16/08/2026
4 YEARS AGO, I NEVER EXPECTED THAT MY OWN FAMILY COURT EXPERIENCE WOULD LEAD TO THIS.
I'm a father of three.
And before I ever became a professional McKenzie Friend, I found myself having to navigate the Child Arrangements process for my own children.
I remember just how daunting the whole process could feel.
Statements.
Court orders.
Hearings.
Cafcass.
Evidence.
Trying to understand what the court actually wanted from me.
And perhaps most importantly, trying to work out how to represent myself properly when I'd never been through anything like it before.
That experience led me to think:
"There must be other parents going through exactly the same thing."
And that's what eventually led me to becoming a professional McKenzie Friend.
What's interesting is that my own Family Court journey didn't stop there.
After I started supporting other parents professionally, I found myself involved in a second Child Arrangements case concerning my own children.
So I've experienced Family Court from two very different perspectives:
✅ As a parent representing myself
✅ As a professional supporting hundreds of other parents
That combination has taught me a great deal about the realities of Family Court and the challenges parents face when trying to navigate the process.
Fast forward four years...
I've now supported 250+ people with their Family Court cases.
I've received 100+ positive feedback ratings from people I've worked with.
And I've learned something very important along the way.
For most people who contact me, Family Court isn't something they ever expected to have to deal with.
They're parents who suddenly find themselves trying to understand a complicated legal process while also dealing with the emotional stress of what's happening to their family.
They don't necessarily need someone to tell them what they want to hear.
They need someone who understands the process and can help them work out what they need to do next.
I've helped people with things such as:
⚖️ Understanding the Family Court process
📄 Preparing statements
📑 Understanding and organising evidence
👨👩👧 Child Arrangements Orders
📞 Preparing for Cafcass involvement
🏛️ Preparing for hearings
And sometimes...
Just working out what they're supposed to do next.
Because I've sat in that position myself, I know how overwhelming it can feel.
And that's one of the reasons I'm so passionate about making Family Court information easier for parents to understand.
I'm not going to promise you a particular outcome.
I'm not going to tell you that Family Court is easy.
And I'm not a solicitor.
But if you're representing yourself, I can help you understand the process, prepare properly, organise your thoughts and feel more confident about presenting your case.
And you don't necessarily have to spend thousands of pounds on legal representation just to get some initial guidance.
That's why I offer a FREE 30-MINUTE TELEPHONE CONSULTATION.
You can explain what's happening in your case, ask the questions you're struggling with, and we can discuss whether I can help.
There's no obligation to book anything afterwards.
If you'd like to speak to me, you can send me a Facebook message or give me a call on 07359 033341.
But I'd also love to hear from those of you who have followed my journey over the last four years.
If I've helped you, what was the most useful thing I did for you?
Your comment could be incredibly valuable to another parent who is currently sitting at home feeling overwhelmed and wondering what they're supposed to do next.
And if you're currently going through the Family Court process yourself, feel free to share what you're finding most difficult.
You're probably not the only one.
👇 I'd genuinely love to hear your thoughts.
What was the biggest lesson Family Court taught you?
And looking back...
What would you do differently if you were starting the process again today?
The answers to those two questions could provide more value to another parent than any guide or article ever could.
Please consider sharing this post.
There are parents sitting at home tonight trying to make sense of Family Court and wondering what they're supposed to do next.
If one lesson shared in this post or the comments helps another parent feel more informed, more prepared, or simply less alone, then it's worth passing on.
The experience you've gained could be exactly what another parent needs to hear today.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has trusted me to support them over the last four years.
Whether you've booked a consultation, worked with me throughout your case, left a review, recommended me to somebody else, or simply followed this page and engaged with the content, I genuinely appreciate it.
Every conversation, every question, and every piece of feedback has helped shape the way I support parents today.
And for those currently navigating Family Court, I hope some of the information I share helps make the process feel a little less overwhelming.
Dave Barma
Parent and Professional McKenzie Friend
📌 Follow this page for practical Family Court guidance, real-world insights and lessons learned from both my own experience as a parent and four years supporting others through the process.
