Court orders
Court Ready Workshop Information
The Court Ready Workshop has been designed to help Dads prepare for the family court process. Covering the following topics, we are here to help build their confidence at a time where their emotions are heightened and coparenting is proving ...
What to expect from the Cafcass safeguarding call?
Before your FHDRA (First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment), Cafcass (the Children and Families Court Advisory and Support Service) will normally telephone both parties to complete what is known as a 'Safeguarding Call'. They will call both you ...
Urgent Hearings
Urgent: Where an order is sought as a matter of urgency, an application may be made to the Court for an emergency order without the requirement for the Applicant to have attended at a MIAM. The categories of urgent application justifying such an ...
Specific Issue Order
What is a Specific Issue Order? A Specific Issue Order is a court order that determines a parenting issue that is in dispute in relation to any aspect of parental responsibility for a child. Examples of what a Specific Issue Order can determine are: ...
Prohibited Steps Order (PSO)
What is a PSO? A prohibited steps order is a court order that prevents a parent from a certain activity relating to their child/ren and which also prohibits a parent from exercising their parental responsibility. A prohibited steps order could ...
Direct Access Barrister
Barristers can be booked via an instructing agent such as a solicitor or Dads Unlimited (subject to terms), or you can book some Barristers direct - these are known as Direct Access Barristers. You can find a Direct Access Barrister through the ...
Legal Aid
Legal aid can help pay for legal advice. You can check if you may be eligible for legal aid using the online legal aid checker on the Government website. You’ll only get guidance on whether or not you can get legal aid - you will not get a final ...
Can clients share court orders and documents?
We often get asked whether you are permitted to share your court order or section 7 report with us as quite rightly, Family Court proceedings are private and confidential. It's important to note that you are not even allowed to show your court ...
Special Guardianship
A Special Guardianship Order appoints one or more people as special guardians of a child. The order lasts until the child is 18 (unless it is changed or cancelled before then). The special guardian has parental responsibility for the child and can ...
Consent Order: Child Arrangements
What is a Consent Order? If you and your ex partner agree on child arrangements but you would like a legal document to formalise your agreement then you can apply for a consent order. A consent order is a legal document that confirms your agreement. ...
Section 7 Reports
What is a Section 7 Report? A Section 7 Interview and Section 7 Report refers to Section 7 of the Children Act 1989 and gives the Court the power to request that a Court Officer (Cafcass, a Welsh Family Proceedings Officer, or a Local Authority ...
Step-parents applying for Child Arrangements Orders
Step parents are entitled to apply for a child arrangements order as per section 10 - Childrens Act 1989 if any of these apply - The following persons are entitled to apply for a child arrangements order with respect to a child— (a)any party to a ...
Applying to court if you are a child
If you are the child and the order you want to apply for is about you (for example, your contact with a parent), you must get the court’s permission before you apply for the following orders: Child arrangements order (including to vary or discharge ...
C2 Court Form: An Application in Existing Court Proceedings Relating to Children
The C2 court form is used to: Ask for permission to start proceedings, or to request an order or directions in existing proceedings, or to ask to join or leave proceedings. You can download a copy of the C2 form here.
C1A Court Form: Making or Responding to Allegations of Harm and Domestic Violence
The C1A form is to provide supplemental information when making or responding to allegations of harm and domestic violence. You use the C1A form to: Tell the court about harm that you or your child/ren have suffered or are at risk of suffering; or ...
McKenzie Friends: What are they and what can they do?
About McKenzie Friends If you are attending a court hearing without the support of a Solicitor or Barrister (your counsel) then you have the right to have reasonable assistance from a layperson (someone who is not a Legal Professional). This person ...
Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
A special guardianship order is a court order that specifies that a child will live with someone else other than their parents in the long-term. The person or persons who the child will live with then become the child's Special Guardians. The Local ...
Court Orders for Grandparents
Grandparents do not have an automatic right for a grandchild to have contact with them, however it is potentially possible for them to apply for a Child Arrangements Order. They may not have an automatic right to be able to apply. This depends on if: ...
Finding a Solicitor (Resolution Approved)
Resolution is a group of family justice professionals including solicitors who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way. They were founded in 1982 by a group of family lawyers who believed that a non-confrontational ...
Which court form do I need?
There is a wide range of Family Court orders and it can be daunting to work out which one you need and how to apply. You can use the table below to find the form you need to make your application with the link to the online document. You can also get ...
Local Contact Centre / Independent Social worker
If you need to find a contact centre you can use the following website to search: http://www.naccc.org.uk/find-a-centre There are also independent social workers who offer services to facilitate contact outside of contact centres and in the ...
Apply for a transcript of a court or tribunal hearing
https://www.gov.uk/apply-transcript-court-tribunal-hearing
C79: Enforce a Child Arrangements Order
If you need to enforce or vary an existing Child Arrangements Order then you will need to apply to the court using form C79: This is to Apply for an order related to the enforcement of a child arrangements order or to set aside or change an existing ...
Witness Statement template
During proceedings you may be asked to produce a witness statement. The court will give you a time frame for when you need to have this submitted by. This is a document which shows the evidence for the party writing the statement. This evidence is ...
Help with Court Fees
You might be able to get money off your court or tribunal fees if you have little or no savings, are on certain benefits or have a low income. Eligibility Savings You need to have less than £3,000 in savings and investments if you’re under 61. You ...
We Are Advocate - access to free legal support
We are Advocate is the pro bono charity of the Bar, supported by the Bar Council. They can offer free legal help if you qualify and pass the application process. Find out if you qualify for free legal help here ...