Making child arrangements if you divorce or separate

Skip to contents of guide

Apply for a court order

You can apply online or using a paper form for any of the following:

  • child arrangements order
  • prohibited steps order
  • specific issue order
  • consent order

There’s a different process in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It costs £232 to apply for a court order. You may be able to get help paying court fees if you’re on benefits or a low income.

Before you apply

You must usually attend a meeting about mediation before you apply. This is called a mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM).

You do not need to attend a MIAM either:

  • in certain cases (there’s been domestic abuse, for example)
  • if you’re applying for a consent order

Apply online

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. You’ll have 28 days to complete the form after you’ve saved it.

Apply online now

Apply using a paper form

Follow these steps to apply for a court order using a paper form.

  1. Read guidance CB001 on making an application.

  2. Fill in the C100 court form. You must show you’ve attended a meeting about mediation first - except in certain cases (there’s been domestic abuse, for example) or when applying for a consent order.

  3. Send your original form and 3 copies of it to the nearest court that deals with cases involving children.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Get a divorce: step by step

  1. Step 1 Get support and advice

    You can get support or counselling to help you through the divorce process.

    1. Get support and advice from Relate
    2. Find a counsellor on Counselling Directory

  2. Step 2 Check if you can get divorced

    1. Check if you can get a divorce
    2. Get legal advice if you want help with the divorce process

  3. Step 3 Make arrangements for children, money and property

    1. Make arrangements for your children
    2. Divide your money and property
    3. Check if your divorce will affect whether you can live in your current home

  4. Step 4 Apply for a divorce

    1. Apply for a divorce online or by post £593
    2. Get help with court fees
    3. Get legal advice
    4. Get help if your husband or wife cannot make decisions for themselves

  5. Step 5 Apply for a ‘conditional order’ or ‘decree nisi’

    1. Apply for a ‘conditional order’ or 'decree nisi'

  6. Step 6 Finalise your divorce

    1. Apply for a ‘final order’ or 'decree absolute'

  7. Step 7 Report that your circumstances have changed

    You also have to tell other government organisations that you're getting divorced if: