Which court handles your C100
Children Act applications are issued in the family court area where your child lives. From Leighton Buzzard / Dunstable, the relevant verified venues are:
Many regions now administer cases from a regional family centre and list hearings locally or by video — after issue, your hearing notice is what names the actual venue. Application guidance never depends on the building: the form, fee and process are national.
The application, step by step
- MIAM first (or a valid exemption) Attend a mediation information meeting, or claim an exemption (urgency, domestic abuse, previous MIAM and others). Exemptions and the evidence they need.
- Complete the C100 Online via GOV.UK or on paper. State concerns factually with dates — this text drives the Cafcass safeguarding check.
- Pay £270 — or apply for remission Help with fees can reduce it to £0 on low income/benefits.
- Issue → safeguarding → FHDRA After issue, Cafcass checks police and council records and sends the court a safeguarding letter; the first hearing (FHDRA) follows, typically 6–12 weeks later. Reading the safeguarding letter · FHDRA preparation.
While you wait: propose interim contact in writing — specific days, times, and a venue. Offering a NACCC accredited contact centre answers safety objections before they are raised.
Leighton Buzzard / Dunstable — common questions
Can I file at the court building in Leighton Buzzard / Dunstable?
Paper filing still works, but online filing is faster and tracked. If you file on paper, check the receiving address for your area on the official HMCTS court finder — some venues forward paperwork to a regional processing centre.
Does it matter that the mother lives elsewhere?
Jurisdiction follows the child's habitual residence, not the applicant's address. If your child lives with you in Leighton Buzzard / Dunstable, the local family court area is the right one.
What if I need contact urgently?
Urgency is argued in the C100 itself (and supports a MIAM exemption): explain, with dates, why delay harms the child. The court can list a short-notice first hearing where the evidence justifies it.
Before your hearing
Turning scattered messages, notes and dates into evidence takes structure. structure your C100 statement around your child's routine — 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.