case, usually in family or civil proceedings. The McKenzie Friend is not a legal professional, but rather a layperson who can offer practical and emotional support to the unrepresented litigant.

A McKenzie Friend assists a litigant in person (LIP) in a court of law in England and Wales. This person does not need to be legally qualified. The crucial point is that litigants in person are entitled to have assistance, lay or professional unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The concept behind McKenzie Friends is that it is an irrebuttable truth that you don't need to pay for lawyers in the the family court. Lawyers, who all too often engage in thousands of pounds of unnecessary work, stir the pot of hate and acrimony for financial gain and have no professional duty of care for any child. There is no advantage to having a lawyer, a lawyer cannot get you what you want. A McKenzie Friend is a sensible alternative to support you through the process as an informed friend.

There is no one definition of a McKenzie Friend but most refer to what I can do as a McKenzie Friend:

I can provide moral support for the LIP; I take notes; I help with case papers; I quietly advise on points of law or procedure; help with issues that the LIP may wish to raise in court; help with questions the LIP may wish to ask witnesses.

The name "McKenzie Friend" comes from a 1970 British court case called McKenzie v. McKenzie, where it was ruled that a friend of the family could accompany an unrepresented litigant to provide assistance during the court proceedings. Alongside being a McKenzie Friend, Elfan enables clients to deal with the emotional challenges of a breakup or divorce with the tangible support of acting as a McKenzie Friend through the Family Court. 

CLIENT FEEDBACK: Elfan Dan has a calm and friendly down-to-earth approach enabling you (the client) to take control and be the best you can be within the Family Court process. He is a qualified, experienced Master Coach, NLP Practitioner and a Breakup and Divorce practitioner. His key strength (as well as being fluent in Welsh) is his understanding of people going through major changes in their lives. With over 30 years in business, he is able to develop effective strategies to take you through the pain of a break-up or divorce and support you through the Family Court.

I have trained with The McKenzie Friend Network and can assist with the following:

 All Family Court Application Forms

 Support at all Family Court Hearings

 Support and Mentoring

 Papers and Documents

 Letters and Correspondence

 Every Aspect of Your Case

What a McKenzie Friend May Not Do:

I have no right to act on behalf of a LIP; I may not act as the LIP’s agent about the proceedings nor manage the case outside court - for example, by signing court documents; I am not entitled to address the court, nor examine any witnesses. However, in exceptional circumstances, a judge may grant me what’s termed as “rights of audience” in a particular case. I would then be allowed to address the court and conduct the litigant’s case for them.

The new approach to the family court - get in touch for your 30-minute free consultation - https://calendly.com/elfandang

Break-Up & Divorce Coaching

My passion is to help people all over the world to cope better with their breakup, whether from a relationship or through a divorce. It’s a well-known fact that in the UK alone 3-4 million relationships are near to breaking down right now. Last year, around 42% of marriages in the UK ended in divorce. I can help with survival techniques from a divorce or break-up, help you take back control, and give you a clear road map and clarity to move forward in life.

I can help couples separate amicably without lawyering up each side. I’m an alternative to solicitors and traditional legal services. I deliver great results for couples by providing an empathetic, emotionally-led service to help both move forward in life.

What I am really aware of in regard to a breakup or divorce is who to turn to have that talk or chat. I’ve been through both and had the same issue, so had to work my way through it by myself, which is not good! That experience has brought me here to be able to help you move forward and make sense of what's going on. Give me a call or set up a no-obligation chat to see if I can help you move forward and be yourself again.

Leadership Coaching

‘Leadership is not about being the best. Leadership is about making everyone else better.’

I am passionate about helping people move forward in their chosen careers and move up that ‘corporate’ ladder. I have the experience to help you to move into a leadership role and show you how to do the same.

Elfan Dan has years of experience managing teams in various industries in the delivery of programs and projects. To enable him to do this he needed to ‘lead’ teams to success and to help him to do this he has passed management and coaching exams as well as being a winning captain on the field of sport, at club and international levels.

Are you a leader who is working hard, not getting the results you are seeking, and the team not responding to your ‘call to action’, you aren’t sure why and you don’t know what you need to work on.

Do you ever feel as though you have all this untapped potential? You just know you have what it takes to achieve your dreams, but for one reason or another, you’re holding yourself back. You may even know what to do, but still, nothing happens.

Maximizing your full potential seems simple on the surface. Taking massive and consistent action moving toward your goals should do it, right? Well, that’s a big part of the puzzle, but it’s not the entire picture. Key pieces are missing that you will need to bring together to maximize how you work toward your goals so that you can maximise your ability and leadership at the highest level can.

“All the ability in the world is irrelevant without knowing how to get the best from it”.

If you are a leader that delegates tasks then what you are doing is creating a follower, however, if you delegate authority, you create leaders. Elfan Dan has the power and the ability to take you to the next level. A chat with Elfan Dan could change everything.

Sport Leadership Coaching

If you have some goals you want to achieve in your chosen sport, I can help you with that. This is an area I have vast experience in, and have a proven track record of results and successes:

• Rugby - a winner of league titles and county championships, he’s also played at county level.

• Cricket - a cup & league winner at club level. Is also a Veterans International at 50s & 60s. Has won a national title for Wales in both 50s & 60s and is the only captain to have these successes.

• Walking Football - an international who has won a World Cup at 60s level and played in the European championships in 2019. Captained Wales v England in Sheffield in 2023.

  I can help to change your mindset to achieve your sporting goals.

I am a winning club captain in rugby and cricket as well as a winning Welsh captain in cricket and walking football.

Retirement Coaching

If you’re thinking about retiring in the next few months or years, chances are, you’ll have plenty to consider before you do. You might also find yourself wondering whether retirement is the right choice for you at all. When considering your retirement options, it can be helpful to put together a plan in the months or years leading up to your retirement to help you navigate this new life stage with confidence. One of the key considerations (and rightly so) that most people make before they retire, is whether they can afford it.

How does the idea of retirement make you feel? I can help you plan your way into retirement & if you're already there & struggling to make headway, I can help you there too.