The family court timeline for a private law case — what happens, and in what order

Who this is for. If you are applying to the family court about a child (for example a child arrangements application on Form C100), this guide explains, in plain English, the usual order a private family-law case is likely to follow — from the application through to a final hearing and order. It is written for people representing themselves (a litigant in person). It sets out the stages you are likely to meet, explains what each one is for, and is honest that timescales vary and many cases settle before the end. It does not give legal advice and it does not take sides.

Reviewed by Sean McNamara on 2026-10-21

The honest headline

There is no fixed, guaranteed timetable for a family court case. How long things take depends on the court's workload, the other parent's response, whether the dispute narrows, and whether the court decides it needs extra steps (like a welfare report or a fact-finding hearing). What this guide gives you is the usual shape — the stages most private child-arrangements cases pass through — so you can understand where you are and what is likely to come next.

Two things are worth saying up front:

Many cases settle before the final hearing. At almost every stage — the first hearing, or after a report — parents reach agreement with the help of the judge, a Cafcass adviser, a mediator, or their solicitors. Settling earlier is common and usually faster, cheaper and less stressful than a contested final hearing.
Every case is different. Your case may not need every stage below. The court only adds steps (like fact-finding) where they are genuinely needed. Treat this as a map, not a promise.

The usual order, stage by stage

1. The application

You apply to the family court using Form C100 (for child arrangements, specific issue or prohibited steps orders), usually online at gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce/apply-for-court-order. In most cases you must first attend a MIAM (mediation information and assessment meeting) unless an exemption applies. The court checks the form, decides which level of court and judge the case needs (allocation), and sends a copy to the other parent.

2. Safeguarding checks and the Cafcass letter

Soon after the application the court asks Cafcass (in England) or Cafcass Cymru (in Wales) to run safeguarding checks — with the police and local authority — to surface any risk to the child or any social-services involvement. Cafcass sends a safeguarding letter to the court and parents before the first hearing. This is not a judgement of your case; it flags risk and background so the court starts from an informed, safe position.

3. The FHDRA (first hearing)

Your first substantive hearing is almost always the FHDRA — the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment. It is deliberately early and exploratory. The judge:

identifies the issues — where you genuinely disagree and where you do not;
reviews the Cafcass safeguarding letter;
tries to help you and the other parent agree (with a Cafcass Family Court Adviser if one is allocated); and
decides the next steps — whether the case can resolve here, or needs more.

The FHDRA is not the trial. Many cases narrow or settle at this stage; others need to move on.

4. Case management / dispute-resolution hearing (DFM) and welfare reports, where needed

If the case is not settled at the FHDRA, the court may fix further hearings to manage the case and keep it on track — in some courts this is a DFM (a dispute-resolution or case-management hearing) or a CMA (case-management appointment). The judge may also order a Cafcass Section 7 welfare report — a fuller investigation by a Cafcass officer into what is in the child's best interests, which takes time (typically weeks or months) before it is written.

5. Fact-finding, if a serious allegation is disputed

If one parent makes a serious allegation — for example of domestic abuse — and the other parent disputes it, the court may hold a separate fact-finding hearing to decide whether the allegation is proved on the balance of probabilities. This is not part of every case: the court only orders it where the disputed allegation could materially affect the decision, and only where safety demands it. A fact-finding hearing adds a significant step (and time) to the case, but its findings then shape the main decision.

6. The final hearing and the order

If the case has not settled, it goes to a final hearing — the contested trial, where both parents give evidence, witnesses may be called, and the judge decides the arrangements in the best interests of the child. The judge then makes a child arrangements order (or dismisses/varies an earlier one). In many cases the order is made earlier by agreement (a consent order), which avoids the final-contested stage altogether.

Realistic expectations

Timescales vary widely. A case that settles early might be resolved in a few hearings over a matter of months; a contested case with a report and a fact-finding hearing will take considerably longer. No one can honestly give you a fixed date upfront.
Settling earlier is normal and often better — for the child, for your costs and for your stress. The court encourages resolution at every stage.
Co-operate openly with Cafcass and answer their checks promptly; delays usually come from missing paperwork or unanswered requests.
Preparation wins. Know what you are asking for and why it is in the child's interests. A calm, organised, child-focused parent presents far better than an aggressive one.
This guide sits alongside the other guides in this directory — see the C100 child arrangements guide for more on the application, MIAM and FHDRA in depth.

Official sources (gov.uk / Cafcass)

The stages above follow the official HMCTS/Cafcass pathway. Useful pages:

Making child arrangements if you separate: gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce
Apply for a court order / the online application (C100): gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce/apply-for-court-order
Family court applications that involve children (the CB1 overview leaflet): gov.uk/government/publications/family-court-applications-that-involve-children-cb1
Cafcass: cafcass.gov.uk

This is general information, not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified family-law solicitor or a regulated adviser, and it does not take sides or prejudge any case. Court fees, processes and forms change — always verify the current position on the official GOV.UK pages linked above before acting. If you believe you or your child are in immediate danger, call the police on 999; if you are a survivor of domestic abuse, contact Refuge (0808 2000 247) or Women's Aid. The family court decides each case on its evidence and on the best interests of the child.

YourFamilyCase is an independent, impartial information resource. We are not part of GOV.UK, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, or Cafcass, and we receive no payment or preferment from any mediator, solicitor, or agency named or linked in this guide. The information here is provided to help you understand the system; it does not replace professional legal advice.