What the FHDRA is
The FHDRA is the first court hearing in most new private-law children cases — usually listed 6–12 weeks after a C100 is issued. It is a problems-solving hearing, not the trial: the court wants to see what can be agreed early, and to give directions for what cannot. It is typically short (often 30–60 minutes of court time) and increasingly heard by video (CVP). A Cafcass officer is usually available on the day.
What actually happens on the day
- Safeguarding letter first Before the hearing, Cafcass sends the court a short letter summarising its police and local-authority checks and any risk concerns raised at intake. Read it in advance — it frames the discussions. (How to read it.)
- Conciliation / discussion phase A family magistrate or legal adviser and the Cafcass officer often talk to each parent separately first, then bring proposals together. The atmosphere is deliberately less formal than a trial.
- Agreements are recorded If you reach agreement on interim contact or steps, the court records it as an order the same day. Agreed interim contact orders are enforceable like any other order.
- No agreement → directions If nothing is agreed, the court gives directions: statements, evidence, possibly a section 7 report (Cafcass investigation into the child's welfare), and lists the next hearing. The court will expect a position statement — short, factual, proposal-led.
How to prepare in the week before
- Write a 1–2 page position statement Facts, not feelings: what arrangements you seek, what you propose for interim contact, your response to the safeguarding letter's concerns. Bring 3 copies (bench, other side, you).
- Prepare a specific proposal Vague requests ("I want contact") get vague outcomes. Propose dates, times, venues — e.g. supported contact at a NACCC centre every Saturday for four weeks, then review.
- Organise your evidence log A dated log of past contact and communication shows the court you are organised and factual. Structure one here.
- Logistics Test CVP the day before if the hearing is remote. If in person, arrive 45 minutes early for security at Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre — self-representation guide. Arrange childcare — children do not attend.
Child-focus wins FHDRAs. Every proposal you make should be answerable to one question: why is this good for the child? — the same question the court must ask under s.1 Children Act 1989.
Questions people ask at Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre — self-representation guide
Do I have to attend the FHDRA?
Yes — if you do not attend, the court may decide the case on the other side's evidence or make orders in your absence. Video attendance counts. If a genuine emergency prevents attendance, contact the court's listing office immediately (number on our Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre — self-representation guide hub).
What should I wear and how do I address the court?
Smart-casual is fine; no suits required. The usher or the video host will tell you how to address the judge (typically "Sir/Madam", or "Your Honour"). Stand when speaking if in court; speak only when invited.
Can the court make a final order at the FHDRA?
Rarely, and usually only with both parents' agreement. If agreement is impossible, the court's job is to set the road to a final hearing — not to decide everything on day one.
Will the other parent be in the same room?
Courts manage this: separate waiting rooms and separate arrival times are common where there are allegations. If you fear meeting them, tell the listing office in advance and ask about staggered arrival or video attendance.
Before your hearing
Turning scattered messages, notes and dates into evidence takes structure. draft the position statement the FHDRA deserves — 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.