Child Arrangements & Court
Mediation, C100 applications, CAFCASS and what to expect at each family court hearing.
This is general information for England & Wales, not legal advice, for advice on your situation, speak to a family solicitor or Citizens Advice.
If you're on this page, there's a good chance you've either just been served with a C100 or you've got a hearing date staring back at you from a letter on the table. That's a frightening place to be. It helps to know that most child arrangements cases never reach a judge deciding for you, most settle at or before the first hearing, once the court has helped both parents narrow down what's actually in dispute.
The process runs through a fixed sequence: mediation first, then an application, CAFCASS safeguarding checks, the FHDRA and, if it doesn't settle there, further hearings until a final order is made. How long that takes depends on your case, some resolve in weeks, others take the best part of a year if a Section 7 report or disputed allegations are involved. I've been through this myself, shuttle mediation, two FHDRAs and a final hearing, so these guides are built from what actually happened in the room, not just the rulebook.
- If you want the whole process on one page first — read The Family Court Process: Every Hearing Explained.
- If your FHDRA is coming up — read What Happens at the FHDRA.
- If your case has been referred for a Section 7 report and a DRA — read DRA Family Court: What Happens at the DRA Hearing.
- If your case is heading to a final hearing — read The Final Hearing.
The Family Court Process: Every Hearing Explained (England & Wales)
A one-page map of every stage in a child arrangements case, from the MIAM through to the final order, with links to full guides for each hearing.
Read guide →DRA Family Court: What Happens at a Dispute Resolution Appointment
A DRA (Dispute Resolution Appointment) is the hearing that follows the FHDRA once evidence is in. Here's what it is, what happens on the day, and how to prepare.
Read guide →The Final Hearing: What Happens When the Court Decides Your Child Arrangements
Your child arrangements case has reached the Final Hearing, the day the court makes its decision. Here's what to expect and how to prepare.
Read guide →What happens at the FHDRA — the first family court hearing
The First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment is where most child arrangements cases begin. Here is what actually happens in the room, and how to prepare properly.
Read guide →