The C100 Form Explained: How to Apply for a Child Arrangements Order

The C100 form is the document you complete to start a children case in the family court in England and Wales.

If you want a Child Arrangements Order, a Prohibited Steps Order, or a Specific Issue Order, this is where it begins.

It looks straightforward. It is not. The way you complete it, and the decisions you make when filling it in, can affect your case before you ever set foot in a courtroom.

This guide explains what the form asks, where people go wrong, and what you need to know before you submit it.

What the C100 Form Is For

The C100 is a formal court application. You are asking the court to make an order about arrangements for a child. That might be where the child lives, how much time they spend with each parent, or a specific decision about their upbringing.

Once you submit the form and pay the court fee, the court will process your application and list a first hearing. The other party will be served with a copy of your application. Everything starts from this point.

Getting the form right matters. Errors or gaps can cause delays. Unclear descriptions of what you are asking for can create problems at your first hearing. The way you describe the history of the case in this form sets the tone for everything that follows.

What the C100 Asks You

The form is divided into sections. Here is what each one covers and what you need to think about.

Section 1: What Are You Applying For?

You choose which type of order you want. A Child Arrangements Order covers where the child lives and when they spend time with each parent. A Prohibited Steps Order prevents the other parent from taking a specific action without court permission. A Specific Issue Order asks the court to decide a particular question, such as which school the child should attend.

You can apply for more than one type of order in the same application.

Be specific about what you are asking for. Do not write vague statements. Write exactly what you want the court to decide.

Section 2: About the Children

You provide details about each child: full name, date of birth, address, and the name of the current school. You also note whether any child has previously been the subject of a court order.

Section 3: About You and the Other People in the Case

This section covers your details and the details of the other party or parties. If there are other people with parental responsibility, they need to be included.

Section 4: Have You Attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting?

Before you apply to court in England and Wales, you are generally required to have attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, known as a MIAM. This is a meeting with a trained mediator to explore whether your dispute can be resolved without going to court.

There are exemptions. Domestic abuse is the most common. If you qualify for an exemption, you must select the appropriate one on the form and, in most cases, provide evidence.

Do not skip this section. The court takes non-attendance at a MIAM seriously unless a valid exemption applies. Getting this wrong can result in your application being returned or rejected.

Section 5: The Harm Question

This is the most consequential section on the form.

You are asked whether you believe the child or anyone else named in the application has been harmed or is at risk of harm. You are also asked about domestic abuse.

Answer this honestly and carefully. If there are safety concerns, say so. If there are not, do not overstate things. Courts in England and Wales now have a practice direction, PD12J, specifically for cases involving allegations of domestic abuse and harm. How you answer this section determines how the court treats your case from the outset.

Section 6: What the Court Needs to Know

Here you provide a brief summary of the background to the case. Keep this factual. Keep it focused on the child and the arrangements. This is not the place for a full account of everything that has gone wrong. That comes later. Right now, give the court enough to understand the situation.

Section 7: Consent Orders and Other Details

If both parties have agreed on arrangements and you want the court to make a consent order, this section covers that. For most contested applications, this section will not apply.

The Court Fee

The current fee to file a C100 in England and Wales is £255. Fee remission is available if you are on a low income. You can apply for help with the fee using Form EX160.

The Most Common Mistakes

Being too vague about what you want

The form asks what order you are applying for. Many people write something like "I want to see my children more." That tells the court very little. Write specifically what you are asking for. How many nights per week? Which holidays? What contact during the week?

Getting the MIAM section wrong

Either skipping it, selecting the wrong exemption, or failing to provide evidence for the exemption. This causes delays and damages your credibility with the court from day one.

Overstating harm allegations without evidence

If you raise concerns about harm or domestic abuse, be prepared to substantiate them. Unsupported allegations that are later withdrawn or dismissed can seriously damage your credibility at later hearings.

Understating a genuine safety concern

If there is a genuine safety concern and you do not raise it on the form, you may find yourself trying to introduce it later in a way that looks like an afterthought.

Poor description of background

A wall of text covering everything that went wrong in the relationship is not helpful. Keep the background focused on the child and the arrangements. The court is not interested in the history of the relationship. It is interested in what is best for the child now.

After You Submit the Form

Once the court receives your application and payment, they will send a copy to the other party. They will also contact CAFCASS, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, who will carry out safeguarding checks.

CAFCASS will contact both parties before the first hearing. They will look at police records and social services records. They will prepare a short safeguarding letter for the court. This is not the full welfare report, which comes later if ordered. It is a preliminary check.

Your first hearing will usually be listed within a few weeks of the application being processed. That first hearing is called the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment, known as the FHDRA.

Northern Ireland: A Different Process

The C100 does not apply in Northern Ireland.

Children proceedings in Northern Ireland are governed by the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, not the Children Act 1989. The court forms, the structure of proceedings, and the terminology are different.

In Northern Ireland, if you want to apply for orders relating to where a child lives or how much time they spend with each parent, you apply to the Family Proceedings Court (the Magistrates Court) for most cases, or to the Family Care Centre for more complex matters.

There is no CAFCASS in Northern Ireland. For private law children cases in Northern Ireland, the court may direct that a welfare report be prepared. The arrangements for this differ from the CAFCASS process in England and Wales.

If you are in Northern Ireland and trying to start a children case, it is important to get specific guidance on the forms and procedure that apply in your jurisdiction. The terminology and steps that apply in England and Wales do not map directly onto the Northern Ireland system.

John works with clients in Northern Ireland as well as England and Wales. If you are in Northern Ireland and unsure where to start, book a session and John will walk you through what applies to your specific situation.

Should You Get Help Before You Submit?

Yes.

Not because the form is impossible to complete without help. Because the decisions you make when completing it, what you ask for, how you describe the background, how you handle the harm question, affect your case from this point forward.

A session with John before you submit your C100 gives you:

• Clarity on exactly what to ask for. Not vague language. Specific, clear orders that reflect what you genuinely need for your child.
• Guidance on the MIAM section. Whether you need to attend, whether an exemption applies, and what evidence you need.
• A clear-headed approach to the harm and background sections. What to say, what level of detail to include, and how to frame it accurately.

Pricing starts at £297 for one hour. That one hour, before you submit the form, can prevent months of problems caused by getting it wrong.