There is no single national 'family court list' - family work is handled through the Family Court (a single court sitting in many buildings) plus the High Court for exceptional cases. What you need is your DESIGNATED family court for your postcode, and the right hearing centre for your case type.
Family hearings sit in: dedicated family courts (e.g. Central Family Court, London), combined county courts with family jurisdiction, magistrates' courts (family proceedings courts for some work), and the High Court (wardship, international, inherent jurisdiction cases). Your case is allocated by the court, not chosen by you - but you file at your designated centre (find it via GOV.UK's court finder by postcode).
First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA) - triage and possible agreement; Directions hearings - sequencing evidence; Dispute Resolution Appointments (DRA) - narrowing issues; Final hearing - evidence tested, decision made. Most cases settle at or before FHDRA/DRA stage; knowing the ladder keeps you from over-preparing for the wrong stage.
With notice served, hearings proceed in absence and orders issue unopposed; adverse inferences can follow. Non-attendance without warning damages the absent parent's credibility on engagement.
Disorganised bundles, adult-grievance arguments, ignored directions and lateness. Preparation is the universal antidote - judges consistently reward specific, child-focused proposals.
To decide disputes about children (arrangements, specific issues, protection) and finances, using the child's welfare as the paramount consideration. It is a problem-solving court in design: directions, evidence, then decisions.
Application fees: C100 child arrangements £232 (England and Wales, verify current); financial remedy applications £275-ish; enforcement applications have their own fees. Fee remissions apply on low incomes.