Non-attendance disrupts the child's case, so courts treat it seriously - but the response depends on why. A parent with notice who simply stays away usually loses by absence: the hearing proceeds, decisions get made on the available evidence, and the absence itself becomes evidence about engagement.
Missed a hearing? Act within days: obtain the order (court office or the other side), check its terms and any 'without notice' basis, and if the outcome prejudiced you, apply to vary or - where the rules allow - set aside (FPR r.19.13 for orders made without notice in certain cases). Speed matters: the longer orders run, the more the status quo calcifies around them.
Confirm service of every application and order (keep the track-and-trace receipts). Ask the court to record the other side's absence on the order. Propose orders that work WITHOUT cooperation (parallel parenting) so the child is not hostage to the other parent's engagement level.
The court checks whether they had notice. With proper notice, the hearing usually proceeds in absence (FPR 2010 r.11 applies to service questions) and orders can be made unopposed. The judge may also draw adverse inferences - absence without good reason counts against the missing parent on engagement and reliability.
The court works around refusal: parallel parenting orders, communication via apps, third-party handovers. Sustained refusal to engage with arrangements OR proceedings can shift the residence balance - courts reward the parent who keeps the child's world stable.
Breach can trigger enforcement proceedings: enforcement orders, unpaid work requirements, compensation claims, or in extreme cases committal (contempt). If you cannot comply, apply to VARY the order first - deliberate breach without variation is the expensive route.
No-shows, lateness without warning, unorganised papers, personal attacks instead of child-focused proposals, and ignoring directions. Conversely: a parent who flags a problem early and proposes solutions earns credibility.
Same as above from your side: orders may be made without your evidence, adverse inferences drawn, and you may face a costs order. If attendance is genuinely impossible - medical emergency, work you cannot leave - contact the court and the other side IMMEDIATELY with evidence; courts accommodate notice, not silence.