C100 Application: Guide 2026

Last updated: January 2026

Bundle preparation: Once your C100 is filed, you'll need to prepare court bundles for hearings. See our UK Court Bundle Compliance Guide (2025-2026) for Practice Direction 27A requirements.

Quick Answer

The C100 form is the official court application used in England and Wales to apply for Child Arrangements Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders, and Specific Issue Orders. According to GOV.UK Family Court Statistics, there were 28,923 new private law applications in Q3 2025—a 15% increase from 2024. The court fee is £263, and you must attend a MIAM (Mediation Information Assessment Meeting) before applying unless you qualify for an exemption. Average case duration is 36 weeks from application to final order.

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What Is a C100 Application?

If you're reading this, chances are you're facing one of the most challenging situations a parent can encounter: needing to ask a court to help sort out arrangements for your children. It's not a step anyone takes lightly, and we understand that.

The C100 is the official application form used in England and Wales to ask the Family Court to make decisions about children. Specifically, it's used to apply for:

• Child Arrangements Orders – covering who a child lives with and who they spend time with
• Prohibited Steps Orders – preventing someone from taking certain actions without court permission
• Specific Issue Orders – asking the court to decide a particular question about a child's upbringing

Before April 2014, these were known as residence and contact orders. The terminology changed, but the fundamental purpose remains the same: ensuring children's welfare is protected when parents cannot agree.

"The C100 form is the gateway to private family law proceedings. It's the document that initiates court involvement in disputes about children's living arrangements and contact." — CAFCASS

The Numbers: Private Law Cases in Context

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Do You Actually Need to Apply?

Before filling in the C100, you must consider whether court proceedings are truly necessary. The courts expect parents to try to resolve matters themselves first, and for good reason – adversarial proceedings can be damaging for children and rarely produce outcomes that everyone finds satisfactory.

Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM)

In most cases, you're legally required to attend a MIAM before applying to court. This is a meeting with a qualified mediator who will:

• Explain how mediation works
• Assess whether your case is suitable for mediation
• Discuss other options for resolving your dispute
• Sign the relevant section of your C100 if mediation isn't appropriate

"74% of mediated cases reach full or partial agreement compared to traditional court litigation success rates of 66%." — Ministry of Justice

MIAM Success Statistics

MIAM Exemptions

There are exemptions from the MIAM requirement, including:

• Allegations of domestic abuse (with supporting evidence)
• Child protection concerns
• Urgency (where delay would cause harm)
• Previous MIAM attendance in the last four months
• The other party's refusal to attend

If you believe an exemption applies, you'll need to tick the relevant box on the C100 and provide evidence where required.

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Gathering What You Need

Before you sit down to complete the form, gather the following:

Essential Information

• Full names and dates of birth for all children involved
• Your full details and those of the other parent/respondent
• Details of where the children currently live
• Information about any previous court orders
• Details of any ongoing proceedings in other courts

Supporting Documents

• MIAM certificate or evidence of exemption
• Proof of your relationship to the children
• Any relevant court orders from previous proceedings
• Evidence supporting your application (if applicable)

Organising Your Application Documents: Gathering evidence for a C100 application can create dozens of documents. BundleCreator.co lets you upload, organise, and share your supporting evidence securely with automatic pagination and indexing—essential when preparing for your first hearing.

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Completing the C100: Section by Section

The form runs to several pages, but don't let that intimidate you. Let's work through each section methodically.

Section 1: The Children

List each child the application concerns. You'll need:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Relationship to you and the respondent

If you're applying for orders about more than one child, list them all here. Be precise with spellings – these details will appear on any court orders made.

Section 2: Your Details

Provide your full name, address, and contact details. If you have safety concerns about the other party knowing your address, you can apply to keep this confidential – but you'll need to explain why in the relevant section.

Section 3: The Respondent's Details

The respondent is typically the other parent, but could be anyone with parental responsibility or anyone you're asking the court to make orders about. Include:

• Their full name and date of birth (if known)
• Their address
• Their relationship to the children

Section 4: Other People

List anyone else who should be notified of the proceedings. This might include:

• Grandparents who have regular contact
• Step-parents who live with the children
• Anyone else with parental responsibility
• Local authorities involved with the family

Section 5: The Application Itself

This is the heart of your C100. You need to explain:

What orders you're asking for

Be specific. Rather than saying "I want contact," specify what you're actually seeking. For example:

• "I am asking for the children to live with me during term time and spend alternate weekends and half of school holidays with their mother."
• "I am asking for the children to spend time with me every Wednesday after school until 6pm, and every other weekend from Friday after school until Sunday at 6pm."

Why you're making this application

This doesn't need to be an essay, but the court needs to understand the background. Focus on:

• The current situation
• What you've tried to resolve matters
• Why court intervention is now necessary
• What you believe is in the children's best interests

Avoid inflammatory language or lengthy criticism of the other parent. Judges read dozens of these applications and appreciate concise, child-focused explanations.

Section 6: Urgency

If you need the court to deal with your application urgently, explain why here. Urgent applications might involve:

• Risk of the children being removed from the jurisdiction
• Immediate safety concerns
• Time-sensitive decisions (like schooling)

Be honest about urgency. Courts take a dim view of applications dressed up as urgent when they're not.

Section 7: Attending Court

Indicate whether you'll need any special arrangements for court hearings, such as:

• An interpreter
• Assistance for a disability
• Separate waiting areas (if there are safety concerns)

Section 8: Previous Proceedings and Orders

List any previous court proceedings involving these children, including:

• Case numbers
• Court names
• Types of orders made
• Dates

This helps the court understand the history and, where possible, ensures cases are heard by judges familiar with the family.

Section 9: The Harm Section (C1A)

If there are allegations of harm – whether domestic abuse, violence, or other behaviour that's put the children or a parent at risk – you'll need to complete the supplementary C1A form.

This form asks about:

• The nature of the harm alleged
• When it occurred
• Whether it was reported to police or other agencies
• What protective measures might be needed

Completing the C1A triggers additional safeguarding checks and may affect how the court handles your case from the outset.

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The Court Fee

As of January 2026, the court fee for a C100 application is £263. This must be paid when you submit your application unless you qualify for fee remission.

Fee Remission

You may be entitled to reduced fees or no fees at all if:

• You receive certain benefits (Universal Credit, Income Support, etc.)
• Your income falls below specified thresholds
• Paying would cause exceptional hardship

You'll need to complete form EX160 to apply for fee remission and provide evidence of your financial circumstances.

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Submitting Your Application

You can submit your C100:

Online through the HMCTS portal at https://www.gov.uk/apply-child-arrangements-order

By post to the Family Court serving the area where the children live

In person at your local Family Court

Online submission is generally quickest and provides confirmation of receipt. Whichever method you choose, keep copies of everything you submit.

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What Happens Next?

After submission, the court will:

1. Check your application – ensuring it's complete and the fee is paid
2. Issue your application – giving it a case number
3. Send copies to CAFCASS – the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
4. Notify the respondent – sending them a copy of your application
5. List a first hearing – typically within 4-6 weeks

CAFCASS Involvement

CAFCASS will conduct initial safeguarding checks, contacting police and social services to identify any concerns about the children or parties.

"Between April and November 2025, Cafcass received 27,490 new private law children's cases, involving 41,699 children." — CAFCASS Data

Case Timelines by Region

Source: GOV.UK Family Court Statistics Q3 2025

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Having reviewed thousands of C100 applications, these are the errors we see most frequently:

Incomplete forms – Missing signatures, unanswered questions, or absent MIAM certificates delay processing. Check everything before submitting.

Vague requests – "I want to see my children" isn't specific enough. Be clear about what arrangements you're seeking.

Emotional language – Courts want facts, not feelings. Save the emotional narrative for a different context; your C100 should be measured and child-focused.

Wrong court – Submit to the court local to where the children live, not where you live.

Forgetting the fee – Unpaid applications aren't processed. Sort payment before submitting.

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Preparing for Your First Hearing

Once your application is issued, start preparing for the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA). This is your first opportunity to put your case to a judge.

You'll need:

• A position statement setting out your case
• Any documents you want the court to see
• A proposed arrangement for the children

The FHDRA is designed to identify issues and, where possible, help parents reach agreement. Many cases settle at this stage with the help of a CAFCASS officer.

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Do You Need a Solicitor?

You can make a C100 application without legal representation – many people do. However, consider getting legal advice if:

• The case involves complex issues
• There are allegations of abuse or serious harm
• You're unsure about your legal position
• The other party has a solicitor

Even if you represent yourself at hearings, an initial consultation with a family solicitor can help you understand your options and strengthen your application.

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Creating Your Court Bundle

Whatever happens at the FHDRA, you'll likely need to prepare a court bundle – a collection of all relevant documents, properly organised and paginated. Practice Direction 27A sets out strict requirements for how bundles should be prepared.

Creating a Court-Ready Bundle: BundleCreator.co provides preformed child arrangements templates that automatically structure your documents according to Practice Direction 27A requirements. Simply upload your documents, and BundleCreator handles pagination, indexing, and secure sharing—even if you're representing yourself.

What Your Bundle Should Include

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a C100 application cost?

The court fee is £263 as of January 2026. You may qualify for fee remission if you receive certain benefits or have a low income. Complete form EX160 to apply for help with fees.

How long does a C100 application take?

According to GOV.UK statistics, the average private law case takes 36 weeks from application to final order. However, this varies significantly by region—Wales averages 18 weeks, while London averages 70 weeks.

Do I need a solicitor to complete a C100?

No, you can complete and submit a C100 yourself. However, if your case involves complex issues, allegations of abuse, or the other party has legal representation, seeking legal advice is recommended.

What happens if I don't attend the MIAM?

Unless you have a valid exemption, the court will not accept your C100 application without a MIAM certificate. Exemptions include domestic abuse allegations, child protection concerns, and urgency.

Can I apply for a Child Arrangements Order online?

Yes, you can apply online through the HMCTS portal at GOV.UK. Online submission is generally faster and provides immediate confirmation of receipt.

What is the difference between a Child Arrangements Order and the old custody orders?

Child Arrangements Orders replaced residence and contact orders in April 2014. The new terminology focuses on who the child "lives with" and "spends time with" rather than custody and access. The legal effect is essentially the same.

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Your C100 Application Action Plan

1. Attend a MIAM first – unless you qualify for an exemption
2. Gather all required information – children's details, respondent's address, any previous orders
3. Be specific about what you're asking for – exact arrangements, not vague requests
4. Complete the form carefully – check every section before submitting
5. Pay the £263 fee – or apply for fee remission if eligible
6. Submit online for fastest processing – keep copies of everything
7. Prepare for your FHDRA – start gathering evidence and drafting your position statement
8. Create a compliant court bundle – use BundleCreator.co for automatic formatting

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Final Thoughts

Applying for a Child Arrangements Order is rarely anyone's first choice. It's stressful, expensive, and emotionally draining. But sometimes it's necessary to protect children's relationships with both parents.

If you've reached this point, approach the process with a clear head and a focus on your children's welfare. Courts make decisions based on what's best for children, not what's fair to parents. Keep that principle at the heart of everything you do, and you'll give yourself the best chance of a positive outcome.

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This guide provides general information about C100 applications in England and Wales. It is not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified family solicitor.

Sources:

• GOV.UK Family Court Statistics Quarterly Q3 2025
• GOV.UK Form C100 Official Guidance
• CAFCASS Data and Statistics
• CAFCASS Role in Private Law Proceedings
• DNA Legal Child Custody Statistics UK 2025
• Ministry of Justice Legal Aid Statistics
• Mediate UK C100 Guide