Is it possible to get a child arrangement order without going to court?
Reviewed by Sean McNamara, 2026-10-07
Most families resolve arrangements without contested proceedings. An ORDER requires a court, but arrangements don't require an order - and the difference between those two sentences is where parents save both money and months.
The pre-court ladder, in order
1) Direct agreement - the parenting plan (GOV.UK links a template; free). 2) Family mediation - one neutral mediator, sessions in the hundreds not thousands; the MIAM requirement routes almost everyone here first anyway. 3) Collaborative law - both parents with solicitors in four-way meetings, faster than court, costlier than mediation. 4) Court - C100, FHDRA, onward. Each rung down costs more time and money; courts expect the earlier rungs attempted (hence MIAM).,
When skipping court is the mistake
Not every dispute belongs in mediation: allegations of harm, a parent who won't engage at all, or repeated unilateral changes need enforceability. A parenting plan is a promise; an order is enforceable through the court. Match the tool to the other parent's track record, not to optimism.
Questions this page answers
Is it possible to get a child arrangement order without going to court?
An order only comes from a court - but arrangements need no order. A signed parenting plan or mediated agreement works day-to-day; it becomes enforceable only when converted into a consent order, which both parents can request without contested hearings.
Can I get a child arrangement order without going to court?
If agreement exists: yes in effect - a consent order seals the agreed arrangement for a modest fee, no contested hearing. If agreement doesn't exist: court is the mechanism, after MIAM unless exempt.
What happens in court for a child arrangement order?
FHDRA (triage, possible settlement, directions) -> DRAs (narrowing, evidence timetable) -> final hearing if unresolved. Most cases exit early - 'going to court' for most families means two to four hearings, not a trial.
How long does a child arrangement order take in court?
Weeks to FHDRA; contested cases to final hearing commonly 6-12 months in the current backlog (varies by court centre). Consent orders and settled cases close far faster.
Do I have to attend court for a child arrangement order?
For an order: yes at the key stages (some allow remote attendance). For an agreement: no courtroom at all - parenting plans and mediation never enter a building.