Guide

Video and phone hearings in the family court: how to join and prepare

Some family court hearings take place by video or telephone. This guide explains how you are told to join, how to prepare your device and room, and what to do if something goes wrong.

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How you find out

The court rules allow the court to hold a hearing by telephone or other means of direct oral communication. The court can also allow a witness to give evidence by video link.

The court will tell you if your hearing is by video or telephone and explain how to join. Check the information it has sent you for contact details.

Many courts use the Cloud Video Platform, often called CVP. It works in a web browser, like other video meeting services. For a CVP hearing, the court sends you an email with the web address of the video room.

Test your device early

The court may ask you to check that you can join before the hearing. Do this as soon as you can, so the hearing is not delayed.

The GOV.UK guidance on joining CVP has a test call. It lets you check your camera, microphone and speakers.

GOV.UK recommends a laptop or desktop computer. Use an up-to-date version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. CVP does not work in Internet Explorer.

If you have any problem joining or testing, tell the court straight away.

Choose a quiet, private room

Choose a space that is quiet and private. Tell anyone you live with that you must not be interrupted.

You must be alone unless the court has given permission otherwise. Judicial guidance recognises that what is said may not be suitable for children to hear, so plan for them to be elsewhere.

If a child or someone else comes into the room unexpectedly, unmute and tell the judge. The judge can pause the hearing.

If you cannot find a private space at home, contact the court before the hearing to explain.

No recording

It is a criminal offence to record the video or sound of a hearing yourself. You must also not take photos or screenshots.

CVP shows a warning about recording when you join. Doing any of these things can be a contempt of court, with serious consequences.

You can take written notes.

Have your documents ready

Before the hearing, check you can easily reach every document you will need on the day. This usually includes the court bundle, your own statements and your notes.

If you only have a phone, reading an electronic bundle on screen may be hard. Consider printing the pages you need, or tell the judge what device you are using.

When someone refers to a page, it is fine to say you have not found it yet.

During the hearing

Mute your microphone when you are not speaking. CVP focuses on the device making the most sound.

The judge will usually explain the order of events, when breaks will be taken and how to show you want to speak.

Tell the judge straight away if you lose sound or picture. You should not feel embarrassed about this.

If the link fails

If you cannot join, or you are cut off, use the helpdesk details in the GOV.UK CVP guidance. If they cannot fix it, tell the court immediately using the contact details on your hearing information.

For a telephone hearing, use the court's contact details in the information it sent you.

Keep that information next to you during the hearing so you can act quickly.

Asking for an in-person hearing or adjustments

You can ask the court in advance for special arrangements or measures. The court will consider your needs.

The judge decides whether a hearing goes ahead remotely. Judicial guidance says judges should listen to the parties' views.

If you want a different format, or need an adjustment, contact the court as early as possible. If a formal request is needed, it is usually made using form C2 in children cases or form D11 in financial cases.

Where a party or witness may be vulnerable, the court must consider participation directions. These can include giving evidence by live link.

Key dates

As soon as the court asksCheck that you can join the video platform and test your camera, microphone and speakers.Source: official page (external source, opens in a new tab)
Before the hearingAsk the court for any special arrangements or measures you need, and check you can reach your documents.Source: official page (external source, opens in a new tab)
If you cannot join or are cut offContact the helpdesk, then tell the court immediately if it cannot be fixed.Source: official page (external source, opens in a new tab)

Get organised with Wren Family

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Common questions

How do I get the link for a video hearing?

The court tells you how to join. For a CVP hearing, it sends an email with the web address of the video room.

Can someone sit with me during a video hearing?

You must be alone unless the court has given permission. If you want someone with you, ask the court before the hearing.

What if my internet drops during the hearing?

Try to rejoin. If you cannot, contact the helpdesk or tell the court immediately using the contact details it gave you.

Can I record a video hearing for my own notes?

No. Recording the video or sound yourself, or taking photos or screenshots, is a criminal offence. You can take written notes.

Can I ask for my hearing to be in person instead?

You can ask the court. The judge decides the format and should listen to the parties' views. Contact the court as early as possible.

Where these facts come from

These are the official rules and pages this page is based on. They are listed so you can check a detail for yourself; you do not need them to use Wren. They are outside Wren and open in a new tab.

Last checked against its sources on 7 October 2026. How we check our pages.