What is a C100 form and how do I fill it in?

The C100 is the application form used to ask the family court to make a child arrangements order. It covers where a child lives, who they spend time with, and how much contact they have with each parent. You submit it to start court proceedings if you and the other parent cannot reach agreement through other means. Before you can submit a C100 in most cases, you must first attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM), unless an exemption applies.

When do I need a C100?

You need a C100 if you want the court to make a formal order about:

1. Where a child lives and who they live with.
2. How much time a child spends with each parent, including overnight stays, school holidays, and special occasions.
3. Specific issues, such as which school a child attends, whether they can be taken abroad, or questions about their name or religion.
4. Permission to remove a child from England and Wales, whether temporarily or permanently.

You can submit a C100 as the parent applying for contact or as the parent responding to a situation where the other parent has taken steps to restrict your relationship with the child.

Do I need to attend a MIAM before submitting the C100?

In most cases, yes. A MIAM is a meeting with a family mediator to explore whether mediation could help resolve the dispute without going to court. You are required to attend a MIAM before making a C100 application under Family Procedure Rules 2010, rule 3.6, unless a MIAM exemption applies.

Exemptions include situations involving domestic abuse, urgency, previous MIAM attendance within the last four months, or where the other party cannot be located. If you believe you qualify for an exemption, you tick the relevant box in section 4 of the C100 and confirm the basis for it. You'll be expected to provide evidence supporting the exemption if the court or the other party questions it.

How do I get the C100 form?

The C100 is available as a PDF from GOV.UK. Some courts also accept the form submitted through MyHMCTS. Check which route your local court accepts before you start.

How do I complete the C100?

The form has nine sections. Work through each one:

1. Section 1 — About the application: state which type of order you're applying for (child arrangements, specific issue, or prohibited steps) and set out briefly what you're asking the court to do.
2. Section 2 — About the children: full legal name, date of birth, and address for each child covered by the application. If there are other court proceedings concerning the child, note them here.
3. Section 3 — About you (the applicant): your full name, date of birth, relationship to the child, address, and contact details. If you have safety concerns about your address being shared with the other party, tick the confidential address box and complete a separate C8 form.
4. Section 4 — MIAM: either provide your mediator's MIAM certificate number, or state and confirm the basis for your exemption.
5. Section 5 — About the respondent(s): the same information for the other parent or any other person who has parental responsibility for the child.
6. Section 6 — Other people involved: anyone else who has a significant role in the child's life or who should be notified of the proceedings, such as a grandparent with whom the child has regular contact.
7. Section 7 — Safety information: information about any history of domestic abuse, violence, drugs, alcohol, or other safety concerns relating to any party. This section feeds directly into CAFCASS's initial safeguarding assessment. Answer it accurately and fully.
8. Section 8 — Court details: which court you're submitting to, and details of any previous court proceedings involving the family.
9. Section 9 — Declaration: your signature confirming the information is accurate.

What documents do I submit with the C100?

1. The completed C100 form itself.
2. Your MIAM certificate from the mediator, or your stated MIAM exemption.
3. If you have safety concerns about your address, a completed C8 form.
4. The court fee. As of 2025 the fee is £232, though this may change. Fee remission is available if you're on a low income through the EX160 form available from GOV.UK.

Some courts require multiple paper copies. Check with your local court before submitting.

What happens after I submit the C100?

The court issues the application and sends a copy to the other parent (the respondent). CAFCASS is automatically notified and will carry out initial safeguarding checks. The court lists the case for a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA), usually within four to six weeks of the application being issued. You'll receive a notice of hearing telling you the date, time, and location.

Going through this without a solicitor is difficult, particularly completing section 7 accurately given how much it matters for the CAFCASS safeguarding process. Access to Justice is built for people in exactly this position, it explains what each section is asking for and why it matters. Try it free.

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit the C100 online?

Some courts accept the C100 through MyHMCTS. Others still require paper submission, and some ask for multiple paper copies. Check the guidance on GOV.UK, or contact your local family court, before you begin — completing it in the wrong format can delay your application from the start.

What is the difference between a child arrangements order, a specific issue order, and a prohibited steps order?

A child arrangements order deals with where a child lives and who they spend time with. A specific issue order asks the court to decide a particular question about the child's upbringing, such as schooling. A prohibited steps order stops a parent from taking a specific action without court permission, such as taking the child abroad. The C100 covers all three.

Do I need to serve the C100 on the other parent myself?

No. Once you submit the C100 to the court, the court issues the application and serves a copy on the respondent. You do not serve it directly. If you have safety concerns about your address being shared, tick the confidential address box in section 3 and complete a separate C8 form.

What if I'm worried about my address being seen by the other parent?

Tick the confidential address box in section 3 of the C100 and complete a C8 form separately. The court then keeps your address confidential from the other party. This matters most where there is a history of domestic abuse, and it sits alongside the safety information you give in section 7.

Can I apply for an urgent order using the C100?

If there are urgent safety concerns, you can apply for an emergency prohibited steps order or other urgent relief by accompanying the C100 with a C2 application and a supporting statement explaining the urgency. In genuinely urgent situations, courts can deal with applications without giving prior notice to the other party.

What is the court fee and can it be waived?

The fee for a C100 application is currently £232, though this may change. If you're on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you may qualify for fee remission through the Help with Fees scheme. Complete form EX160, available from GOV.UK, and submit it alongside your application.

This article provides legal information about child arrangements proceedings in England and Wales. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a qualified solicitor.