Step 2 of 5 · The Application
The C100 Application
The C100 is the form that starts your case. It tells the court who you are, who the children are, what order you're asking for, and why. This is the first thing that the Court and the Court Social Workers see about your situation. It's important that it's written correctly in order to help your case and not damage it. Be clear and concise with what you're asking the court to do.
What the C100 actually is
The C100 is the application form for a Child Arrangements Order, a Prohibited Steps Order, or a Specific Issue Order under section 8 of the Children Act 1989. You fill it in online via GOV.UK.
Completing the C100 online is the quickest route as it gets processed quicker. It can also be saved for up to 30 days, so you can work through it in stages rather than in one sitting.
Completing the C100
You'll start by setting out the order(s) you're applying for — be specific: a 'Lives with' order, a 'Spends time with' order, a Prohibited Steps Order, or a Specific Issue Order. You'll then enter your MIAM details (your mediator's information, or the exemption you're relying on) and confirm whether you need the court's permission to apply, which parents usually don't.
Next you'll give the children's details — full names, dates of birth, and who they currently live with — followed by any other cases or orders involving them, past or present. Answer the safeguarding questions honestly. You'll then provide the Respondent's (the other parent's) full name and address, list anyone else significant to the children such as grandparents, and confirm who holds parental responsibility.
The application finishes with your reasons for applying — a clear, factual statement of what you're asking the court to do and why. Keep it calm, specific, and child-focused.
Reasons for Applying to Court
The court reads thousands of these. Be calm, specific, and child-focused. Avoid attacking the other parent — the court forms its own view.
Filing the application
- ✓Sign and date the form (and statement of truth).
- ✓Attach your MIAM certificate (or evidence of exemption).
- ✓Pay the £255 fee or include your Help with Fees reference.
- ✓Download a copy of your completed application for your own records before submitting.
- ✓Submit online via GOV.UK 'Apply for a Child Arrangements Order'.
The court will issue the application, serve the other parent, list the matter for a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA), and notify CAFCASS — which leads us to Step 3.
Mentor Plus
Over-the-shoulder C100 walkthrough — 2 hours with your mentor
A full recorded session walking through the C100 application from start to finish. Every field, every rabbit hole, every “what if my situation is…” — covered. Drawn from years of professional training and experience, and from my own journey through the Family Court as a parent.