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Dads Who Care

England and Wales

Family Court Process Overview

This map shows a common route through a private children case in England and Wales, so you can understand the main stages and where the process may branch.

Every family court case is different. The court may order different hearings, reports or assessments depending on the issues in the case. Some stages may be skipped, repeated or happen in a different order.

The stages of a private children case

Scroll or swipe to follow the process

  1. Parents cant agree

  2. MIAM

  3. Parents agree?

  4. Agreement Made

  5. C100 filed

  6. Cafcass Initial checks

  7. First hearing

  8. Case resolved?

  9. Order Made

  10. Fact Find Hearing ordered?

  11. Pre Trial Review

  12. Fact Find

  13. Other work ordered

  14. Further Hearing

  15. Case resolved?

  16. Order Made

  17. Final Hearing

  18. Final order made

  19. In some cases, such as where domestic abuse is alleged, or the case is urgent, the MIAM can be bypassed
  20. This may include a section 7 report, other assessments and further hearings
Parents agreeParents cant agreeCase resolvedCase not resolvedFact Find Hearing orderedFact Find Hearing not orderedCase resolvedCase not resolved

More support at every stage

Want to understand each stage in more detail?

Join Dads Who Care for in-depth, plain-English guidance on the hearings, documents, reports and practical steps you may encounter throughout the family court process.

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