Terms

Terms of business

For McKenzie friend support in England and Wales. Effective from 30 October 2026.

These terms apply when you use Dad's Compass, run by Chelsea Wilkinson as a sole trader. "I" and "me" mean Chelsea. "You" means the person I'm supporting. If we agree something different in writing for a particular piece of work, that agreement applies to that work.

1. What I do, and what I can't do

I'm a McKenzie friend. I'm not a solicitor or barrister, and I'm not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board. I don't give regulated legal advice or act as your legal representative.

Depending on what we agree, I can help you understand the court process, organise your papers, help you draft or check documents using the information you give me, come to hearings with you, take notes, and quietly help you in court.

I can't conduct your case for you. That means I can't sign, issue, file or serve court documents for you, make applications in your name, or speak in court unless the judge allows it. The judge decides whether I can sit with you at a hearing.

2. Your part

• It's your case, and the decisions are yours.
• Give me accurate and complete information, and tell me about deadlines and hearing dates as soon as you know them.
• Read and check every document I help with before you sign, send or file it. You're responsible for what it says and for getting it to the court and the other side on time.
• Follow court orders and deadlines.

I can't promise any particular outcome in your case.

3. Fees and payment

My prices are shown on this website. Before I start any work, I'll confirm what's included and what it costs. Payment is normally due before the work or hearing, unless we agree otherwise.

A fee covers only the work described. Extra calls, document changes, preparation, travel or court time are charged separately unless I've said they're included. I'll always agree any extra cost with you before I spend it.

4. Phone calls and missed calls

For phone appointments, including the free 30-minute call, please give me the right number and make sure your phone is on at the agreed time.

I'll call at the agreed time. If you don't answer, I'll try again at least five minutes later and leave a voicemail if I can. I keep a note of my attempts. If I still can't reach you, the appointment counts as missed. For a paid appointment, I may keep a fair part of the fee for the time I set aside, subject to your legal rights. If you think something went wrong with my calls, let me know quickly so I can look into it.

If I can't make a call because of a problem on my side, I'll rearrange it or refund you.

5. Cancelling or rearranging

If you need to cancel or move an appointment, tell me as soon as you can. What I keep, if anything, depends on work already done, costs I can't get back, how much notice you give, and whether I can fill the time. I won't charge more than is fair.

If I cancel, I'll offer another time or refund you for anything I haven't done.

6. Your 14-day right to cancel

If we agree a service online, by phone or by email, you usually have 14 days to change your mind. Just tell me clearly that you want to cancel. If I haven't started, you'll get a full refund.

If you ask me to start within those 14 days, for example because a hearing is close, I'll ask you to confirm that. If you then cancel, you may have to pay for the work already done. Once the service has been fully provided, the right to cancel ends.

7. Court attendance

My court fee reserves the date or dates we agree. Travel and any other costs are agreed with you in advance.

If I come to court as agreed but the judge doesn't allow me to help you for some or all of the hearing, you still pay for the work, travel and attendance already done, and any costs I can't get back. For any later days you've booked, I'll refund what you've paid beyond my reasonable costs and losses, and explain the sums if you ask.

If I don't attend as agreed because of a problem on my side, I'll refund the attendance fee.

8. Confidentiality and your information

I keep information about you and your case confidential. I only share it when you ask me to, when I need to in order to do the agreed work, or when the law requires or allows it. Court papers about children are only shared as the Family Procedure Rules allow. My privacy notice explains how I handle your information. Please take care when sending sensitive documents by email.

9. Ending our work together

You can stop working with me at any time by telling me in writing.

I may stop helping you if you're abusive, ask me to do something unlawful or outside a McKenzie friend's role, don't pay an agreed fee, or the court stops me being involved. I'll explain why where I can. I'll refund anything you've paid beyond a fair charge for work done and costs already incurred.

10. Complaints

If you're unhappy with my service, please email compassdads@gmail.com and tell me what went wrong. I'll look into it and reply within 14 days.

11. My responsibility

I'll provide the agreed service with reasonable care and skill. Nothing in these terms takes away your legal rights as a consumer, or limits any responsibility that the law doesn't allow me to limit.

12. The law that applies

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and any dispute will be dealt with by the courts of England and Wales.