Family law forms

EX160: Apply for help with fees

EX160 Online application

EX160A: How to apply for help with fees

Enforce an order

If your ex-partner is not following the order, you can ask the court to enforce it. Follow these steps.

  1. Fill in form C79 to apply - read guidance CB5 if you need help.

  2. Use form C78 to attach a ‘warning notice’ if your order was made before 8 December 2008. Orders made after this date will already include one.

  3. Send it to the court nearest to you that deals with cases involving children. It costs £215.

The court will look at the facts again to see if anything has changed.

If the court enforces the order

Depending on your situation and what you’ve asked the court to decide they might make:

  • an ‘enforcement order’ - this means your ex-partner has to do between 40 and 200 hours of unpaid work

  • an ‘order for compensation for financial loss’ - this means your ex-partner has to pay back any money you’ve lost because they did not follow the order (for example if you missed a holiday)

You can go back to the court if your ex-partner still does not do as the court ordered.

If the court does not enforce the order

The court might not enforce the existing order if they think that your ex-partner is not following it because:

  • they have a good reason

  • it’s better for your children to do something different

You can go back to the court if you do not agree with their decision or your situation changes.



Form C8: Apply to keep your contact details confidential from other parties in family proceedings

You can ask the court to keep a child’s contact details private as well as your own.


Making child arrangements

You can choose how to make arrangements for looking after your children if you separate from your partner.

CB1: Making an application – Children and the Family Courts

CB2: Urgent hearings and those without notice in relation to child arrangements

C2: Application: For permission to start proceedings; For an order or directions in existing proceedings; To be joined as, or cease to be, a party in existing family proceedings under the Children Act 1989

C1A: Allegations of harm and domestic violence (Supplemental information form)

C1A Notes: Notes for guidance for supplemental information form C1A

C110A Emergency application for contact with an adopted child or for a care or supervision order or an Emergency Protection Order or application for a care or supervision order and other orders under Part 4 of the Children Act 1989 or an Emergency Protection Order under section 44 of the Children Act 1989.

(This replaces form C110.)

Part 4 of the childrens Act 1989-the child may be kept in the care of that person until received into the care of the authority.

(4)The authority may not exercise the power in subsection (3)(b) unless they are satisfied that it is necessary to do so in order to safeguard or promote the child's welfare.

C15 Supliment for an application for contact with a child

C79: Application related to enforcement of a child arrangement order

C1:  Application for an order

C13A: Supplement for an Application for a Special Guardianship Order

C4:  Application for an order for disclosure of a child’s whereabouts

C(PRA1): Parental Responsibility Agreement

C(PRA2): Step-Parent Parental Responsibility Agreement

C3:  Application for an order authorising search for taking charge of and delivery of a child

C63: Application for declaration of parentage under section 55A of the Family Law Act 1986

C15: Supplement for an application for contact with a child in care

What you can do is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.


You and your ex-partner can usually avoid going to court hearings if you agree on:

  • where the children will live

  • how much time they’ll spend with each parent

  • how you’ll financially support your children

You can use a solicitor if you want to make your agreement legally binding.

You can agree on child maintenance at the same time or separately.

Get help agreeing

You can make a Parenting Plan with your ex-partner or use a mediator.

You can also get help and information from:

If you cannot agree on everything

You can ask a court to decide anything you cannot agree after mediation or getting other help.

You must show you’ve attended a meeting to see if mediation is right for you before applying to a court. You will not have to in certain cases, for example if there’s been

domestic abuse or social services are involved.

You will not usually get legal aid to help with court costs unless you’re separating from an abusive partner.

You can contact Citizens Advice for advice about what to do in your situation.


Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), your C100 form will be processed faster if you submit it online

than if you send it by post.

If your order ends at a fixed time (‘time-limited’), you can make your own agreement afterwards. You can get help to agree.

Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

  • Updated: 20 August 2020