Before you pay the fee: three checks
- Is the C100 the right form? C100 starts applications for a child arrangements, prohibited steps or specific issue order under s.8 Children Act 1989. If you instead need to enforce an existing order, that is Form C79. If the case is already open, ask the court for an application within proceedings instead of a new C100.
- MIAM first (with exceptions) You must normally consider family mediation first — a MIAM — before applying. You attend alone; the mediator assesses whether mediation is suitable. Exemptions exist (urgency, domestic abuse, previous MIAM, and others) — see MIAM exemptions and evidence. The form asks you to justify the exemption you claim.
- Fee or fee remission The fee for a new C100 application is £270 (EX50, July 2026). If you are on a low income or benefits, apply for help with fees — many fathers qualify and pay nothing.
Applying — and where the case sits
- Apply online or on paper GOV.UK prefers the online C100 service; the paper C100 form is on the same page. Paper applications go to the family court covering your child's home area — for many families that is Gateshead County Court and Family Court or the regional family centre that administers it.
- Explain safeguarding concerns factually Section 5 (concerns about safety) drives the Cafcass safeguarding checks. State facts with dates — not conclusions. See building an objective evidence log.
- Issue and safeguarding After issue, Gateshead County Court and Family Court's listing team sends the application to Cafcass, which runs police and local-authority checks and produces a short safeguarding letter before the first hearing. If allegations are made against you, read what the safeguarding letter means.
- First hearing (FHDRA) The First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment is listed roughly 6–12 weeks after issue, often by video. Prepare with the FHDRA guide for Gateshead.
The welfare principle frames everything: under s.1 Children Act 1989 your child's welfare is the court's paramount consideration. Argue from your child's needs — not from fairness to you. Everything here starts from s.1 Children Act 1989: your child's welfare is the court's paramount consideration — and the most persuasive frame for your case.
Fees below come from GOV.UK family court fees (EX50), updated 13 July 2026. You may not have to pay: check help with fees on GOV.UK.
| Application | Form | Court fee |
|---|---|---|
| Child arrangements order | C100 | £270 |
| Non-molestation order | FL401 | No fee |
| Occupation order | FL401 | No fee |
| Enforcement of a child arrangements order | C79 | £270 |
| Action following breach of an enforcement order | — | £119 |
While you wait for the FHDRA
- Start a neutral contact/evidence log now: dates, times, verbatim messages, impact on the child. How to structure it.
- Propose contact — in writing, child-focused, specific. A parent proposing sensible contact looks reasonable; a parent only complaining does not.
- Consider a NACCC contact centre as a neutral, safe venue to offer for early contact.
- Get free procedural help: Support Through Court · Families Need Fathers.
Questions people ask at Gateshead
Will my C100 case definitely be handled at Gateshead County Court and Family Court?
Not always. Large regions issue paperwork at a main family court and list hearings at local venues — or by video. Your notice after issue names the venue and time. This guide explains the process; always follow your hearing notice. Check the venue on the official HMCTS court finder.
How long does a C100 case take?
A straightforward case often resolves in 2–6 hearings over 6–12 months. Contested findings of fact or rule 16.4 guardians add months. Backlog varies by region — ask the listing office about local timescales.
Do I have to tell the mother I am applying?
No. The court serves the application. In urgent cases the court can hear your application without notice to the other party, and decide later whether they should be told before any order is made.
Can I get legal aid for a C100?
Legal aid for private children cases requires evidence of domestic abuse (or other specific gateways) under LASPO 2012. Check the official legal aid checker. Most fathers in private law cases are self-funded — which is why guides like this and fixed-fee direct-access barristers exist.
Before your hearing
Turning scattered messages, notes and dates into evidence takes structure. turn your contact log into a structured C100 witness statement — EvidenceCanvas is a guided toolkit that helps you draft a child-focused witness statement, answer a Scott Schedule point by point, and assemble a paginated court bundle. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.