The Family Court locations this site covers are Bristol, Gloucester and Weston-Super-Mare. If you or your child lives in or around these locations any court hearing is likely to be held in one of these courts. Below is some information about each of those courts.
In Bristol the Family Court is located in the Bristol Civil & Family Justice Centre on Redcliff Street, Bristol (shown in the picture on this page). You can find out about the court and how to find it here. It is easy to walk to from Templemeads Station or from the Centre of Bristol and the Bus Station and there is parking nearby (although much of it is short stay only).
Various services are located in the court that might be useful for people involved in family cases :
- Court Office (9.30-2pm Mon-Fri)
- Bristol duty lawyer clinic – this service has been suspended but watch this space for details of its revival.
- UWE Bristol Law Court Clinic (first floor), operated by students undertaking professional vocational law courses at UWE Bristol, dependent on volunteer availability.
- LiP Service : The universities in Bristol (University of Law, Bristol Uni & UWE) have collaborated to deliver information sessions to LiPs with a view to assisting them with the initial navigation of their case and understanding terminology, procedures and how to start preparing their cases for court. It is entry level and no advice can be provided. Students are supervised. Sessions run weekly and are either virtual or in a court room depending on preference. Booking is via: Lipservice-bristol@law.ac.uk
- The court holds open days for members of the public from time to time. We will put details of those on this site in the News section when they are coming up.
- Wifi is available on the Gov Wifi network. From the court building text ‘Go’ to 07537 417 417 to be sent a username and password. Your device should connect automatically next time.
- Mobile phone signal within the Bristol court building is very poor.
Bristol is the biggest of the Family Court venues in the area, and much of the administration of the Family Court in the area is done here. It has fifteen courtrooms dealing with a range of family and civil cases.
These videos were filmed in Bristol and will give you some idea of what the court is like.
The other local courts are :
- Weston Super Mare, which is located in the North Somerset Courthouse in Worle, Weston Super Mare.
- Gloucester, which is located in Kimbrose Way, Gloucester.
- Bath, which is located at North Parade Road (opposite the Cricket Club, walking distance of train station and city centre).