Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Centre

What family cases does Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Centre deal with?

HM Courts and Tribunals Service lists this court for:

• Children cases, where parents or relatives ask the court to decide arrangements for a child, such as who they live with and when they see each parent. See how to apply for a child arrangements order without a solicitor and form C100.
• Divorce, dissolution and judicial separation. New divorce applications go to the central HMCTS divorce service, not to this court, but a local court can hear a divorce case that needs a judge, for example if it is disputed.
• Financial remedy: court orders about money, property and pensions when you divorce, including hearings when a couple can't agree. See Form A and our guide to Form E.
• Adoption, including applications by step-parents.
• Protection from domestic abuse: non-molestation orders and occupation orders, which have no court fee. Our directory of domestic abuse support lists free helplines.
• Forced marriage protection orders.
• Female genital mutilation (FGM) protection orders.
• The Child Focused Court model (formerly called Pathfinder) for children cases, where Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru speaks to the child and reports before the first hearing.

The building also deals with bankruptcy, business and property cases, High Court district registry work, housing possession, immigration, money claims and social security appeals, so you may share the waiting areas and security queue with people attending other kinds of case.

Do I need to go to Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Centre for my divorce?

Usually not. Divorce applications in England and Wales go to the HMCTS divorce service, which deals with them online or by post at HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution Service, PO Box 13226, Harlow, CM20 9UG. Its helpline is 0300 303 0642, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm (GOV.UK). Most undefended divorces finish without anyone going to a court building.

You're more likely to come to a local court if you ask a judge to decide arrangements for your children or how to split money and property, or if you apply for protection from domestic abuse. Our step-by-step guide to divorce explains each stage.

How long are children cases taking here?

Children cases between parents or relatives in the Birmingham area took a median of 19.1 weeks from application to final order in April to June 2026, up from 15.4 weeks a year earlier. That is quicker than the median of 24.7 weeks across England and Wales. 62% of cases finished within 26 weeks. At the end of June 2026, 706 children cases were still open in the Birmingham area, and 8% of those had been open for more than a year.

Private law children cases finished in April to June 2026. Source: Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: April to June 2026, published 24 September 2026, "Children Act 26 Weeks" and "Open Caseload" data files.

Family courts are grouped into Designated Family Judge areas, each led by a senior family judge. The Ministry of Justice publishes waiting times for each area, and we've matched Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Centre to the Birmingham area by its location. Cases can be moved between courts, so treat these as a guide to your area rather than to this building.

The Ministry of Justice doesn't publish waiting times by area for divorce or financial cases, because divorce applications are handled centrally. Our family court waiting times tracker has the national figures for every kind of case.

How do I contact Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Centre?

These are the family contacts HM Courts and Tribunals Service publishes for this court. Have your case number ready if you have one.

Phone

• 0121 681 3010
  Counter appointments: Emergency Family appointment bookings
• 0300 123 5577
  Enquiries: National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm
• 0300 303 0642
  Enquiries: Divorce Contact Centre, Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm
• 0121 285 2080
  Support through court: An independent charity

Email

• [email protected]
  Listing: Applications and associated correspondence. Orders and associated correspondence. Listing and associated correspondence.
• [email protected]
  Family court
• [email protected]
  Financial Remedy
• [email protected]
  Support through court
• [email protected]
  Adoption
• [email protected]
  Enquiries: (Pathfinder Including C100 & C79 applications)

Opening hours

• Court open: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
• Counter open: By prior appointment only 10:00am to 14:00pm (except High Court and Administrative Court 10:00am to 16:00pm)
• Telephone enquiries answered: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

HM Courts and Tribunals Service warns that scammers are copying court phone numbers and email addresses to ask for payment. If you're not sure a call or email is genuine, don't pay anything, and report it to Action Fraud.

Accessibility and facilities

This is what HM Courts and Tribunals Service lists for the building. If you need an adjustment, such as a hearing loop, step-free access or a quiet room, contact the court before your hearing day.

• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network: Lanyards available on request.
• Parking: Closest multi-story parking facilities are in Newton Street and Albert Street, approx 5 minutes walk away.
• Disabled access: Wheelchair access in to the building, lifts to all floors.
• Assistance dogs: Assistance dogs are welcome.
• Hearing Loop: The building has hearing enhancement facilities available by prior arrangement. Please contact the Court office by telephone or email if necessary.
• Security arch: We have a security arch. Please alert the security officer if you have a pacemaker. For safety and security, all users and their possessions will be searched by security when they enter the building.
• Disabled toilet: Located on every floor.
• Refreshments: Refreshments are available via vending machine on 1st, 2nd and 6th floors. Water is available on all floors.
• Interview room: Interview rooms are available on all floors.
• Baby changing facility: Baby changing facilities are available in the disabled toilets on the 2nd floor
• Prayer / Quiet room: Located 4th floor.
• Video facilities: Court/hearing room video facilities and prison to court video link facilities are available by prior arrangement. Please contact the court by telephone or email to let us know of your requirements.
• Wireless network connection: This court has wireless internet access available.

No separate waiting room is listed. If you're worried about seeing your ex at court, tell the court in advance: you can ask for measures such as separate waiting areas, different arrival times or a screen in the courtroom.

Where can I get help with a case at this court?

Support Through Court, an independent charity that helps people who go to court without a lawyer, lists a contact for this court: 0121 285 2080 or [email protected].

If you're going to court without a lawyer, free guides from Advicenow and Citizens Advice explain what happens at each hearing. For children cases in England, Cafcass advises the court on what is best for your child. You can also ask a family solicitor for a single fixed-fee appointment to prepare, or try mediation before or alongside court.

Family solicitors and mediators near Birmingham

These professionals list an office in or near Birmingham. Labels show whether a listing is paid; most are listed from public information. How we make money.

See divorce solicitors in the West Midlands and family mediation in the West Midlands, with local costs.