First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA): What to Expect

What the FHDRA Is

The First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment — the FHDRA — is the first time your child arrangements case comes before a judge. It happens after you file your C100 application and Cafcass completes its initial safeguarding checks. In most cases, the FHDRA is listed within a few weeks of the application being issued.

The hearing has two purposes: to see whether the parties can agree on an arrangement without a contested hearing, and to give the judge enough information to set directions for the case if agreement is not possible.

Who Attends

Everyone involved in the case is expected to attend — the applicant (you, as the grandparent or relative), each respondent (usually the parents), and a Cafcass Family Court Adviser. If you have a solicitor or barrister, they attend too, though many relatives represent themselves.

The hearing takes place in a private courtroom, not open to the public. Hearings may be in person at the local Family Court or conducted remotely via video (Cloud Video Platform or HMCTS Video Hearing Service). If you need separate waiting areas, a screen barrier, or an interpreter, request special measures in advance through the court.

What Happens at the Hearing

The FHDRA typically lasts 30 minutes to an hour. The judge will have read Cafcass's safeguarding letter or Child Impact Report and any position statements filed by the parties.

The judge reviews safeguarding — the Cafcass officer summarises any concerns from the database checks and telephone interviews. If domestic abuse allegations were raised on Form C1A, the judge addresses those early.

Permission decisions — if you needed the court's leave to apply (because you do not meet the automatic entitlement criteria under Section 10), the judge may decide the permission question at the FHDRA or shortly before it. Granting leave does not mean the order will be made — it simply allows the case to proceed.

Dispute resolution — the judge and Cafcass officer explore whether an agreement is possible. If both sides agree to a living or contact arrangement and Cafcass has no safety concerns, the judge can make a consent order at the FHDRA itself. This resolves the case in a single hearing.

Directions for contested cases — if agreement is not reached, the judge sets a timetable. This may include ordering a Section 7 welfare report from Cafcass, scheduling a fact-finding hearing to resolve disputed allegations, listing a Dispute Resolution Appointment (DRA), or setting the case down for a final hearing.

How to Prepare

Write a position statement — a short document (two to three pages) setting out the background, the child's current situation, and what order you are asking for. File and serve it on the other parties 24 to 48 hours before the hearing. Keep it factual.

Organise your documents — bring the sealed copy of your issued C100, any correspondence from Cafcass, your position statement, and any evidence you want to refer to (such as school records, medical letters, or photographs of the child's living arrangements). If the case becomes contested, you will eventually need to prepare a formal court bundle under Practice Direction 27A.

Know what you want to ask for — be clear about the specific order: "lives with" full-time, "spends time with" for regular contact, or a defined schedule. The judge will ask what you are seeking.

Arrive early — give yourself time to find the courtroom, check in with the usher, and read any documents that the other side has filed. If you are attending remotely, test the video link in advance.

What the Judge Can Order at the FHDRA

• A final consent order if both sides agree and safeguarding is clear
• An interim contact or living arrangement while the case continues
• A Section 7 welfare report from Cafcass
• A fact-finding hearing for disputed abuse or safety allegations
• Drug or alcohol testing of a party
• Directions for filing witness statements and evidence
• A Dispute Resolution Appointment or final hearing date

After the FHDRA

If the case was resolved by consent, the court issues a sealed order within a few days. If not, follow the directions the judge set. Section 7 reports take 12 to 16 weeks, so contested cases are rarely resolved quickly — typical timelines run to several months, though the new Child-Focused Courts model aims to bring average resolution down to around 18 weeks.

Our Child Arrangements Order Process Guide covers every hearing stage — from the FHDRA through to the final order — including position statement templates and a hearing preparation checklist.

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