Which court handles your C100
Children Act applications are issued in the family court area where your child lives. From Worcester, the relevant verified venue is:
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.
Worcester — common questions
Can I file at the court building in Worcester?
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 Worcester, 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.