Family court support · 8 min read
How Much Does A Mackenzie Friend Cost?
Fees for Mackenzie Friend work vary widely across England. Here's how to think about cost honestly, and how I price my own work.
Scope
What this article is, and what it isn't
This is general information for fathers navigating family court. It is not legal advice and does not establish any solicitor-client relationship. If you need legal advice on your specific case, speak with a regulated solicitor or barrister.
Why prices vary so much
Mackenzie Friends are not a regulated profession, so there's no standard fee scale. Some work for free as part of charitable or church support. Some charge low hourly rates and are essentially volunteers. Others, particularly those who do this as their main work, charge professional rates that reflect the experience and time involved.
There's no single right number. There's only what's affordable for you and what's appropriate for the level of support you actually need.
What you're actually paying for
Court preparation hours: meeting to go through what's been filed and what the next hearing is for. Document organisation: pulling a workable bundle together from years of messages and records. Attendance at hearings: travel and time on the day, often longer than the listed hearing because of waiting around. Between-hearings support: emails, drafting help, light contact when things flare up.
Most fathers I work with use a mix of those rather than booking the whole case at once. That keeps it grounded in what's actually needed at each stage.
How MendCoaching prices this work
I work to a transparent hourly rate, shared in writing before anything is booked. The discovery call is free. After it, I'll set out what I think the next few weeks need and what that's likely to cost, so there are no surprises.
For fathers who could not otherwise access this kind of support, there's also a lower-cost Community Supported Space. Places are limited and allocated by conversation, not application form. It exists because going through family court alone, when you genuinely can't pay, is one of the quiet harms of the current system.
Warning signs around cost
Anyone refusing to put pricing in writing. Anyone asking for large sums up front before a real conversation. Anyone claiming they can do something only a solicitor can do, at solicitor-level pricing, while still calling themselves a Mackenzie Friend. Anyone using high-pressure language about acting fast or the case being lost without them.
Family court is stressful enough without paying a premium to be hustled. Take your time, ask questions in writing, and walk away from anyone who flinches at being asked.
Common questions
Frequently asked
Can you give me exact figures?
Yes, on the discovery call. I share rates in writing before we agree any work so you can think about it without pressure.
What does the Community Supported Space cost?
It's reduced-fee rather than free, calibrated to what fathers in real financial difficulty can sustainably contribute. We talk it through on the discovery call.
Will I be charged for every email?
Light between-hearings contact is part of being a Mackenzie Friend. Substantial pieces of work — drafting a statement, preparing a bundle — are scoped as separate sessions or hours.
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