Current family court fees
Fees below come from GOV.UK family court fees (EX50), updated 13 July 2026. You may not have to pay: check help with fees on GOV.UK.
| Application | Form | Court fee |
|---|---|---|
| Child arrangements order | C100 | £270 |
| Non-molestation order | FL401 | No fee |
| Occupation order | FL401 | No fee |
| Enforcement of a child arrangements order | C79 | £270 |
| Action following breach of an enforcement order | — | £119 |
The forms, and what each is for
| Form | Use it to | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| C100 | Start a child arrangements, prohibited steps or specific issue application | GOV.UK: Form C100 |
| FL401 | Apply for a non-molestation order, occupation order, or both | GOV.UK: Form FL401 |
| C79 | Ask the court to enforce (breach) a child arrangements order | GOV.UK: Form C79 |
| HR1 | Register home rights at HM Land Registry (not a court form — protects the home) | GOV.UK: Form HR1 |
| CB1 | Read first: explains family court applications involving children | GOV.UK: CB1 guidance |
Where and how to file
- Use online where possible C100 has a full online service on GOV.UK. FL401 also has an online route. Online filing avoids postal delays and lost documents.
- Paper filing goes to the right family court Children Act applications are filed in the family court area where the child lives (is "habitually resident"). For many families in this area the relevant venue is Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre — but some regions route paperwork to a regional centre. Check the venue's page on the official HMCTS court finder or phone the number listed on our Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre hub page.
- Pay — or apply for help with fees Court fees are paid on issue unless you qualify for remission. Check help with fees on GOV.UK before you pay; eligibility depends on income and benefits.
- Keep proof of everything Keep copies of the form, the fee receipt (EX50 number) and any postage. If papers go missing, your proof of filing is what protects your position.
What a solicitor would charge — and the self-serve alternative
Solicitors in private family matters commonly charge £200–£350+ per hour, so a contested two-hour directions hearing can cost more than the entire fee schedule above. Many fathers now do the preparation themselves — statements, Scott Schedules, bundles — and spend money only where it counts (a direct-access barrister for the hearing itself). If you go that route, Support Through Court offers free procedural help at many courts.
Questions people ask at Bristol
Can I get the C100 fee waived?
Possibly. Fee remission depends on means — benefits or low income. Apply via the official help with fees service. Many applicants pay £0 rather than £270.
Do I need a solicitor to issue these forms?
No. Litigants in person issue their own applications every day. The forms come with guidance notes, and CB1 explains the children process. What a solicitor adds is strategy — for pure filing, you do not need one.
Which form do I use if she keeps breaking the contact order?
Form C79 asks the court to enforce a child arrangements order (fee £270), and the court must consider enforcement unless satisfied the applicant should be excused. Read the C79 enforcement guide first — evidence of the missed contact is what wins or loses these applications.
Before your hearing
Turning scattered messages, notes and dates into evidence takes structure. assemble the statement and bundle that sit behind whichever form you file — 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.