My Story
Why I Become a McKenzie Friend

My name is Coreen McKenzie, and the reason I became a McKenzie Friend is deeply personal.

Long before I ever considered supporting other people through difficult situations, I had experienced some of those difficulties myself.

Earlier in my life, I experienced a very difficult and damaging relationship involving domestic abuse. I know what it can feel like to live with fear, uncertainty and control, and how difficult it can be to find your voice when you have spent so long feeling as though it has been taken away from you.

Leaving that chapter of my life behind and rebuilding wasn’t something that happened overnight. But it gave me an understanding that has stayed with me ever since: behind every application, statement and court case is a real person, often going through one of the most frightening and emotional periods of their life.

My life eventually changed enormously when I met my partner, Sharna. Together, we built a loving and stable family life — and then another journey began.

Our Family Court Journey

Several years ago, Sharna and I found ourselves navigating the family court system to secure the stability, safety and future of a child we love dearly, Liam.

We weren’t lawyers. We didn’t have a legal background. We were simply a family trying to do what we believed was right for a child.

Suddenly, we were faced with court forms, applications, statements, evidence, hearings and procedures we had never encountered before.

The paperwork seemed endless. The terminology was confusing. Letters arrived that created more questions than answers, and we quickly discovered just how expensive traditional legal representation could be.

So we learned.

We spent countless hours reading guidance, understanding procedures, completing applications, preparing statements, organising evidence and attending hearings.

We learned the importance of being prepared. We learned how to present information clearly, how to stay organised and, above all, how intimidating the family court system can feel when you don’t       understand what happens next.

Thankfully, our journey had a positive outcome. Today, Liam remains at the very heart of our family.

But the experience changed me.

Turning Experience Into Support for Others

Between my own experience of domestic abuse and our family’s experience of navigating the family court system, I began to recognise how many people are trying to cope with incredibly difficult             circumstances  without the support or financial resources they need.         

Some are parents desperately trying to understand a Child Arrangements application.

Some are experiencing domestic abuse or coercive and controlling behaviour and don’t know where to begin.

Others are representing themselves in court because they simply cannot afford thousands of pounds in legal fees.

Often, they don’t need somebody to make them feel more intimidated by complicated terminology.

They need somebody to listen.

Somebody to help them understand the process.

Somebody to help organise the paperwork, prepare their documents and make sure they walk into the next stage feeling prepared rather than completely lost.

That is why I chose to become a McKenzie Friend.

I provide practical, professional and affordable support to people representing themselves, including assistance with court forms and applications, statements, document preparation, evidence organisation, hearing preparation and understanding court procedures.

I have a particular understanding of matters involving domestic abuse and coercive control, because I understand personally how frightening and isolating those circumstances can be.

I am not a solicitor or barrister, and I will always be transparent about the role of a McKenzie Friend and the support I am permitted to provide.

What I can offer is practical support, preparation, understanding and compassion — together with real-life experience of navigating some incredibly difficult circumstances.

When somebody contacts me frightened, confused or unsure where to start, my aim is simple:

To help you understand what comes next, feel properly prepared and know that you don’t have to navigate the process completely alone.

Because sometimes, having someone in your corner can make all the difference.