How to apply to court about a child (Form C100)

Court is for when you cannot agree. If you can agree, you can write the arrangements down in a parenting plan. If you both want them to be legally binding, you can ask the court to approve them as a consent order, and no MIAM is needed for that.

Before a C100 you must usually attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) or claim a valid exemption, and say which on the form. Some exemptions, such as domestic abuse or recent mediation, need evidence sent with the form. The court checks exemptions and may send you to a MIAM if one was not validly claimed.

Form C100 starts a new children case. If a case about the child is already open, use form C2 instead.

1. Form C1A as well, if you answer yes to any of the C100's questions about risk of harm. If you or a child are in immediate danger, call 999.
2. Form C8, if you want to keep your address or other contact details private from the other side. Leave them blank on the C100.
3. Help with Fees, online or on form EX160, if you need help paying the court fee.

The C100 asks for a lot of detail, and gaps can delay the case because the court has to come back to you. Have these ready before you start:

1. Your MIAM certificate details from the mediator, or the evidence for any MIAM exemption you plan to claim, such as domestic abuse evidence.
2. Full names and dates of birth for every child the application is about. All the children go on one form.
3. Names, addresses and dates of birth for the other people in the case, and anyone else who must be told about it.
4. Details of any past or current court cases about the children, including case numbers and copies of orders.
5. Any parenting plan you have made before, because the rules say it should be attached.
6. Your Help with Fees reference, if you have applied for help paying the fee.

The court fee is £270 from 13 July 2026. If you are on benefits or a low income, you may get help with fees. You apply online or on form EX160 at the same time as your application.

You can apply online, or post the form to your child's local family court. By post, GOV.UK says to send the original and 3 copies. You sign a statement of truth at the end of the C100, and false statements can lead to contempt of court proceedings.

In these cases the court serves the application on the other side, not you. They are sent your application and form C7, and they return the C7 within 14 days of receiving it.

Court staff check the form is complete, then aim to send you a copy and the hearing notice within 1 working day of issue. The court serves the respondent with the papers and form C7. Cafcass, or Cafcass Cymru in Wales, makes safety checks and writes to the court before the first hearing. That hearing is usually in week 5 after issue, and at the latest week 6. GOV.UK says it usually takes around 10 months to get a court order.