McKenzie Friend in Berkshire — Affordable, Practical & On Your Side

Expert McKenzie Friend Support Across Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Windsor & Beyond

Dealing with family law matters is never easy. Whether you’re going through a divorce, trying to agree on child arrangements, or facing a financial settlement, the legal process can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re not sure who to turn to or how much it’s going to cost.

Shield Family Law provides an affordable, experienced McKenzie Friend in Berkshire for individuals and families right across the county. We’re not a solicitor’s firm with eye-watering hourly rates. We’re a practical, human service with transparent, affordable pricing — fixed fees for some of our services, hourly rates for others, and clear project quotes provided upfront for any work you need.

Based locally and working with clients throughout the county — from Reading and Slough to Bracknell, Maidenhead, and Windsor — we’re here to help you navigate the family court system with confidence, clarity, and compassion.

supporting many practice areas

What Is Family Law & What Does It Actually Cover?

Family law covers the legal framework around relationships, children, and finances when a family goes through a major change — most often a separation or divorce. It can feel like a minefield if you’ve never encountered it before, so here’s a clear breakdown of what it includes:

Divorce & Separation

The legal process of ending a marriage or civil partnership. Since 2022, England and Wales have operated under a no-fault divorce system, making the process less adversarial — but it still involves specific forms, timelines, and legal steps that need to be followed correctly.

Child Arrangements

Formerly known as child custody, child arrangements cover where your children will live and how they spend time with each parent. This can be agreed between both parties or decided by the family court through a Child Arrangements Order. The court’s focus is always on what is in the best interests of the child.

Child Support & Maintenance

Financial contributions from the non-resident parent towards the cost of raising children. Usually handled through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), but can form part of wider financial discussions during a separation.

Financial Settlements

Dividing shared assets, property, savings, debts, and pensions following a separation. A financial settlement can be agreed privately and made legally binding through a Consent Order, or decided by the court if no agreement can be reached.

Non-Molestation & Occupation Orders

Protective orders for individuals who are at risk of domestic abuse or need legal protection from an ex-partner. A non-molestation order prevents someone from threatening or harassing you. An occupation order sets out who can live in the family home.

Prohibited Steps Orders

Court orders that prevent a co-parent from taking certain actions — such as taking a child out of the country — or that resolve specific disagreements about a child’s upbringing, such as which school they attend.

Out-of-Court Negotiations

Encouraging resolution without court proceedings through clear communication, mediation support, and practical negotiation.

Litigant-in-Person Support

Step-by-step assistance for those representing themselves, including document preparation, strategy, and court guidance.

McKenzie Friend Support

In-person or virtual attendance at hearings to provide moral support, note-taking, and procedural guidance throughout your case.

Whatever your issues, we tailor our support to your needs—whether you require limited assistance, full guidance, or advice through self-representation.

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Our Fees

Explore our clear and affordable pricing designed to make expert family law support accessible to everyone.

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How We Differ

Discover our straightforward, supportive approach that guides you through every step of your family law journey.

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Family law clients supported each year

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Shield Family Law Support

Who are we & how can we help?

Shield Family Law was founded by Lee Simons, an experienced McKenzie Friend who has supported clients through some of the most difficult moments of their lives — divorce hearings, child custody disputes, financial negotiations, and everything in between.

A McKenzie Friend is someone who supports you when you are representing yourself in family court — helping with paperwork, organising evidence, offering practical guidance, and accompanying you to hearings. It’s a legal right, and it’s one that can make a huge difference to how prepared and confident you feel walking into court.

The key difference between a McKenzie Friend and a solicitor? Cost — and control. With Shield Family Law, you get expert, experienced support at a transparent, affordable rate — with fixed fees for some services, hourly rates for others, and clear project quotes provided upfront for any work you need. No unexpected invoices. And you remain in charge of your own case throughout.

What We Can Help You With:

  • Understanding the divorce or separation process from start to finish
  • Completing and submitting court forms correctly
  • Preparing court bundles and organising your evidence
  • Understanding and applying for Child Arrangements Orders
  • Guidance on financial settlements and what a fair outcome looks like
  • Support with non-molestation orders and occupation orders
  • Preparing for family court hearings — including what to say and how to present yourself
  • Attending hearings with you as your McKenzie Friend
  • Signposting to specialist legal advice where your case requires it

If you’re unsure whether your situation is something we can help with, the best thing to do is book a free consultation with Shield Family Law. We’ll be straight with you — if your case needs something beyond what we offer, we’ll tell you honestly and point you in the right direction.

supporting Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire & Beyond

Areas We Cover Across Berkshire

We work with clients right across the county of Berkshire — from the larger towns along the Thames Valley to smaller communities across the Downs and commuter belt. Wherever you are in Berkshire, you can access our support as your McKenzie Friend in Berkshire. Here’s a breakdown of the areas we regularly work with:

Reading

Berkshire’s largest town and one of our most active areas for McKenzie Friend enquiries across the Reading borough. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Reading or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Slough

Supporting clients right across Slough and the surrounding Thames Valley. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Slough or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Bracknell

Helping families across Bracknell and the Bracknell Forest borough. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Bracknell or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Maidenhead

Working with clients in Maidenhead and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Maidenhead or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Windsor

Supporting families in Windsor and the surrounding Royal Borough. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Windsor or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Wokingham

Serving clients across Wokingham and its surrounding villages. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Wokingham or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Newbury

Affordable McKenzie Friend support for families across Newbury and West Berkshire. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Newbury or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Sandhurst

Helping clients in Sandhurst and the Bracknell Forest area. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Sandhurst or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Crowthorne

Supporting families in Crowthorne and the surrounding villages. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Crowthorne or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Thatcham

Working with clients across Thatcham and the West Berkshire area. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Thatcham or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Ascot

Serving families in Ascot and the surrounding Royal Borough. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Ascot or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Woodley

Accessible support for clients in Woodley and the Wokingham borough. If you’re searching for a McKenzie Friend in Woodley or need family law support for a Berkshire family court hearing, we’re here to help.

Don’t see your town listed? Don’t worry.

If you’re anywhere in Berkshire — or in a neighbouring county like Surrey or Hampshire — get in touch and we’ll let you know how we can support you. You can also explore our Surrey family law page and Hampshire family law page for more information.

20+

years of experience in law

How We Work

Flexible Support That Fits Around You

We know that when you’re going through a difficult family situation, the last thing you need is more logistical stress. That’s why Shield Family Law is designed to be as accessible and flexible as possible — built around you, your schedule, and your case.

The majority of our work is carried out online, via video call or phone. This means you can access expert McKenzie Friend support from wherever you are in Berkshire — at home, in your lunch break, after the school run. No need to take time off work or travel to an office. Everything is handled securely and confidentially, at a time that works for you.

Remote support covers everything from your first free consultation through to help with court forms, document preparation, case strategy, and hearing preparation. Most clients find that the bulk of what they need can be done entirely online — and at a significantly lower cost as a result.

Where in-person support is needed or preferred, we can arrange this too. Whether you’d like to sit down face-to-face to go through paperwork, prepare for a hearing, or simply feel more comfortable meeting in person, we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

In-person meetings can be arranged at a location convenient to you across Berkshire — we’re flexible and will always try to find a solution that works.

Court hearings are often the part of the process that people dread the most. The unfamiliar environment, the formal language, the pressure of presenting your case clearly while emotions are running high — it’s a lot to handle on your own.

As your McKenzie Friend, Lee will attend court hearings with you in person. He can sit beside you throughout the hearing, take notes, pass you written guidance, help you stay focused, and — with the permission of the judge — speak on limited points on your behalf.

We attend family courts across Berkshire, including Reading Family Court and other hearing centres throughout the county. Knowing you have an experienced, calm presence beside you on the day can make an enormous difference to how you feel — and how you perform.

We offer fixed fees for some of our services and hourly rates for others, and for any work you need we’ll always provide a clear project quote upfront — so you know exactly what you’re committing to before we begin. No shock invoices. No costs creeping up in the background.
Shield Family Law Support

Looking for a McKenzie Friend in Berkshire? Let’s Talk.

Whether you’re searching for an affordable McKenzie Friend in Reading, court support in Slough, child custody help in Bracknell, or divorce guidance in Maidenhead — Shield Family Law is here to help. We provide low-cost, expert McKenzie Friend support to families across the whole of Berkshire, including Windsor, Wokingham, Newbury, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Thatcham, Ascot, and Woodley.

Our clients come to us when they feel lost in the family law system, when solicitor fees feel out of reach, or when they simply want someone experienced and trustworthy by their side. We offer practical support for divorce and separation, child arrangements, financial settlements, non-molestation orders, prohibited steps orders, and representing yourself in the Berkshire family courts.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. And you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the help you deserve. Take the first step today — book your free, no-obligation virtual consultation with Shield Family Law and let’s talk about how we can help you move forward.

People discussing financial settlement Shield Family Law

Book a Free Virtual Consultation — No Obligation

Ready to find out how Shield Family Law can help you? Book a FREE virtual consultation today. We’ll listen, answer your questions honestly, and help you understand your options — before you commit to anything.

Lee is extraordinarily talented at his job because he knows from experience what it is to stand up for oneself when the perpetrator and courts are against you.

Becky, Woking

SFL has been helping us navigate through the most complex of cases and has been fantastic with his balanced viewpoint, legal advice and strategic planning.

Jodi W

They been a breath of fresh air and taken so much of the stress out of my ongoing financial divorce hearings. He is always available to give you advice and point you in the right direction. Honest, fair and doesn't rip you off like big corporate companies, with Lee you get that personal touch, like you’re his only client. I’d definitely recommend him in a heartbeat and although my case is still ongoing, he’s saved me a fortune already.

Mark, Staines

I'd love to share a bit about my experience, especially how much it meant to me that you personally supported me even beyond just the usual legal advice. Your presence at the court hearing and the way you stood by me during that stressful day really made me feel stronger, safer, and not alone. I’m truly grateful for how you gave advice, even outside of standard hours when I was really anxious. It made a huge difference and I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate it.

Rasuole J

I can not thank enough for having Lee on my side through my most difficult journey. He helped me to understand Law, to keep myself calm and be prepared for hearings. He answered all questions I had and most importantly I felt heard and listened. The support, knowledge and understanding are amazing. Highly recommended!

Reda, Leicster

Lee is very professional in his work. Everything is done very quickly and with great quality. He always answers all my questions fast and helps with any issue. He is honest and truly loves his job. I highly recommend Lee to anyone who is looking for quick and professional legal help and support.

Jonas, London

Shield family law is the future of legal representation in the family law field. Traditional solicitors are dinosaurs in comparison, often not giving a flying monkeys about your children. Your case or your finances. They don’t even care if you win, often just trying to squeeze every penny. Shield family law provide something different they provide an effective solution to being a litigant in person that being an effective litigant in person you know the case best.Shield family law facilitates that with appropriate legal advice at the right time leaving traditional solicitors with their vested interests floundering in the background.

Andy L, Oxfordshire

I’m so grateful to Lee and the team at Shield Family Law for making my divorce process so much less stressful. Lee was patient, kind, and explained everything in a way that made it all feel manageable. What could have been overwhelming became so much easier with his support and understanding. Thank you, Lee, for helping me move forward with confidence.

Natalia, Oxford