How Long Does a Child Arrangements Order Take?

The Short Answer

There is no fixed timetable. Initial evaluation data for the Child-Focused Courts model reports average case resolution of 18 weeks, compared with 29 weeks under the traditional Child Arrangements Programme. If the parties agree and safeguarding checks are clear, a final order can be made at the first hearing; contested cases involving further reports or hearings take longer.

The Step-by-Step Timeline

Week 0: Filing. You submit Form C100 (and any supplementary forms) to the Family Court, either online or by post. If you applied for fee remission through Help with Fees, the court processes that first.

After filing: Cafcass safeguarding checks. The court sends your application to Cafcass (or Cafcass Cymru in Wales). They run database checks on all parties and conduct safeguarding telephone interviews. Under the Child-Focused Courts model, the target is a comprehensive Child Impact Report within 40 days of filing.

First hearing: First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA). The court lists the first hearing after the initial safeguarding work. At the FHDRA, the judge reviews the Cafcass report, considers any permission request, and explores whether the parties can agree.

If both sides reach agreement and Cafcass has no concerns, the judge can make a final consent order at this hearing. Case resolved.

If the case is contested:

Directions. The judge sets a timetable. This might include ordering a Section 7 welfare report, scheduling a fact-finding hearing for disputed allegations, or listing a Dispute Resolution Appointment.

Section 7 welfare report. If ordered, the Cafcass officer or local authority social worker investigates — home visits, interviews, school and GP contacts — and writes a report. This typically takes 12 to 16 weeks. The timeline depends on the court's directions and local caseload.

Dispute Resolution Appointment (DRA). A further hearing where the judge and parties try to narrow the issues. If the Section 7 report recommends an arrangement and both sides accept it, the case can conclude here.

Final hearing. If no agreement is reached, the judge hears evidence from all parties, considers the Cafcass report and welfare checklist, and makes a binding decision.

What Causes Delays

Contested allegations. If one party alleges domestic abuse or safeguarding risks and the other denies them, the court may hold a fact-finding hearing before addressing the substantive question. This adds weeks or months.

Section 7 reports. The 12-to-16-week wait for a welfare report is one of the longest single delays. Court backlogs can extend this further.

Missing parties. If a parent cannot be located, the court must explore tracing options (through the DWP or other channels) before proceeding. Applications for substituted service or dispensation of service add procedural steps.

Adjournments. Hearings can be postponed because a party is ill, evidence is not ready, a new safeguarding concern emerges, or the court's own listing is congested.

Court backlogs. The Family Court has faced significant capacity pressures in recent years. Even after a hearing is directed, the listing date may be weeks or months away.

What You Can Control

You cannot speed up the court, but you can avoid causing delays yourself:

• File your C100 correctly the first time — incomplete applications are returned and you start the clock again
• Have your MIAM certificate or exemption evidence ready before filing
• Respond promptly to Cafcass telephone calls
• File position statements and evidence within the judge's deadlines
• Prepare your court bundle (if directed) on time

Our Child Arrangements Order Process Guide walks through every stage of the process with realistic timelines, form checklists, and preparation templates for each hearing.

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