Children · Guide

After a child arrangements order: following, changing or enforcing it

A child arrangements order is legally binding and everyone named in it must follow it. It can be changed by a new agreement made into a consent order, by a court application, or enforced if it is broken.

Starting a case
Responding to a case

How long it takes, and what it would cost

On your own: An hour or so
With Wren: About 10 minutes
Solicitor for each order: £120 to £250half an hour to an hour

Times and hours are Wren’s estimates for a typical case, not quotes. Solicitor costs are those hours at £247 an hour, the courts’ guideline rate for a solicitor with over four years’ experience, outside London (GOV.UK, Solicitors' guideline hourly rates (in effect from 1 January 2026)). The guideline runs from £200 to £295 an hour outside London depending on experience, firms set their own rates, and VAT is added on top.

What the order means

A court order is a legally binding decision. It sets out the arrangements you and the other parent must follow.

Cafcass's role ends when the proceedings end. If you are worried about your child's care afterwards, Cafcass suggests contacting the child's social worker if they have one. In an emergency, call 999.

Changing the arrangements by agreement

You can both agree to do something different from the order. GOV.UK says you will not be able to enforce that new agreement unless you make it legally binding.

To make it binding, you can draft a consent order covering the new agreement and ask the court to approve it.

Asking the court to change or end the order

If you cannot agree, you can ask the court to change (vary) the order. GOV.UK says to use Form C100 to end (discharge) an order that is no longer working or relevant.

The fee for a C100 is £270. Help with Fees may reduce this if you are on benefits or a low income.

The MIAM rules apply to most new applications about a child, unless an exemption applies. An application for a consent order is exempt.

If the order is not being followed

Cafcass suggests trying to resolve it amicably first, including mediation unless there are domestic abuse or other risks.

You can apply to enforce the order on Form C79. The fee is £270. Orders made before 8 December 2008 may need a warning notice attached first, using Form C78.

The rules say enforcement applications should be listed within 20 working days of issue, before the previous judge if possible. If the application is made more than 3 months after the order, Cafcass safeguarding checks must be ordered.

What the court can do on enforcement

The court looks at whether the order was broken, the reasons, and the child's wishes and welfare. It will not always enforce the order, for example if there was a good reason.

Refer the parents to a parenting programme or mediation.
Change the child arrangements order.
Make an enforcement order requiring 40 to 200 hours of unpaid work, or a suspended one.
Order compensation for financial loss, such as a missed holiday.
A fine or committal to prison.

Other things that may follow an order

Where monitoring is needed, the court can ask Cafcass to monitor compliance, or make a family assistance order. All named adults must agree to a family assistance order.

The court may make a section 91(14) order. This stops a person making further applications under the Children Act 1989 without the court's permission.

The court fee for an appeal against a Children Act 1989 decision is £251.

Keeping your details private

If you move, you must tell the court your new address while proceedings are ongoing. If you or a child are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. You do not have to reveal your address or contact details to the other party. You can tell the court on Form C8 and they will not be shared unless the court directs.

Key dates

Within 20 working days of issueAn enforcement application should be listed for a hearing.Source: PD12B paras 21.2-21.3 (external source, opens in a new tab)
More than 3 months after the orderIf enforcement is applied for after this, Cafcass safeguarding checks must be ordered.Source: PD12B para 21.4 (external source, opens in a new tab)

Get organised with Wren Family

You still run your own case, with help at every step. Wren Family turns long official forms into short, plain-English questions, guides you through each hearing, helps you write statements in your own words, and keeps your dates, papers and orders in one place. Nothing is sent to the court for you.

Get started

Free for 14 days, no card. Then £19.99 a month, with your money back within 14 days if it’s not right.

Common questions

What can I do if the other parent does not follow the order?

You can try to resolve it informally or through mediation if safe. You can also apply to enforce it on Form C79, which costs £270.

Can we change the arrangements without going back to court?

Yes, if you both agree. GOV.UK says the new agreement cannot be enforced unless it is made legally binding, for example as a consent order.

How do I end a child arrangements order?

GOV.UK says to use Form C100 to apply to end an order. The fee is £270, and the MIAM rules usually apply.

What is a section 91(14) order?

It is an order that stops a person making further Children Act applications without the court's permission. The court can make one where, for example, a new application could put a child or parent at risk of harm.

How much does it cost to appeal?

The court fee for an appeal against a Children Act 1989 decision is £251. Help with Fees may apply.

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.