Varying or discharging an existing order at the family court in Kent
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-02
How this application works
Orders are not set in stone: when circumstances materially change — a parent relocates, a child's needs change with age, an order no longer works in practice — either party can ask the court to vary (change) or discharge (end) it. Applications are made on form D11, attaching the existing order and explaining precisely what has changed and what new order is sought. The child's welfare remains the court's paramount consideration; a material change of circumstances is what opens the door.
- Form: D11 — gov.uk
- Fee: £195 (application notice, D11) — Help with Fees (EX160) if on a low income
- Where to file: Canterbury Combined Court and Family Court Hearing Centre, The Law Courts, Chaucer Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1ZA
- Our full guide to Canterbury Combined Court and Family Court Hearing Centre
What happens after you file
1. File the D11 with the existing order and your evidence of change. 2. The court may determine the application on paper or list a hearing. 3. If granted, the new order replaces the old one — keep certified copies.
Getting help in Kent
Related guides
General information only — not legal advice. Fees per SI 2026/642 (in force 13 July 2026); confirm the current fee on the gov.uk form page before filing. Source: gov.uk, HMCTS.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.