The Family Court Process: Every Hearing Explained (England & Wales)
If you're staring down a child arrangements case with no idea what's coming, the family court process is a fixed sequence of stages, not an open-ended fight. Most cases follow the same path: MIAM, application, safeguarding checks, FHDRA, and then either agreement or a further hearing or two before a final order. Here's the whole route on one page, with links through to a full guide for each stage that has one.
What is the MIAM and do I have to attend one?
Before you can apply to court, you normally have to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, a short one-to-one meeting with a mediator that explains what mediation involves and checks whether it's suitable. It isn't mediation itself, just the gateway to it. There are exemptions, most importantly where there's evidence of domestic abuse, in which case you can apply to court directly.
What happens when I submit the C100 application?
The C100 is the form that starts a child arrangements case. It's submitted online or by post, along with a court fee (roughly £263 according to the current gov.uk fee schedule, always check gov.uk for the up-to-date figure, as fees are reviewed periodically). Filing it triggers the rest of the process, including CAFCASS involvement and the listing of your first hearing.
If you haven't instructed a solicitor yet, our guide on how to find the right family solicitor covers what to look for and how to book an initial consultation before you get this far.
What safeguarding checks happen before the first hearing?
Once your case is issued, CAFCASS carries out safeguarding checks before the first hearing: a phone call with each parent, plus checks with the police and local social services. The results go into a safeguarding letter the court reads before the FHDRA. Being honest and child-focused on that call matters, it shapes the court's early view of the case.
What happens at the FHDRA?
The First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment is usually listed around four to six weeks after the C100 is issued. It's a short hearing, often 30 to 60 minutes, aimed at working out what's actually in dispute and whether agreement is possible, not at hearing evidence or deciding who's right. Full detail, including what happens in the room, is in our FHDRA guide.
What directions might the court set after the FHDRA?
If the case doesn't settle at the FHDRA, the court sets directions, instructions for what needs to happen before the next hearing. Most commonly that means ordering a Section 7 report from CAFCASS, and sometimes witness statements from both parents. Where there are disputed allegations, most often around domestic abuse or risk of harm, that can't safely be left until later, the court may list a fact-finding hearing first to decide what did or didn't happen, before anything else is settled.
What is a Section 7 report and how long does it take?
A Section 7 report is a welfare report, usually written by a CAFCASS officer, that looks at each parent's circumstances and makes a recommendation about what arrangements would serve the children's welfare. It typically takes around 12 to 16 weeks from being ordered to being filed with the court, longer in more complex cases. It carries real weight at the next hearing.
What happens at the DRA?
The Dispute Resolution Appointment is the second serious attempt at settlement, held once the Section 7 report and any other ordered evidence is in front of the court. The judge will usually give a clear steer on how the case looks based on that evidence, which is often enough to move parents toward a consent order. Full detail is in our DRA guide.
What happens at the final hearing?
If the case still hasn't settled after the DRA, it goes to a final hearing, the last stage, where a judge hears evidence and submissions from both sides and makes a binding decision. This is usually listed for at least a full day. Full detail, including what to expect if you have to give evidence, is in our final hearing guide.
What happens after the decision is made?
Whether arrangements are agreed at the FHDRA, the DRA, or decided at a final hearing, the outcome is written up as a Court Order. Once both parties have agreed the wording (or, at a final hearing, once the judge's decision is recorded), the order is sealed by the court and becomes the arrangement both parents are legally required to follow.
Family court process timescales at a glance
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| MIAM | Before applying to court, unless an exemption applies |
| C100 application | Day the case starts, court fee roughly £263 (check gov.uk) |
| CAFCASS safeguarding checks | In the weeks between application and the FHDRA |
| FHDRA | Roughly 4 to 6 weeks after the C100 is issued |
| Directions (Section 7 report, statements, fact-finding) | Set at the FHDRA if the case doesn't settle |
| Section 7 report | Around 12 to 16 weeks from being ordered |
| DRA | Once the Section 7 report is filed, often several months after the FHDRA |
| Final hearing | Further months on if the DRA doesn't resolve things |
| Final order | Sealed once agreement is reached or the judge decides |
These are typical ranges, not guarantees. Court lists vary a lot by area, and complex cases (multiple experts, contested fact-finding, appeals) take longer. Treat this table as a rough map, not a promise of dates.
Keep your own records at every stage
Whichever stage you're at, a clear, dated record of contact and handovers strengthens your position. Our Co-Parenting Custody Calendar & Documentation Toolkit keeps it all in one place.
See it on EtsyKey takeaways
- The sequence is fixed: MIAM, C100, safeguarding checks, FHDRA, directions, DRA (if needed), final hearing, final order.
- Most of the delay in a contested case comes from the Section 7 report, not from court inefficiency.
- A fact-finding hearing only happens where there are disputed allegations that need deciding before anything else can be settled.
- Cases can and do end at any stage, plenty settle at or shortly after the FHDRA, others need the full sequence.
- For the detail on any single stage, use the full guides linked above.