Cafcass and section 7 reports, what to expect

Cafcass advises the family court about children. When parents can't agree child arrangements and the case goes past the first hearing, the court can ask a Cafcass Family Court Adviser to write a section 7 report. The adviser speaks to each parent, usually talks to the child, checks with people such as the school, and recommends what would be best for the child. The judge then decides, giving the report a lot of weight but not bound by it.

Being assessed as a parent by a stranger is daunting, especially when you're already worn down by the dispute. Knowing what the adviser is looking for, and what happens with their report, makes it much easier to get through. If you're at the start of the process, our guide to applying for a child arrangements order explains the steps up to the first hearing.

Who are Cafcass?

Cafcass is the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. It's independent of the courts, social services and both parents, and its job is to advise the family court about what's best for children. In Wales the same role is carried out by Cafcass Cymru. The people who work on cases are called Family Court Advisers, and most are qualified social workers.

The court can ask Cafcass, Cafcass Cymru or a local authority for a welfare report (Children Act 1989, section 7). If a local authority social worker is already involved with your family, the court may ask them to write it instead (Cafcass policy).

A Family Court Adviser can explain the process and answer questions about your case, but can't give you legal advice.

What does Cafcass do before the first hearing?

Once your application has been issued, Cafcass carries out safeguarding checks before the first hearing (Cafcass):

• Checks with the police and the local authority for any information about risks to the children.
• A phone call with each parent, separately, about any concerns for the children's safety. The children aren't spoken to at this stage.
• A safeguarding letter to the court, setting out what the checks found and what the adviser recommends happens next.

Take the phone call seriously. Be honest about any concerns, including domestic abuse, and say if you need to speak at a time and place where you can talk safely. At the first hearing the court uses the letter to decide whether the case can be settled, whether a fact-finding hearing is needed about any allegations, and whether to order a section 7 report.

What happens in a section 7 report?

If the case goes beyond the first hearing, the court can ask a Family Court Adviser to look into the issues you disagree about and advise on your child's best interests. This is the section 7 report. The court tells the adviser which questions to cover, and sets a date for the report to be filed. In Cafcass's own example of a typical case, the court gave 12 weeks (Cafcass).

During that time the adviser will usually (Cafcass):

• meet each parent, or other carers, to hear their views and concerns
• write to your child to introduce themselves, then talk to them alone, often somewhere neutral such as school
• observe babies and young children with each parent
• speak to other people who know the family, such as teachers, health workers and relatives
• share their thinking with you, and with your child, before filing the report

Children aren't asked to decide their arrangements or to choose between their parents. They're asked about their life, what matters to them and how they feel. In most cases you'll see the report before the court hearing.

If the adviser becomes worried that a child is at risk of harm at any point, they must carry out a risk assessment and give it to the court (Children Act 1989, section 16A).

The adviser isn't deciding who the better parent is. They're working out what your child needs, and how the adults can give it to them.

What does the adviser look at?

The court and the adviser both work from the welfare checklist in the Children Act (Children Act 1989, section 1(3)):

• your child's wishes and feelings, in light of their age and understanding
• their physical, emotional and educational needs
• the likely effect of any change in their circumstances
• their age, sex, background and any other relevant characteristics
• any harm they have suffered or are at risk of suffering
• how capable each parent, and anyone else relevant, is of meeting their needs
• the range of orders the court can make

The child's welfare is the court's paramount consideration. The law also currently presumes that each parent's involvement in a child's life is good for them, unless that would put the child at risk (section 1(2A)). The government plans to remove that presumption through the Courts and Tribunals Bill. Until it becomes law and comes into force, the presumption still applies. Our guide on support for dads has the latest on the bill.

How can you prepare for Cafcass?

• Keep the focus on your child. Talk about their routines, school, friends, health and what they need from each of you, rather than the history of the relationship.
• Be specific and factual. If you have concerns, give dates, what happened and any evidence, such as messages, school reports or medical letters. Stick to what you know rather than what you suspect.
• Show you support your child's relationship with the other parent, where it's safe. Advisers notice whether a parent can put their own feelings aside.
• Don't coach your child or ask them what they said. Tell them it's fine to be honest, and that they won't be in trouble with anyone for what they say.
• Be on time and keep appointments. If you can't make one, let the adviser know straight away.
• Make a note of each conversation with the adviser: the date, what you discussed and anything they asked you to do.
• Say what you need. If you need an interpreter, have a disability, or don't feel safe being in the same place as the other parent, tell the adviser at the start.

Our guides to talking to your children about divorce and co-parenting have ideas for keeping things steady for your child while the case goes on.

What if you disagree with the report?

You can't appeal a section 7 report itself, and Cafcass's complaints process can't look at challenges to an adviser's assessment or recommendation. Disagreements go through the court, so the judge knows about them (Cafcass complaints).

• Factual mistakes, such as wrong names, dates or events, should go to the adviser or their manager as soon as you see the report.
• Disagreement with the analysis or recommendation should go to the court. Write a short statement or position statement explaining what you disagree with and why, pointing to the evidence. Stay measured: attacking the adviser rarely helps.
• Ask for the adviser to attend the hearing. If the case goes to a contested hearing, the court can direct the adviser to attend so they can be asked questions about their report, including by a parent representing themselves.
• The judge decides. Judges give Cafcass recommendations a lot of weight, but they aren't bound by them. A judge who reaches a different decision has to explain why.

Complaints about how the adviser behaved, such as not returning calls or being rude, can go through the Cafcass complaints process. If you're unhappy with the court's final decision, that's a matter for an appeal, and you'd need legal advice quickly because the time limits are short.

What's different in a Child Focused Court?

Some family courts now use the Child Focused Court model, which began as the "Pathfinder" pilot in North Wales and Dorset in 2022. In March 2026 it was running in 10 of the 43 court areas, including all of Wales, and it's being rolled out across England (Ministry of Justice). In these areas more work happens before the first hearing: Cafcass, Cafcass Cymru or the local authority prepares a Child Impact Report, which looks at how the dispute is affecting your child and includes their views early on. The aim is fewer hearings and quicker decisions. Our guide to applying for a child arrangements order lists which areas use it.

Where can you get help?

A family solicitor can help you prepare for Cafcass interviews, respond to a report and put questions to the adviser at a hearing. If money is tight, legal aid may be available with evidence of domestic abuse or child abuse. Advicenow has free guides for parents going through children cases without a lawyer, and Support Through Court can help you prepare for hearings.

If you or your child are in danger, call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) and the Men's Advice Line (0808 801 0327) can help. Childline (0800 1111) is there for children who want to talk to someone.

Common questions

Sources

1. Cafcass, The court asks an FCA to write a report if your case goes beyond first hearing (section 7 reports)
2. Cafcass, Overview of our involvement with you as you go through the court process
3. Cafcass, Feedback and complaints
4. Cafcass, Policy on whether Cafcass or a local authority should prepare a section 7 report
5. Cafcass, Annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024
6. legislation.gov.uk, Children Act 1989, section 1
7. legislation.gov.uk, Children Act 1989, section 7
8. legislation.gov.uk, Children Act 1989, section 16A
9. Ministry of Justice, Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally (17 March 2026)

Keep reading

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws, fees and figures change, so check the sources above and speak to a qualified professional about your situation. Facts checked 6 November 2026.