A C100 form is the application form used to ask the Family Court in England and Wales to make decisions about a child.

Parents or carers usually complete a C100 when they cannot agree on arrangements for a child and need the court to step in and make a decision.

Submitting a C100 form usually marks the start of a Family Court case involving children.

It is most commonly used when applying for orders such as a Child Arrangements Order, Specific Issue Order, or Prohibited Steps Order.

The C100 form asks the court to make decisions about important aspects of a child’s life.

This might include deciding:

• where a child should live

• how much time the child spends with each parent

• whether a child can relocate to another area

• disagreements about schooling or medical treatment

• whether certain actions should be prevented.

Once the form is submitted, the Family Court becomes involved in helping resolve the dispute.

The form asks for information about:

• the child or children involved

• the parents or carers

• the arrangements currently in place

• the order you are asking the court to make

• whether mediation has been attempted

• any safeguarding concerns.

If there are allegations of harm or abuse, additional information may be provided through a C1A form, which accompanies the C100 application.

In most cases, parents are expected to attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) before applying to the Family Court.

A MIAM is a meeting with a trained mediator to see whether the dispute could be resolved without going to court.

However, there are some situations where a MIAM may not be required, including cases involving:

• domestic abuse

• urgent applications

• child protection concerns.

Once the C100 application is received by the court, several things usually happen before a final decision is made.

These stages may include:

• safeguarding checks carried out by CAFCASS

• the scheduling of the first court hearing

• discussions about whether an agreement can be reached

• reports being prepared for the court

• further hearings if issues remain unresolved.

If parents cannot reach an agreement during the process, the court may eventually make a Child Arrangements Order, Specific Issue Order, or Prohibited Steps Order.

Family Court proceedings can take time. Even when you deem it an urgent case.

From the point of submitting a C100 application, cases may take several months or longer depending on the complexity of the case and the availability of the court.

Some cases resolve earlier if parents are able to reach an agreement during the process. This is known as a Consent Order.