How to Fill Out and File Form C1: MIAM, Fees, and Filing Steps

To fill out and file Form C1, download the PDF from GOV.UK, complete it together with Form FM1 for the specific order you want, add Form C1A or C8 if allegations of harm or address confidentiality apply, and file the original plus two copies at the family court covering the area where the child lives, paying the £263 fee or submitting a Help with Fees application at the same time. After the court issues your application, you serve copies on the respondents yourself. One boundary to check before you start: Form C1 is not the form for child arrangements orders (where a child lives or how much time they spend with each parent). Those go on Form C100. C1 covers parental responsibility, guardianship, special guardianship, and permission to change a child’s surname or remove a child from the UK.1GOV.UK. Application for an Order Form C1

Confirm C1 Is the Right Form for Your Order

Form C1 is used to apply for a defined set of orders under the Children Act 1989. It explicitly excludes care and supervision orders, Section 8 orders (child arrangements, prohibited steps, and specific issue orders), and enforcement of contact orders, all of which use different forms.1GOV.UK. Application for an Order Form C1 The orders you can request on C1 are:

  • A parental responsibility order under Section 4(1)(c), 4ZA(1)(c), or 4A(1)(b), or an order terminating parental responsibility under Section 4(2A), 4ZA(5), or 4A(3).
  • Appointment of a guardian under Section 5(1), or termination of a guardian’s appointment under Section 6(7).
  • Permission to change a child’s surname or remove a child from the UK under Sections 13(1) or 14C.
  • A special guardianship order under Section 14D, or an order varying or discharging one.

The most common use is a parental responsibility application. An unmarried father does not automatically have parental responsibility unless he is named on the child’s birth certificate. Where his name is not on the register, Section 4 of the Children Act 1989 gives him three routes: being registered as the father, entering into a formal parental responsibility agreement with the mother, or applying to the court for an order. The court route is the C1. The same three-route structure applies to second female parents under Section 4ZA and to step-parents under Section 4A. Once parental responsibility is granted by court order, it can only be removed by a further court order.2Legislation.gov.uk. Children Act 1989 – Section 4

Some C1 applications need the court’s permission (leave) before they can proceed. A special guardianship application, for example, requires the applicant either to have the local authority’s consent, to be a relative the child has lived with for at least a year, or to have obtained leave. The notes at the front of the form tell you whether your specific application needs leave, and the form itself has a section to request it.

Completing Form C1

The C1 is a downloadable PDF from the GOV.UK publications page.3GOV.UK. Apply for Certain Orders Under the Children Act 1989: Form C1 Read the notes section at the beginning before filling anything in. It tells you which parts of the form apply to your situation and which accompanying forms you need to include.

You will need to provide:

  • Your own full name, date of birth, and address.
  • The child’s full name, date of birth, and gender.
  • The same details for each respondent, meaning anyone who already holds parental responsibility or with whom the child lives.
  • The specific order you are requesting and the section of the Children Act 1989 it falls under.
  • A written explanation of why you are applying and why the order would be in the child’s interests.
  • Details of any existing court proceedings or orders concerning the child.

Missing that last item is a common cause of delay at the first hearing. The court needs to see the full picture of any existing orders before it can make new ones.

Forms That Go With the C1

Form FM1

Every C1 application must include a completed Form FM1 for the specific order you are seeking.1GOV.UK. Application for an Order Form C1 The FM1 asks for details about the order type that go beyond what the C1 itself collects. You can download it from the same GOV.UK page as the C1. The court will not issue your application without it.

Form C1A: Allegations of Harm

If you or the child have experienced domestic abuse or other harm involving anyone named in the proceedings, complete and file Form C1A alongside the C1. C1A asks you to identify the type of abuse (physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial), describe when the behaviour started and how long it continued, and note whether you have sought help.4HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Form C1A – Allegations of Harm and Domestic Violence Attach copies of any protective orders you hold, such as non-molestation orders, restraining orders, or occupation orders.

Form C8: Keeping Your Address Confidential

If you have safety concerns and do not want the respondent to know your address or contact details, file Form C8. The details you provide on C8 are shared only with the court and Cafcass (or Cafcass Cymru in Wales), and are not disclosed to any other party unless a judge specifically orders it.5GOV.UK. Apply to Keep Your Contact Details Confidential: Form C8 If you leave your address on the main C1 without filing a C8, the respondent will see it when they receive their copy.

Attending a MIAM Before You File

Before making certain family court applications you are legally required to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) with an accredited family mediator.6Ministry of Justice. Practice Direction 3A – Family Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings A MIAM is not mediation itself. It is a single session where the mediator explains how mediation works and assesses whether your case is suitable. If the mediator finds mediation is not appropriate, or you decide not to pursue it, the mediator signs the court form confirming attendance and you can proceed with your application.7Family Mediation Council. What Is a MIAM? The certificate is valid for four months; wait longer and you need a fresh MIAM.

Whether a MIAM is required for your specific C1 depends on the order type, so check the form notes and court guidance. Common exemptions include:

  • Domestic abuse, evidenced by a police caution, conviction, protective injunction, non-molestation order, or a letter from an independent domestic abuse adviser or refuge.
  • An ongoing local authority investigation into concerns about the child, or the child being subject to a child protection plan.
  • Urgency, where delay would risk harm to the child or applicant.
  • Attendance at a MIAM or mediation within the last four months for the same dispute.

The full list of exemptions and the evidence required for each is in Rule 3.8 of the Family Procedure Rules and Practice Direction 3A.6Ministry of Justice. Practice Direction 3A – Family Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings If you rely on an exemption, indicate it on the form and have your supporting evidence ready; the court may ask to see it.

Fees and Help With Fees

The court fee for most C1 applications is £263. If you cannot afford it, apply through the Help with Fees scheme (formerly Form EX160). You are eligible for a full waiver if you receive income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit with earnings under £6,000 a year, or Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), provided your savings are below £4,250. Without those benefits, you may still qualify by income. Singles earning £1,420 or less per month and couples earning £2,130 or less qualify for full remission, with an additional allowance of £425 per child aged 0 to 13 and £710 per child aged 14 or older.8GOV.UK. Get Help Paying Court and Tribunal Fees Apply for help with fees before or at the same time you file the C1. The court will not process the application without either the fee or an approved remission.

Filing at the Family Court

File your application at the family court that covers the area where the child lives. You need the original form plus two copies for the court, and a copy for your own records.9GOV.UK. Making an Application: Children and the Family Courts Include the same number of copies of each accompanying form (FM1, C1A, C8, or any supporting documents).

Serving the Respondents Yourself

This is where C1 differs from C100 in a way that catches people off guard. When you file a C100, the court sends copies to the respondents. With a C1, that responsibility is yours.9GOV.UK. Making an Application: Children and the Family Courts Once the court issues your application and assigns a case number, you must deliver (or arrange delivery of) a copy of the application and all accompanying documents to every respondent and to any other person the court directs you to notify.

The court sends you the guidance leaflet CB3, which sets out what to serve and how to prove you have done it.9GOV.UK. Making an Application: Children and the Family Courts The court cannot list a hearing until every respondent has been given notice and you have filed proof of service.

What Happens After You File

Once the court accepts and issues your application, Cafcass (or Cafcass Cymru in Wales) becomes involved. Before the first hearing, Cafcass carries out safeguarding checks with the police and local authority to identify concerns about the child’s welfare or safety. In most cases a Cafcass officer will also phone both you and the respondent. At least three days before the first hearing, Cafcass sends the court a short safeguarding letter summarising what they have found.10Cafcass. Overview of Our Involvement With You as You Go Through the Court Process

A Family Court Adviser attends the first hearing. If no safeguarding concerns have emerged, the adviser may try to help you and the other party reach an agreement without further proceedings.10Cafcass. Overview of Our Involvement With You as You Go Through the Court Process If you agree, the court can make a consent order there and then. If you cannot, the judge gives directions for how the case moves forward, which may include a full Cafcass report, further hearings, or additional evidence.

Mistakes That Delay a C1 Application

Most delays come from avoidable errors in preparation. The first is using the wrong form. If you want a child arrangements order, use C100, not C1. The court will return C1 papers filed for that purpose. The second is forgetting the FM1. Every C1 application needs it, and the court will not issue your application without one.

Not providing enough copies is another sticking point. You need the original plus two copies for the court, and separate copies to serve on each respondent yourself. Submitting the wrong fee, or no fee at all without an approved remission, will hold everything up. If you intend to apply for fee help, submit the application at the same time.

The most common cause of stalled cases is failing to serve the respondents after the court issues the application. On a C1 the court does not do this for you. If you do not serve the papers promptly and file proof of service, the court cannot list your case for a hearing. Follow the CB3 leaflet the court sends you and keep evidence of what you served, on whom, and when.