ROUTE 1 — Complaint About the Court Service (HMCTS)

This is for:

• delays
• lost documents
• rude staff
• admin failures
• listing problems
• phone/email failures
• mistakes by court staff
• poor handling of your case by staff

NOT for:

• the judge’s decision
• judicial conduct
• legal advice

HMCTS states it only investigates how staff handled your case, not the judge’s decision.

Official page:
HMCTS Complaints Procedure

STAGE 1 — Complain Directly to the Family Court

First complain to your local family court.

You can:

• use the online complaints form
• speak to staff at court
• write by post
• use Form EX343A

HMCTS says you can complete the online complaints form or speak to staff in court.

Online complaint form:
HMCTS Online Complaint Form

Paper form:
Form EX343A Complaint Form

PDF direct download:
EX343A PDF Form

Accessible forms email:
hmctsforms@justice.gov.uk

STAGE 2 — Escalate the Complaint

If the local court response is poor:

Ask for:

Senior Manager Review

Request:

• full complaint review
• written explanation
• compensation where appropriate
• apology
• correction of errors

Keep copies of everything.

STAGE 3 — Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)

If HMCTS final response is unsatisfactory:

You can escalate to:

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Official site:
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

IMPORTANT:

You usually need:

Your MP to refer the complaint

This is called the “MP filter.”

Find your MP:
Find Your MP

ROUTE 2 — Complaint About the Judge (Judicial Misconduct)

This is for:

• rudeness
• bullying
• bias in conduct
• inappropriate behaviour
• discrimination
• misconduct
• improper comments

NOT for:

• disagreeing with the legal decision

JCIO cannot overturn decisions—only misconduct complaints.

Official page:
Judicial Complaints Portal (JCIO)

What they can investigate:
What You Can Complain About

TIME LIMIT FOR JUDGE COMPLAINTS

You must usually complain within:

3 months

JCIO confirms this.

Official rule page:
JCIO Time Limit Rules

If JCIO Rejects Your Complaint

You may escalate to:

Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman

Usually within:

28 days

ROUTE 3 — You Disagree With the Judge’s Decision

This is NOT a complaint.

This is:

AN APPEAL

Examples:

• child arrangements order
• prohibited steps order
• specific issue order
• non-molestation order
• occupation order
• fact-finding decision
• financial remedy order
• care proceedings decisions

FAMILY COURT APPEAL PROCESS

STEP 1 — Permission to Appeal

Usually:

You must ask within:

21 days

(often from the order date—check your order)

You usually need:

Permission to Appeal

unless exempt.

STEP 2 — Appeal Forms

Most commonly:

Form N161

(Appellant’s Notice)

Official page:
Form N161 Appellant’s Notice

Depending on the case, other forms may apply.

STEP 3 — Appeal Court

Appeals may go to:

• Circuit Judge
• High Court Judge
• Court of Appeal

depending on who made the original order.

URGENT FAMILY COURT ISSUES

Examples:

• child removal
• domestic abuse
• injunction breaches
• urgent safeguarding

Use your specific court urgently.

Example for Central Family Court:

Urgent applications:

cfc.urgentapplications@justice.gov.uk

Court page:
Central Family Court

Example for East London Family Court:

Urgent applications:

elfcurgentapps@justice.gov.uk

Court page:
East London Family Court

To find your local court:
Find a Court or Tribunal

If CAFCASS Is the Problem

If your complaint is about CAFCASS:

Official complaints page:
CAFCASS Complaints Process

If Your Solicitor Is the Problem

Complain to:

1. the law firm first
2. then the Legal Ombudsman

Legal Ombudsman:
Legal Ombudsman

What You Should Ask For

Always request:

• correction of errors
• rehearing if appropriate
• transcript disclosure
• urgent review
• apology
• compensation (where allowed)
• safeguarding review
• judicial reconsideration if applicable
• formal written response

VERY IMPORTANT RULE

Always send COPIES, not original documents, in case they are not returned.

Never send originals unless specifically ordered by the court.

Keep:

• proof of posting
• screenshots
• call logs
• hearing notes
• orders
• emails
• evidence bundle

This is critical.

OUR Strong Advice

For serious family court cases:

Use BOTH:

formal complaint + appeal route

at the same time where appropriate.

Many people wrongly use only one.

You often need both.