The C100 Form: What It Is and When You Might Need One.

If you and your child's other parent are unable to agree on crucial decisions regarding your child's upbringing, you may need to seek help from the court.

This is where the C100 form becomes relevant.

But what is a C100 form, and when should it be used?

This is a question we have been asked hundreds of times so we have created this article to help guide you through the process.

What is a C100 Form?

A C100 form is the document required to be submitted to the court when applying for a court order concerning child-related disputes.

These applications typically involve:

Child arrangements: Deciding where a child will reside and the amount of time they will spend with each parent.

Specific issues: Resolving matters like which school the child should attend, religious upbringing, or major medical treatment.

Prohibited steps orders: Preventing certain actions, such as stopping a parent from taking the child abroad without permission.

Once the form is submitted, the court becomes involved in making decisions that serve the child's best interests.

When Might You Need a C100 Form?

While it's preferable to resolve disputes through negotiation or mediation, there are times when this isn't feasible.

If mediation fails or discussions collapse, you may need to apply for a court order using the C100 form.

Common situations include:

1. Disagreements over where the child should live: If you and the other parent cannot agree on your child's main residence, a child arrangements order via a C100 form might be needed to formalise a decision.

2. Disputes over parental access: If contact with your child is denied or there are disagreements about the time a parent should spend with the child, a C100 form can be used to apply for a court-enforced arrangement.

3. Specific decisions: Issues like deciding which school your child should attend or healthcare choices may require a specific issue order if parents can't agree.

4. Preventing certain actions: If you need to stop the other parent from making significant decisions—such as relocating your child abroad without consent—you can apply for a prohibited steps order.

Mediation Requirement Before Filing a C100 Form

Before filing a C100 form, most applicants must attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM).

This meeting aims to determine if mediation could resolve the dispute without court intervention.

Mediation is often faster, less stressful, and less expensive than court proceedings.

However, exceptions to this requirement exist. You can bypass the MIAM if:

• There is evidence of domestic violence.

• The matter is urgent (e.g., an imminent threat of a parent taking the child out of the country).

• Certain other exemptions apply (such as a history of child neglect).

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For more information on Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) and their benefits, click here.

Timeframes: How Long Does It Take?

After filing the C100 form, the court process can take some time.

Typically, a first hearing is scheduled within 4-6 weeks of your application.

However, this may vary based on the case's complexity and court resource availability.

Cases involving child welfare are prioritised, but expect the entire process, from application to final ruling, to take several months in most instances.

For a detailed overview of what happens after filing the form, including timescales, visit the Government’s child arrangements page here.

Costs Involved

Filing a C100 form involves a court fee, currently set at £232.

It's important to consider potential legal costs as well, especially if opting for legal representation.

It is generally advised to avoid legal representation given that the vast majority of cases are not influenced by legal representation unless there are serious criminal allegations.

For more information on how to self represent, please read here.

You can easily file a C100 form without a solicitor, although guidance can be invaluable in ensuring your case is effectively presented so joining PAPA is recommended.

We have a large support network at PAPA as well as many courses and other resources available to members, with more planned for the future.

Legal aid may be available for those meeting specific criteria, particularly in cases involving domestic abuse.

To check if you're eligible for legal aid, consult the Legal Aid Calculator here.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Once a court order is issued following the C100 application, both parents are legally required to comply.

Non-compliance can lead to serious consequences, including enforcement orders, fines, or, in extreme cases, imprisonment.

The court is meant to take breaches of orders seriously, particularly if they affect the child's welfare.

For further guidance on what happens if someone doesn't follow a court order, refer to our article on Enforcement of court orders here.

How PAPA Can Help

At PAPA, we recognise the stress and emotions involved in handling disputes concerning children.

Our skilled and knowledgeable team of volunteers are here to assist you throughout the process, whether you need help determining if a C100 form is required, preparing the application, or seeking court representation.

We provide expert guidance to help resolve issues swiftly and amicably, always focusing on your child's best interests.

If you're encountering challenges with child arrangements, specific issues, or need to prevent the other parent from taking certain actions, we offer clear, supportive, and effective guidance at every stage.

We can help you navigate these difficult times and empower you to take control of your situation with confidence, ensuring the best possible outcome for your family.

For help with your C100 application or any other family law issue, you can join PAPA here and also gain access to our support networks, courses and other resources.

We’re here to assist you in making the right decisions for your and your child’s future.

In need of help or support?

If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website, completely free.

This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes free downloadable guides to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.

We also have a free to use Facebook support group that you can join here.

Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.

If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.

Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.

Become a PAPA Ambassador

If you like our free resources, articles and our support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?

We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.

Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.

To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses or ordering supply.

We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.

We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.

You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.

Each PAPA Plus membership allows us to raise funds to help improve our services and our awareness campaigns.

Proceeds from memberships and supply go towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.