Form C100: The Full Page-by-Page Guide to Completing Your Application (2026)

If you are thinking about making a Form C100 application to the family court, you are probably in one of the harder situations life can throw at you. Disagreements about children, contact arrangements, or parental decisions are stressful, and the last thing you need is to have your application rejected or delayed because of a technicality on the form.

If you are applying because the other parent has stopped contact, read what to do if you are denied access to your child first, as the court will ask what you have already tried.

This guide has been updated to reflect the latest Form C100 (version 06.26, updated June 2026), which includes several important changes to how the MIAM requirement and exemptions are recorded. If you have been working from an older version of the form, or an older guide, please make sure you download the latest version before you start. You can do that here: download the new C100 form.

We will take you through every section of the form, page by page, explaining what is being asked, what common mistakes to avoid, and what you need to have in place before you submit. We will also cover the MIAM requirement in full, including what happens if you think you might qualify for an exemption.

What is Form C100 Used For?

Form C100 is the official application form used in the family courts of England and Wales when you need a judge to make a decision about a child. Its full title is "Application under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 for a child arrangements, prohibited steps, specific issue order or to vary or discharge or ask permission to make a section 8 order."

In plain terms, it is the form you complete when you and the other parent (or person with parental responsibility) cannot agree on arrangements for your child and you need the court to step in. It covers three types of order:

• Child Arrangements Order: decides where a child lives, who they spend time with, and when. This is the most common type of application.
• Prohibited Steps Order: prevents a specific action, such as one parent relocating with the child, changing the child's school, or removing them from the country.
• Specific Issue Order: asks the court to resolve a particular dispute, for example, which school a child should attend, who holds the passports, or arrangements for a religious event or holiday abroad.

You can apply for more than one type of order on the same C100. The form was updated in June 2026 (version 06.26) and includes several changes to how the MIAM requirement and non-court dispute resolution options are recorded. Make sure you are using the latest version before you start.

Who Can Apply Using a Form C100?

Most parents can apply without needing permission from the court first. You will not normally need to ask the court's permission if you:

• Are a parent of the child (whether or not you have parental responsibility)
• Are the child's guardian
• Have a current child arrangements order naming you as someone the child lives with
• Have lived with the child for at least three years

Others, including grandparents and extended family members, may need to apply to the court for permission first before submitting a C100. If you are unsure whether permission is required for your situation, it is worth getting a short legal advice session before you start. Our partners at Family Law Service offer a fixed-fee one-hour advice session on child arrangements.

Important: if there are already ongoing court proceedings about the same child, you generally need to complete a Form C2 rather than a new C100. Similarly, if you want to enforce an existing child arrangements order, you need a Form C79.

Form C100 MIAM Requirements & Legal Rules

Before the family court will accept a C100 application, you are legally required to have attended a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM), unless a valid exemption applies. This is not optional, and it is not a formality, it is a legal requirement under the Family Procedure Rules.

A MIAM is a meeting with an accredited family mediator. Its purpose is to make sure you have considered whether your dispute can be resolved without going to court, through mediation or another form of non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). The mediator does not take sides and cannot give legal advice, but they can give you an honest picture of whether mediation is likely to work for your situation.

After the MIAM, the mediator completes Section 4 (Page 21-22) of the C100, confirming your attendance and explaining why court proceedings are being pursued. Without this signed section, the court will not process your application.

There are exemptions, but they are more limited than many people realise. We cover all of them in the MIAM section of this guide (Sections 2 and 3 of the form). You can also read our dedicated guide to the 15 MIAM exemptions for a full breakdown.

At Mediate UK, a standard MIAM costs £115 + VAT (or £180 + VAT for in-person appointments in London). If you need your signed court form quickly, our urgent MIAM service is £185 + VAT and includes the signed Section 4 returned within 24 hours of your appointment.

Form C100 Cover Page (Page 1): Critical Information

What this page covers: the MIAM legal requirement, NCDR options, and where to find a mediator

The first page of the updated C100 form is not a section you fill in. It is an information page that sets out the legal requirement to attend a MIAM, explains what NCDR (non-court dispute resolution) means, and tells you where to find an accredited mediator.

Read it carefully before you do anything else. It also tells you that the judge has the power to pause proceedings at any point during your case if they believe mediation or another out-of-court route has not been properly explored.

Form C100 Page 2: Confirmation of Understanding

What this page covers: signing to confirm you understand the MIAM rules

Page 2 contains four statements for you to read and a space to sign and date. You are confirming that you understand:

• The court cannot process your application without a valid MIAM attendance or exemption
• If you are claiming an exemption that requires evidence, you must provide that evidence with the form
• If the court decides your exemption claim is not valid, you will be sent away to attend a MIAM before your case can proceed
• A judge can pause proceedings at any stage if they feel non-court resolution is safe and appropriate

Signing this page is technically optional, and the court will still accept your application without it. However, we always recommend signing it. It demonstrates to the court that you have read and understood the rules, which is a positive signal at the start of proceedings.

Form C100 Page 3: Applicant & Respondent Overview

What this page covers: court reference box, applicant names, respondent names, and Help with Fees reference

Page 3 is where the actual form begins. The box in the top-right corner is completed by the court, not by you. This is where the court will add the case number and the hearing date once your application has been received and processed.

If you have applied for help with your court fees and been given an HWF (Help with Fees) reference number, enter it in the HWF box at the top of this page. This is the reference that begins with HWF and is followed by a series of numbers. If you have not yet checked whether you qualify, you can check whether you qualify using our guide to the EX160 court fee remission form before you submit. The current court fee is £270.

Applicant's Names

Enter your first name(s) and last name in the applicant boxes. In most cases you will be applying on your own, so there will only be one applicant. If two people are applying together (for example, if you and a new partner are both seeking a child arrangements order), both names go here.

Respondent's Names

The respondent is the person you are making the application against, usually the other parent. In most child arrangements cases there is only one respondent. Enter their full legal name here. You will be asked for their full contact details later in the form (Section 12).

Form C100 Page 4: Nature of Application & Risk of Harm

What this page covers: choosing the type of order you are applying for, and declaring any concerns about risk of harm

Nature of Application: Which Order Are You Applying For?

Tick the box or boxes that reflect the order you are seeking. You can tick more than one. Here is a quick guide to which to choose:

• Child Arrangements Order: tick this if you are asking the court to decide where the child lives, who they spend time with, or both. This is the most common application and covers contact, residence, overnight stays, and communication arrangements.
• Prohibited Steps Order: tick this if you want to prevent a specific action, such as the other parent taking the child abroad, moving to a different part of the country, or changing their school without your agreement.
• Specific Issue Order: tick this if there is a single, specific decision you need the court to resolve, for example, which school the child attends, medical treatment decisions, or what happens at Christmas and other significant times.

Below the tick boxes there is a text box asking you to specify the nature of your application. Keep this brief and factual at this stage. You do not need to tell the full story here. A sentence or two is enough. For example:

Concerns About Risk of Harm

The lower section of Page 4 asks whether you are alleging the child has experienced, or is at risk of experiencing, harm from any person who has had contact with them. The five areas covered are:

• Any form of domestic abuse
• Child abduction
• Child abuse
• Drugs, alcohol or substance abuse
• Other safety or welfare concerns

Answer honestly. If you answer "Yes" to any of these, you must also complete Form C1A (the supplemental information form on allegations of harm and domestic violence) and submit it alongside your C100. The court takes all allegations seriously and will investigate them, so only tick "Yes" where it genuinely applies and where you can evidence or explain the concern.

Form C1A can be downloaded from gov.uk. If you need help completing it, Family Law Service offers a C1A completion service for £225.

Form C100 Page 5: Additional Information (Questions A1 to A8)

What this page covers: eight preliminary yes/no questions that determine which additional sections you need to complete

Page 5 contains eight yes/no questions that act as a routing mechanism for the rest of the form. Each one directs you to an additional section if you answer yes. Work through them in order:

• A1 - Permission to apply: Answer "No, permission not required" if you are a parent or guardian. If you are a grandparent or other relative who needs the court's permission to make the application, answer "No, permission now sought" and complete Section 5.
• A2 - Restraint orders: If there is an existing section 91(14) order or civil restraint order preventing you from making court applications without permission, tick yes and attach a copy of that order.
• A3 - Urgent or without notice hearing: Tick yes only if the situation is genuinely urgent, for example if there is an immediate risk that the child will be removed from the country, or there is a real and immediate risk of harm. If yes, complete Section 6. Note that claiming urgency does not automatically get your case heard faster, the court decides that.
• A4 - Previous or ongoing proceedings: Tick yes if there have been any previous court proceedings about this child, even if they concluded years ago. Complete Section 7 with the details.
• A5 - Consent order: Tick yes only if both of you have already agreed the arrangements and you simply want the court to formalise that agreement into an order. Attach the signed draft order. You do not need a MIAM if you are applying for a consent order.
• A6 - Scotland or Northern Ireland element: Tick yes if one of the parties, or the child, lives in Scotland or Northern Ireland, and complete Section 8.
• A7 - International element or litigation capacity: Tick yes if a parent or the child lives abroad, or if there are factors affecting someone's ability to participate in proceedings (such as a disability or language barrier). Complete Section 8 or 9 as appropriate.
• A8 - Welsh language: Tick yes if the child or any of the parties want to use spoken or written Welsh during proceedings. Complete Section 10.

For most straightforward applications, the answers to A1 through A8 will be No, No, No, No/Yes, No, No, No, No. Do not tick yes to any of these questions unless it genuinely applies. Incorrect answers create complications that delay your case.

Form C100 Pages 6-7: Official Guidance Notes

What these pages cover: instructions on completing the form, Cafcass involvement, and what happens if information is missing

Pages 6 and 7 contain guidance notes rather than sections for you to complete. They are worth reading before you fill in Section 1. The key points to take away are:

• You must answer every question. If something does not apply to your situation, write "not applicable" or "N/A" rather than leaving it blank. Blank sections cause delays because the court will write back to ask you to complete them.
• If you run out of space, attach additional sheets and clearly label them with the section number, question number, and page number they relate to.
• Cafcass will be involved. Once your C100 is submitted, the form is automatically shared with Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) or Cafcass Cymru in Wales. They will carry out initial safeguarding checks before your first hearing. The information you provide on this form is part of what they use to do that, so accuracy matters.
• Check the government guidance. The form references two GOV.UK guides: CB1 (Making an application, children and the family courts) and CB7 (Guide for separated parents). Both are worth reading if you are representing yourself.

Form C100 Section 1 (Pages 7-8): Children's Details

What this covers: full details for up to four children, the type of order sought, and each party's relationship to each child

Section 1 spans several pages and covers every child who is the subject of this application. Start with the eldest child and work down. For each child you need to provide:

• First name(s) and last name, exactly as they appear on the birth certificate
• Date of birth
• Sex (Female, Male, or Don't know)
• The type of order you are applying for in relation to that child (Child Arrangements Order, Prohibited Steps Order, or Specific Issue Order)
• Your relationship to the child (for example, "mother", "father", "paternal grandfather")
• The respondent's relationship to the child

The form has space for four children on pages 7 and 8. If you have more than four children who are all the subject of this application, attach a separate sheet with the same information in the same format.

It is possible to apply for different types of order for different children. For example, you might seek a child arrangements order for your youngest and a specific issue order for your eldest regarding schooling. Make sure the correct order type is recorded against the correct child.

Form C100 Section 1 (Page 9): Local Authority Involvement

What this covers: local authority involvement, child protection plans, and whether all children share the same parents

Page 9 asks three further questions about the children. Answer each one as accurately as you can.

Question 1.2: Are any of the children known to local authority children's services?

Answer Yes, No, or Don't know. If you answer Yes, state the name of the child, the name of the local authority involved, and the social worker's name if you know it. Do not guess. The court will verify this information with the local authority through Cafcass.

Question 1.3: Are any of the children subject to a child protection plan?

A child protection plan is a formal plan drawn up by the local authority to protect a child who is at risk of significant harm. If one is in place, you would normally have been notified. Answer Yes, No, or Don't know.

Question 1.4: Do all the children have the same parents?

If yes, give the parents' names in the box provided. If no, for example if you have children from different relationships who are all part of this application, give the details of each parent and which children they are the parent of. Be clear and factual here, this is important information for both the court and Cafcass.

Form C100 Section 1 (Page 10): Parental Responsibility & Current Living Arrangements

What this covers: who has parental responsibility and how, and where the children currently live

Question 1.5: Parental Responsibility

State everyone who has parental responsibility for each child and explain how they have it. Common examples include:

• "Child's mother" (mothers automatically have parental responsibility)
• "Child's father, named on the birth certificate"
• "Child's father, was married to the mother at the time of the child's birth"
• "Child's father, parental responsibility order granted by [court] on [date]"
• "Child's stepparent, parental responsibility agreement signed [date]"

If a father is not named on the birth certificate and was not married to the mother, he does not automatically have parental responsibility, though he may have acquired it through a subsequent court order or agreement. Get this right, it affects the court's understanding of the parties' legal standing in the case.

Question 1.6: Who Do the Children Currently Live With?

Tick the box that applies: the applicant, the respondent, or another person. If the children live with someone else, such as a grandparent or other family member, provide their full address along with the names of any adults living with the children and their relationship to the child.

Form C100 Section 2 (Page 11): MIAM Attendance Check

What this covers: the three-question decision tree that every applicant must complete

Section 2 is the gateway for all MIAM-related questions. Every applicant must work through it in order. There are three questions:

Question 2.1: Is this an emergency, care or supervision order case?

If you ticked Yes to A4 (previous or ongoing proceedings), this question asks whether those proceedings concerned an emergency protection order, care order or supervision order. If yes, complete Section 7 and skip Sections 3 and 4. If no, move to question 2.2.

Question 2.2: Have You Attended a MIAM?

If yes, your mediator must complete and sign Section 4 of the form. Move on to the rest of the form. If no, move to question 2.3.

Question 2.3: Are You Claiming an Exemption from the MIAM Requirement?

If yes, complete Section 3. If no, you cannot submit the C100. You must first attend a MIAM. The note on the form links to the CB7 guide for information on what to do next.

Form C100 Section 3 (Page 12): Selecting a MIAM Exemption

What this covers: the five categories of MIAM exemption and which sub-section to complete

Section 3 only applies if you answered No to question 2.2 (you have not attended a MIAM) and Yes to question 2.3 (you are claiming an exemption). If you have attended a MIAM, skip this section entirely.

There are five categories of exemption. Tick the one that applies to you, then complete the corresponding sub-section:

• Domestic abuse - complete Section 3a
• Child protection concerns - complete Section 3b
• Urgency - complete Section 3c
• Previous attendance at a MIAM or non-court dispute resolution - complete Section 3d
• Other grounds - complete Section 3e

You can tick more than one exemption if more than one genuinely applies. For a full explanation of all exemptions available, read our dedicated guide: the 15 MIAM exemptions explained.

Form C100 Section 3a (Pages 13-15): Domestic Abuse Evidence

What this covers: the specific evidence you must provide to support a domestic abuse MIAM exemption

The domestic abuse exemption requires you to provide evidence. Simply stating that domestic abuse has occurred is not enough. You must tick at least one item from the evidence list and submit that evidence with your C100. The types of evidence accepted include:

• Evidence of an arrest for a domestic abuse offence (a custody number or CAD reference from the police)
• A relevant police caution, criminal conviction, or ongoing proceedings for domestic abuse
• A court order binding a party over in connection with domestic abuse
• A Domestic Violence Protection Notice issued under the Crime and Security Act 2010
• A Domestic Abuse Protection Notice under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021
• A protective injunction or relevant undertaking given under the Family Law Act 1996
• A copy of a finding of fact made in UK proceedings confirming domestic abuse
• A letter or report from an appropriate health professional confirming injuries or conditions consistent with domestic abuse
• A letter from an independent domestic violence advisor (IDVA) confirming they are providing or have provided support
• A letter from an independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA)
• A letter from a local authority housing officer, domestic abuse support organisation, or public authority
• Evidence of financial abuse

If you have experienced domestic abuse but cannot provide any of the listed evidence, you have two options. You can use the text box in Section 3g to explain why you cannot provide evidence, or, more reliably, you can attend a MIAM and inform the mediator of the domestic abuse there. At a MIAM you do not need to provide documentary evidence of abuse, and the mediator can confirm the exemption on your behalf through Section 4 of the form.

Form C100 Section 3b (Page 16): Child Protection Plan

What this covers: when active local authority child protection involvement exempts you from the MIAM requirement

This exemption applies if the child who is the subject of your application is currently the subject of:

• Enquiries by the local authority under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 (a Section 47 enquiry is triggered when a child is suspected to be at risk of significant harm), or
• A child protection plan put in place by the local authority

If the child protection proceedings have ended, this exemption does not apply. It only covers situations where the enquiry or plan is currently active. You would normally be aware if this is the case, as the local authority would have been in contact with you.

Form C100 Section 3c (Page 16): Urgency Thresholds

What this covers: the limited circumstances in which genuine urgency exempts you from attending a MIAM

The urgency exemption applies when any delay caused by attending a MIAM would itself create a risk. The grounds are specific:

• There is a risk to the life, liberty or physical safety of you or your family, or to your home
• Any delay would cause a risk of harm to a child
• Any delay would cause a risk of the child being unlawfully removed from, or retained outside of, England and Wales
• Any delay would cause a significant risk of a miscarriage of justice
• Any delay would cause significant financial hardship
• There would be irretrievable loss of significant evidence
• There is a significant risk that proceedings will be brought in another jurisdiction first

This is a high threshold. General urgency, or a sense that the matter is pressing, is not enough. The court looks carefully at urgency claims and will question them at the first hearing. If you are considering this exemption, it is worth getting legal advice first. Alternatively, Mediate UK offers a same-day MIAM service in some circumstances, which removes the need to claim urgency at all.

Form C100 Section 3d (Pages 17-18): Previous MIAM Exemption

What this covers: using a recent MIAM from existing proceedings, or evidence of previous non-court dispute resolution

This exemption applies in two situations:

• Recent MIAM: You attended a MIAM or a non-court dispute resolution process in the four months before making this application, relating to the same or substantially the same dispute. For a previous MIAM, the mediator's signed Section 4 from that appointment will serve as your evidence. For other NCDR, you must provide written confirmation from the provider, including their signature.
• Existing ongoing proceedings: This application is being made in the context of existing proceedings that are still continuing, and you attended a MIAM before those proceedings began. In this case, the MIAM provider must still complete and sign Section 4 of this new form, or you must provide the date and contact details of the original MIAM provider in the Section 3f text box.

Important: if your previous MIAM was more than four months ago and proceedings are no longer ongoing, this exemption does not apply. You will need a fresh MIAM.

Form C100 Section 3e (Pages 17-18): Bail, Prison, & Special Circumstances

What this covers: bail conditions, prison, disability, no local mediator, and without-notice applications

Section 3e covers a range of other circumstances that may exempt you from the MIAM requirement. The most commonly used are:

• Bail conditions: You are subject to bail conditions that prevent contact with the other party. This is the most frequently used "other" exemption.
• Prison: You are in prison or another institution and facilities cannot be arranged for you to attend a MIAM online or by video link.
• Licence conditions: You are subject to a licence with a prohibited contact requirement in relation to the other person.
• No accessible mediator: You cannot attend a MIAM online or by video link, and you have contacted at least five accredited mediators within 15 miles of your home (or all of them if fewer than five exist) and none can offer a MIAM within 15 business days. You must provide names, addresses, and dates of contact in Section 3f.
• The application is being made without notice: Some urgent applications are made without notifying the other party first. This requires specific legal justification.
• A child is one of the prospective parties.

Form C100 Section 3f (Page 19): Supporting Information

What this covers: a free-text space to provide details requested in Sections 3c, 3d or 3e

Page 19 is a blank text box. Use it to provide any additional information requested by the exemption sub-sections you have completed. For example, if you ticked the "no accessible mediator" option in Section 3e, this is where you list the mediators you contacted, their addresses, phone numbers or email addresses, and the dates you contacted them.

If you need more space, attach additional sheets and clearly mark them as Section 3f continuation.

Form C100 Section 3g (Page 20): Missing Exemption Evidence

What this covers: explaining why you cannot provide the evidence required to support your exemption claim

Some exemptions require evidence (notably domestic abuse and previous NCDR attendance). If you cannot provide that evidence, use this page to explain why. The court will then decide whether to accept your exemption claim without evidence. Be honest and specific. Vague explanations are unlikely to be accepted.

Once you have completed the relevant Section 3 sub-sections, the form directs you to move on to Section 5. Section 4 is completed by the mediator, not by you.

Form C100 Section 4 (Pages 21-22): Official Mediator Certificate

What this covers: the mediator's signed confirmation that a MIAM took place and why court proceedings are being pursued

Section 4 is what most people refer to as the MIAM certificate. It must be completed and signed by the accredited family mediator who conducted your MIAM. You cannot fill this in yourself.

The mediator will record the name of the participant(s), tick the appropriate boxes, and sign and date the form. The key distinction in the updated June 2026 form is between NCDR (non-court dispute resolution) not proceeding for various reasons. The mediator will tick whichever of these applies:

• The applicant only attended a MIAM (the respondent did not attend)
• Both applicant and respondent attended separate MIAMs

Then they will tick the reason NCDR is not proceeding, choosing from:

• The applicant attended alone and does not consider mediation or other NCDR appropriate at this time
• The applicant attended alone and the mediator has indicated NCDR is unsuitable
• The respondent has not attended a MIAM, attempted mediation, or attempted any other NCDR at this time
• Both parties attended and the applicant does not consider NCDR appropriate
• Both parties attended and the respondent does not consider NCDR appropriate
• Both parties attended and the mediator has indicated NCDR is unsuitable
• An NCDR process has started but has broken down, concluded with some issues unresolved, or the applicant needs to make a parallel court application

The mediator will also provide their FMC registration number, the name of the mediation service, and their address. Once signed and dated, this section is valid for four months. You must submit your completed C100 to the court within that four-month window or you will need a new MIAM.

Form C100 Section 5 (Pages 23-25): Why You Are Applying

What this covers: whether you need court permission, your brief reasons for making the application, and whether a parenting plan exists

Question 5.1: Do You Need Court Permission?

If you are a parent applying for a child arrangements order you will almost always answer "No, permission not required." If you are a grandparent, other relative, or someone without parental responsibility, and you need the court's permission to apply, tick the appropriate option and complete questions 5.2 and 5.3.

Question 5.2: Existing Restraint Order

If there is an existing order preventing you from making court applications without permission (such as a section 91(14) order or civil restraint order), provide the case number and expiry date here. Attach a copy of that order to the form.

Question 5.3: Reasons for Permission

If you are seeking the court's permission to apply, set out briefly why. Keep it factual and focused on your relationship with the child and what you are seeking. For example: "I am the paternal grandmother. I have been the primary carer for my grandchild for the past two years and the child's mother has recently withdrawn all contact without explanation."

Question 5.4: Brief Details of Why You Are Making This Application

This is your opportunity to give the court a concise summary of the background to your application. The form is clear that this should be a brief overview, not a full statement. You will almost certainly have an opportunity to file a full witness statement later in the proceedings. For now, focus on:

• Any previous informal or formal agreements and how they have broken down
• The key reason you are bringing this to court
• What you want the court to do
• The respondent's position or the reason for the dispute, as you understand it

A practical example of a well-pitched Section 5.4 summary might look like this:

Question 5.5: Have You Previously Prepared a Parenting Plan?

If you have an existing parenting plan, attach it to your C100. If you do not have one, the form signposts you to the Cafcass Planning Together tool to download a template. Having a parenting plan, even if it has broken down, shows the court that both parents have previously attempted to organise arrangements cooperatively.

Form C100 Section 6 (Pages 25-26): Without Notice & Urgent Hearings

What this covers: requesting that the court considers your application urgently or without notifying the other party

Only complete Section 6 if you answered Yes to A3 on page 5. If you did not tick that box, skip this section entirely. Completing it unnecessarily will not speed up your case, and may suggest you have not understood the form.

If you are requesting an urgent hearing, you need to set out:

• Question 6.1: The specific order or direction you are seeking from the court at the urgent hearing
• Question 6.2: The specific reasons why the application is urgent (see the urgency thresholds in Section 3c above)
• Question 6.3: The timescale within which the application should be considered (in hours or days)
• Question 6.4: If you are seeking consideration within 48 hours, what efforts have you made to put the respondent on notice of the application

If you are applying without notice (meaning you do not want the respondent to be informed before the first hearing), questions 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7 must all be completed. A without-notice hearing is only directed by the court where there is a compelling reason, for example where notifying the other party would increase the risk to the child or cause them to remove the child from the country.

If you are in this position we strongly recommend getting legal advice before submitting. Family Law Service offers a fixed-fee one-hour advice session that can help you frame this section correctly.

Form C100 Section 7 (Pages 27-28): Other Active or Past Court Cases

What this covers: details of any previous or ongoing court cases about the children listed in Section 1

If there have been any court proceedings about these children at any time, including proceedings that concluded years ago, tick yes to A4 and provide the details here. The court needs this information so it can access the relevant history of the case. Include:

• The name(s) of the child(ren) those proceedings concerned
• The name of the court where the proceedings were heard
• The case number, if you have it
• The date or year, if known
• The name and office of the Cafcass officer involved, if known
• The type of proceedings (tick from the list provided: emergency protection order, supervision order, care order, child abduction, Family Law Act proceedings, child arrangements order, and so on)

Attach a copy of any relevant existing court orders to the form. If you have additional proceedings to record beyond the space provided, tick the box at question 7.7 and attach additional sheets.

Form C100 Sections 8-10: International Elements, Capacity, & Special Measures

Section 8: International or Scotland/Northern Ireland Element (Pages 29-30)

Complete this section if you answered Yes to A6 or A7. It covers three questions: whether any party or the child may be habitually resident in another country; whether there is a jurisdiction issue relating to another country, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and whether a request has been made to a central authority in a foreign state. International child law is complex, and if any of these apply you should seek specialist legal advice before submitting the form.

Section 9: Factors Affecting Ability to Participate (Page 30)

Complete this if you answered Yes to A7 regarding litigation capacity. Provide details of any disability or other factor affecting the ability of a party to take part in proceedings, any referrals or assessments by adult learning disability or adult health services, and any other relevant factors. The court uses this information to make arrangements to support that person's participation.

Section 10: Attending the Court (Pages 31-33)

All applicants should read Section 10, even if you do not need to complete most of it. The questions cover:

• Question 10.1: Welsh language requirements. Complete if any party or witness wants to use spoken or written Welsh during proceedings.
• Question 10.2: Interpreter. If you or any party needs an interpreter, tell the court now so one can be arranged before the hearing. Specify the language and dialect required.
• Question 10.3: Intermediary. An intermediary helps a vulnerable person communicate effectively in court. If one may be needed, indicate this here.
• Question 10.4: Disability assistance. If you or any party has a disability requiring special assistance or facilities at court, state what is needed.
• Question 10.5: Special Measures. This is important if you are a victim of domestic abuse or have concerns about safety at court. You can request a separate waiting room, a separate entrance and exit, a privacy screen in the courtroom, or to join the hearing by video link. Tick all that apply. These arrangements exist to protect people and the court takes them seriously.

Form C100 Section 11 (Pages 34-36): Applicant Personal Details

What this covers: your full personal and contact details

Complete this section as fully and accurately as possible. You will need to provide:

• First name(s), last name, and any previous names
• Sex and date of birth
• Place of birth (town, county, country)
• Your current address, phone number and email address
• Whether you have lived at your current address for more than five years. If not, provide your previous addresses for the last five years

As emphasized in the current June 2026 form updates, if you do not want the respondent to know your address, leave these fields entirely blank and file Form C8 separately. Double-check that no accompanying documentation or electronic file data accidentally displays your hidden address.

If there is a second applicant (for example, a new partner who also has parental responsibility), their details are recorded on pages 35-36 using the same fields.

Form C100 Section 12 (Pages 37-40): Respondent Contact Details

What this covers: the respondent's personal and contact details

The court needs the respondent's details to be able to send them copies of your application and the notice of hearing. Provide as much information as you know. If you do not know a phone number or email address, tick "Don't know" rather than leaving it blank. Similarly for previous addresses, if you are not sure, tick "Don't know."

If you genuinely do not know where the respondent lives, you can complete a Form C4 (seek to locate a missing respondent). The court can then carry out further investigations into their whereabouts. There is space on the form for a second respondent if needed. If there are more than two respondents, continue on a separate sheet.

Form C100 Section 13 (Pages 41-43): Notice to Other Parties

What this covers: other people who should receive notice of proceedings, and children not part of this application

Some people are not parties to the case but still need to be told it is happening. The most common example is a grandparent or other family member with whom the child habitually spends time and who might be affected by any order made. Provide their full name, date of birth, and address if known, and state their relationship to each child.

Question 13.3 asks about other children not part of this application. If, for example, you have children from a new relationship who are living with you, their details go here. This gives the court the full picture of the household and family dynamics.

Form C100 Section 14 (Page 44): Legal Representation & Solicitor Details

If you have a solicitor acting for you, complete all the fields on page 44, including their name, the firm name, full address, phone number, DX number, solicitor's reference, fee account number and email address. In practice, if you have a solicitor, they will usually complete this entire section and much of the rest of the form on your behalf.

If you are representing yourself, leave this section blank. The court is accustomed to litigants in person and will communicate with you directly.

Form C100 Section 15 (Page 45): Submission Quality Checklist

Before you sign the form, work through the checklist on page 45. It asks you to confirm that you have completed each of the main sections in full. Go back and check each one. Missing information is one of the most common reasons C100 applications are rejected or delayed.

The checklist also reminds you that if you are submitting a physical copy to the court, you must include at least three copies of the complete form. One is kept by the court, one is returned to you, and one is sent to the respondent.

Form C100 Section 16 (Page 46): Signing the Statement of Truth

The Statement of Truth is a serious legal declaration. By signing it you are confirming that the facts stated in your C100 application are true. The form states clearly that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes or causes to be made a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth, without an honest belief in its truth.

Sign in the box provided and tick whether you are signing as the applicant or as the applicant's legal representative. Enter the date, your full name, and (if signing on behalf of a firm) the position or office held.

Finally, the form asks whether you are paying the court fee by credit or debit card. If yes, the court will contact you within three working days using the contact details you provided in Section 11. If no, you can pay by other methods at the court office, or your HWF reference covers the fee if you have already applied for help with fees.

The court fee for submitting a C100 application is currently £270, as of July 2026. It rose from £263 on 13 July 2026 as part of an inflation uplift, and the new fee applies to any application issued on or after that date (see the MoJ fee announcement). This does not cover any legal fees if you use a solicitor, or any MIAM costs. However, you may be entitled to help with the court fee if you are on a low income or receive certain benefits.

Our guide to the EX160 fee remission form walks you through how to apply, or you can apply directly on GOV.UK. If approved, you will be given an HWF reference number to enter on the front of your C100. This will not affect how the court handles your case.

Separately, legal aid for family mediation is means tested, so it depends on your income and capital rather than on the type of dispute. Mediate UK is a Legal Aid Agency contracted provider, which means we can offer legal aid mediation directly and your MIAM is free if you qualify. Check in a couple of minutes with our legal aid eligibility checker, or read the rules on GOV.UK.

How to submit your Form C100 online or by post

Once your form is complete and Section 4 has been signed by your mediator (or a valid exemption is in place), you are ready to submit. You have two options:

• Online: Submit via the GOV.UK online C100 service. This is usually faster and easier than posting a paper copy.
• In person or by post: Submit to your local Designated Family Centre. Use find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk to locate the correct court for your area. Remember you must include at least three complete copies if submitting by post.

Once your application is received and processed, the court will send copies to the respondent and any others named in Section 13. You will receive a Notice of Hearing with the date of your first court appointment, which is usually a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA). In most cases this is listed within four to six weeks, though busy courts may take longer.

Before that first hearing, Cafcass will carry out safeguarding checks. They may contact you and the other party by phone or letter. They will produce an initial safeguarding letter which the judge will have at the first hearing. At the FHDRA, the court will encourage both parties to try to reach an agreement, and will often refer the case back to mediation if it has not already been properly explored.

Frequently Asked Questions About Form C100