By Ophelia Mills, Former Cafcass Family Court Adviser. Non-practising barrister. ⸻ It’s beginning to look a lot like… court. Because nothing brings out the seasonal spirit like arguing over who gets the kids for Christmas lunch.. again. One of you sends a polite message in October: “Shall we stick to last year’s plan? ” The other replies in November: “Remind me what that was exactly? ” By December, you’re screenshotting texts from 2021 and calling your solicitor to “just get

If you’re preparing for a  Cafcass interview , you’ve probably seen websites, forums, even AI tools, offering scripts and coaching. Truth: turning up with a script will only stress you out. This isn’t a job interview. You’re not being judged on performance. You’re being assessed on how you describe your child’s world, your co-parenting reality, and your ability to keep your child safe. I spent 23 years as a Family Court Adviser at Cafcass, conducting these interviews daily in

Which support actually helps in family court—and which doesn’t. By Ophelia Mills  — former Cafcass  Family Court Adviser, qualified barrister (non-practising) Family court isn’t somewhere people plan to be—least of all around Christmas. You’re here because communication has collapsed, and the “let’s just be civil” experiment failed. Now you’re staring at Form C100 wondering whether to hire a lawyer, rely on a McKenzie Friend, or represent yourself in family court. The Lawyer