Applying for a child arrangements order yourself

To apply for a child arrangements order without a solicitor, you usually go to a mediation meeting called a MIAM first, then fill in form C100 online or on paper and pay a £270 court fee, or ask for Help with Fees. Cafcass then runs safety checks, and the court holds a first hearing to see what you can agree.

Plenty of parents do this on their own. In just over half of the children cases the family court finished between April and June 2026, neither parent had a lawyer. This guide takes you through each step, what it costs and what to expect at court.

What is a child arrangements order?

A child arrangements order is a court order that says who a child lives with, who they spend time with, and when. It can also cover other contact, such as phone or video calls. The same application form, C100, is used to ask for two related orders: a specific issue order, which settles one question such as which school a child goes to, and a prohibited steps order, which stops a parent doing something, such as taking a child out of the country (GOV.UK).

The court's paramount consideration is the child's welfare (Children Act 1989, section 1). There's no rule that children split their time equally. A judge or magistrates will only make an order if they think it's better for the child than making no order at all.

Court is for when agreement has failed or isn't safe. If you haven't tried yet, our guide to agreeing child arrangements without court covers parenting plans and other options.

Do I have to go to mediation before applying?

Usually, yes. Before you apply you normally need to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) with an accredited family mediator. It costs around £120 per person unless you qualify for legal aid (GOV.UK). You don't have to go on to mediate, and if your ex doesn't attend you can still apply. Your application needs to show that you went, or that an exemption applies.

You usually don't need a MIAM if (GOV.UK):

• you have evidence that you're a victim of domestic abuse
• the application is urgent, for example because you or your child are in danger
• your children are at risk of harm
• you've been to a MIAM or tried another way of resolving things outside court in the last 4 months
• you're applying for a consent order, because you've already agreed
• you can't attend because of where you live, your situation or no mediator being available
• you're asking for a hearing without the other parent being told first (a "without notice" hearing)

If you do go on to mediate, the government's Family Mediation Voucher Scheme can contribute up to £500 towards mediation in cases about children, though it doesn't cover the MIAM itself. Our guide to what mediation costs explains how the voucher works and what sessions typically cost.

How do I fill in form C100?

You can apply online or by post. GOV.UK's online service lets you save your application and come back to it, and you have 28 days to finish once you've started. If you apply on paper, you send the court your original C100 and 3 copies (GOV.UK).

Before you start, have these to hand:

• your children's full names and dates of birth
• the other parent's name, address and contact details, if you know them
• your MIAM certificate, or the exemption that applies to you
• a clear idea of the order you're asking for and the arrangements you're proposing
• details of any other court cases involving your children
• your Help with Fees reference number, if you've applied for help with the fee

Two extra forms matter if there are safety concerns. If you answer yes to any of the questions about harm or domestic abuse, you also complete form C1A, which tells the court what has happened. If you don't want the other parent to see your address or phone number, leave them off the C100 and use form C8 to give them to the court confidentially (GOV.UK, Children Act forms).

Write as if a stranger is reading. Keep the focus on what your child needs, rather than on what went wrong between you and your ex. A judge will read many of these, and a short, factual account carries more weight than a long one.

How much does it cost to apply for a child arrangements order?

The court fee is £270. It went up from £263 on 13 July 2026 (GOV.UK).

Sources: GOV.UK fees list (EX50) and GOV.UK. Our full list of family court fees has every fee in one place.

If you're on certain benefits or a low income, you may not have to pay some or all of the fee. Our guide to Help with Fees explains who qualifies and how to apply. You may also get legal aid for a solicitor, for example if you're on a low income or you're a victim of domestic abuse (GOV.UK).

What happens after you apply?

Once the court issues your application, it sends a copy to Cafcass, the service that advises the family court about children. In Wales, the same role is played by Cafcass Cymru. In most courts, the steps run in this order (Cafcass):

1. Safeguarding checks. Cafcass checks with the police and the local authority for any concerns about the children's safety.
2. A phone call with each parent. A Family Court Adviser usually speaks to you and the other parent separately. Your children aren't spoken to at this stage.
3. A safeguarding letter. At least three days before the first hearing, Cafcass sends the court a short report on its checks and any concerns.
4. The first hearing. This is often called the FHDRA, short for first hearing dispute resolution appointment. The judge or magistrates find out what you agree on and what you don't, and whether your child is at risk in any way (GOV.UK). If there are no safety concerns, the Cafcass adviser may help you reach an agreement on the day.

If you agree and there are no welfare concerns, the court can make an order there and then. If you can't agree, the court sets a timetable. It may ask you to try mediation again, send you both on a course called Planning Together for Children, or ask Cafcass for a fuller report on your child's welfare, called a section 7 report. That report can involve speaking to your child. Further hearings follow, and if you still can't agree, a final hearing where the court hears evidence and decides.

Most of the court's early work is about safety. The question it keeps coming back to is what your child needs.

How long does a child arrangements order take?

Private law children cases took an average of 33 weeks to finish in April to June 2026, and 52% were finished within 26 weeks. Courts started 14,833 new cases in that quarter, 11% more than a year earlier (Ministry of Justice). Cases that settle at the first hearing finish much sooner. Cases with safety concerns, reports or a fact-finding hearing take longer.

What if my court is a Child Focused Court?

Some family courts now use a different process, called the Child Focused Court model (it began as a "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, Birmingham and the West Midlands, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and West Yorkshire. The next eight areas to adopt it, during 2026 to 2027, are Northumbria and North Durham, Cleveland and South Durham, Lancashire, Cumbria, York and North Yorkshire, Cheshire and Merseyside, Northamptonshire, and Coventry and Warwickshire (Ministry of Justice).

The main difference is that more work happens before the first hearing. Cafcass, Cafcass Cymru or the local authority prepares a Child Impact Report so the court can see early on how the dispute is affecting your child, and there's more emphasis on hearing from children directly (Judiciary). Cafcass has a page explaining the process for families in these areas.

Representing yourself at court

Advicenow, an independent charity, publishes a detailed step-by-step guide, How to apply for a child arrangements order without a lawyer, updated in September 2026. It covers England, and Advicenow has a separate version for Child Focused Courts.

Even if you represent yourself, an hour with a family solicitor before the first hearing can help you see the strengths and weaknesses of your position. Many offer fixed-fee advice for single stages. If talking to your ex is the hardest part, our guide to dealing with a difficult ex may help.

If there's domestic abuse

Your safety and your children's come first. You won't usually need a MIAM, you may get legal aid, and you can tell the court about the abuse on form C1A and keep your address private with form C8.

• In an emergency, call 999. If you can't speak, press 55 when prompted on a mobile.
• The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) is free and open 24 hours. Men can call the Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 (GOV.UK).
• In Wales, Live Fear Free is free and open 24 hours on 0808 80 10 800 (Welsh Government).
• Samaritans are there for anyone, any time, on 116 123.

Turn an agreement into a plan

If you reach agreement, at mediation or at the first hearing, the co-parenting planner helps you write down the detail: the fortnightly routine, holidays, handovers and how you'll make decisions.

See the co-parenting planner£12, instant download

Common questions

Sources

1. GOV.UK, Making child arrangements if you divorce or separate: apply for a court order
2. GOV.UK, After you apply for a court order
3. GOV.UK, Family court fees (EX50), updated 13 July 2026
4. GOV.UK, Court and tribunal fees: updates from July 2026
5. GOV.UK, Get help paying court and tribunal fees
6. GOV.UK, Family Mediation Voucher Scheme
7. GOV.UK, Children Act forms (C100, C1A, C8)
8. Children Act 1989, section 1 (legislation.gov.uk)
9. Cafcass, Our involvement as you go through the court process
10. Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: April to June 2026
11. Ministry of Justice, Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally (17 March 2026)
12. Judiciary of England and Wales, Judges welcome roll-out of Child Focused Courts (17 March 2026)
13. Advicenow, How to apply for a child arrangements order without a lawyer (September 2026)
14. GOV.UK, Domestic abuse: how to get help

Keep reading

This guide is general information about family law, not legal advice. Laws, fees and figures change, so check the sources above and speak to a qualified professional about your situation. Facts checked 20 October 2026.