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Going to court with your child
If you are going to Court for the first time, you may not know what to expect. It can be a daunting place, especially when you are worried about what is going to happen to your child.
On this page
- Understanding Youth Courts
- What will a solicitor do for my child?
- What happens on the day of the court appearance?
- Can I take a friend or relative with me?
- Who will be in the courtroom?
- What happens when we go into the Courtroom?
- Will the Magistrates speak to me?
- What will the Magistrates ask me?
- What might happen to my child?
- Will the Magistrate ask me to do anything?
Understanding Youth Courts
Youth Courts are part of the Magistrates Courts and are used to hear cases of those who aged 11-18 years old. Magistrates serving in a Youth Court will have had specific training to enable them to deal with young people effectively. Youth Courts are presented differently to adult courts as they are more informal and smaller. Only the child’s parent or guardian will be allowed in the court to accompany the child. If the child or young person is under the age.
What will a solicitor do for my child?
To help you and your child prepare for Court it is important to find a solicitor. The solicitor will meet with you and your child to discuss the case and will offer you legal advice. They will let your child know what to do and say in Court. It is important to contact a solicitor before your first Court appearance. Check with them whether you are entitled to legal aid.
What happens on the day of the court appearance?
You will be expected to arrive at 9.45am for a morning appearance or at 1.45pm for an afternoon appearance. It is important to check the time with your solicitor and allow for plenty of time to travel to Court. You will not be given a specific time for when your case will be heard. You will need to report to the Court Usher. They are usually dressed in a black gown and will be carrying a clipboard. They will tell you which Courtroom your child’s case will be heard in and where to wait. They will also ask your name and which solicitor is representing your child.
Can I take a friend or relative with me?
Yes, you can bring along a friend or relative to support you in the waiting room. But only parents or close relatives like grandparents, who may be involved in caring for your child, can go into the Courtroom with you.
Who will be in the courtroom?
In the Courtroom, there will be at least two magistrates, your solicitor, a Crown Prosecutor and the Clerk to the Court who will ask your name. There will also be someone from the Youth Offending Team.
What happens when we go into the Courtroom?
You’ll be shown where to sit (usually in front of the dock) and it will be announced when you need to sit or stand. Your child will stand in the dock and will be asked to say their name, address and date of birth.
Will the Magistrates speak to me?
The Clerk of the Court may welcome you in order to identify you as the parents. You can speak to your solicitor about this further if you are feeling concerned about this.
What will the Magistrates ask me?
Very occasionally Magistrates may ask you something. Most of the time information will be given to the Court by your solicitor. It is important to give him or her as much useful information as possible before you go into the Courtroom. The magistrate will want to know what you have tried to do to prevent your child from offending and where you have gone to try to get help with your child. There is a private room available where you and your child can talk to your solicitor before going in to the Courtroom.
What might happen to my child?
The court may adjourn the case for a variety of reasons. They may wish to set a trial date, or request reports to be prepared. If a report is requested a member of the Youth Offending Team will talk to you outside the Courtroom and explain what it is about. It may be that you will need to return to the Court with your child a few times before the case is dealt with.
If you or your child cannot attend the Court on any occasion it is very important that you inform the Court of the reason why. You can do this through your solicitor before the hearing. If you are ill on the day and don’t appear in Court, you may have to produce a sick note.
Will the Magistrate ask me to do anything?
The magistrate may issue you with a Parenting Order. For more information about Parenting Orders, please read our advice page.
Further resources
If you would like further support and advice, call our helpline on 0808 800 2222 or email us at askus@familylives.org.uk. You can talk to us online via our live chat service or message us via WhatsApp on 07441 444125 to connect with experienced professional family support workers and highly-trained volunteers. You may find it helps to find out how other parents and carers have coped with this on our online forums. We also have a range of free self-guided online parenting courses that can help through the ages and stages of parenting.
Our online parenting information is written by experienced parenting professionals. Find out more about our content authors, how it is produced, reviewed and edited.
Other organisations that can help
You can speak to your local Youth Offending Team or Children’s Services at your Local Authority.
If you have a solicitor, they can give you advice.
You can also speak to Prisoners Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003.
Please read this advice article from Lawstuff on Police and the Law.