Durham County Court and Family Court — what it handles
Durham County Court and Family Court is an HMCTS family court venue in County Durham. Family panels here hear applications under the Children Act 1989 (child arrangements, prohibited steps, specific issue orders) and under the Family Law Act 1996 (non-molestation and occupation orders), alongside financial remedy and divorce work. The venue's registered areas of law include: childcare arrangements, divorce, domestic abuse, financial remedy, housing, money claims.
Verified court details
Representing yourself at Durham? Start with the C100 application guide (if you are applying about your child) or the non-molestation defence guide (if you have been served with FL401 proceedings). Both are free, factual and written for litigants in person.
On this site for Durham
Local guides around Durham
Before any hearing
- Read what to bring to a family court hearing — bundle copies, your position statement, ID and the hearing notice.
- Check your hearing notice for the exact venue, room/time and whether the hearing is by video (CVP). Some work listed at a venue is heard remotely.
- Arrive 30–45 minutes early for security; bring printed copies of everything you rely on.
- Free procedural help is available from Support Through Court and from Families Need Fathers peer meetings.
Helplines that answer
Before your hearing
Turning scattered messages, notes and dates into evidence takes structure. structure your statement and bundle before your hearing at Durham — EvidenceCanvas is a guided toolkit that helps you draft a child-focused witness statement, answer a Scott Schedule point by point, and assemble a paginated court bundle. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.