Special Guardianship Order Application Forms: C1, C13A and the Full List

Filing the wrong form is one of the most common mistakes in SGO applications — and one of the most expensive, because the court processing centre will reject the bundle and you lose weeks. The form confusion is understandable: child arrangements orders use Form C100, but a special guardianship order requires a completely different set.

The Core Form: C1

Form C1 is the main application form for a special guardianship order when you are filing a standalone private application (not within existing care proceedings). It asks for your details, the child's details, the respondents (typically the birth parents), and the order you are seeking.

You can download C1 from the GOV.UK Children Act forms page. It is a fillable PDF, though many applicants print it and complete it by hand.

The SGO Supplement: C13A

Form C13A is the supplementary form specific to special guardianship applications. It collects the information the local authority will need for the statutory assessment: your relationship to the child, how long the child has lived with you, and whether you have served the required three months' written notice on the council.

C13A is filed alongside Form C1 — never on its own.

MIAM Declaration: FM1

Before filing a private application, you must attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) or qualify for an exemption. Form FM1 is signed either by the accredited mediator who conducted the MIAM or by you, declaring a valid exemption (domestic abuse, child protection concerns, urgency, or consent of all parties).

FM1 must accompany the C1 and C13A in your filing bundle.

Confidential Address: C8

If you need to hide your address from the respondent — for example, because of domestic abuse — you file Form C8 alongside your application. The court withholds your address from all documents served on the other parties.

C8 is optional; you only need it if disclosing your address would put you or the child at risk.

Help with Fees: EX160

The Family Court application fee for a standalone SGO application is £270. If you apply using Form C2 within existing proceedings, check the current fee schedule for the fee specified for that process. If you are on a low income or certain benefits, you can apply for full or partial fee remission using Form EX160 (or the online Help with Fees portal). You need a Help with Fees reference number before or at the time you file the application.

The C100 Trap

Form C100 is for child arrangements orders, prohibited steps orders and specific issue orders under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989. It is not valid for a special guardianship order. The court will reject a C100 if you are applying for an SGO, and you will need to refile on the correct forms — losing time and potentially a second fee.

If You Need Permission to Apply

Applicants who do not meet the automatic eligibility criteria (for example, a relative with whom the child has lived for less than 12 months) must first apply for leave using Form C2 instead of C1, paired with C13A and FM1 as usual.

Within Existing Care Proceedings

If the child is already in care proceedings and you want to apply for an SGO within those proceedings, you also use Form C2 (application in existing proceedings) with C13A. No separate FM1 is needed because the MIAM requirement does not apply to applications within ongoing court proceedings.

Filing Checklist

For a standard private SGO application, your bundle should contain:

• Form C1 (main application)
• Form C13A (SGO supplement)
• Form FM1 (MIAM declaration or exemption)
• Form C8 (only if hiding your address)
• EX160 Help with Fees reference (only if claiming fee remission)
• Proof that you served three months' written notice on the local authority

Our SGO process guide includes a printable application document checklist and a form-by-form walkthrough so nothing gets missed.

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