Final hearing preparation — the last (and longest) day of your children case
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01
What a final hearing is
The final hearing is where the judge decides the disputed issues — usually the child arrangements themselves, or findings of fact followed by arrangements. Unlike interim hearings, it is a full evidence day: witnesses give evidence, are cross-examined, and the judge applies the welfare checklist (s.1(3) Children Act 1989) to reach a decision that typically ends the case.
In the weeks before
1. Comply with every direction. Witness statements, bundles, skeleton arguments, chronology, the "position statement" or "chance to resolve" document courts now require — late or missing documents are the most common reason final hearings collapse and get relisted months later. 2. Read the whole bundle. Judges know the bundle; you should too. Tab your own key documents and know where they are. 3. Know your proposal precisely: exact nights, handover times and places, holiday splits, video contact. "I want what's best for my child" is not an arrangement; a specific, workable plan shows you can deliver one. 4. Prepare your witnesses: anyone giving evidence needs to review their own statement — they cannot read from it fresh and they must answer honestly, not advocate for you.
In the days before
- Re-read your statement and every allegation made against you; note the documents that contradict or support each point.
- Plan logistics: route, parking, childcare for the hearing day, time off work, water and food (final hearings often run to 7pm).
- Prepare a one-page hearing plan for yourself: your proposal, your three strongest points, the documents that support them, and the concessions you can realistically make.
On the day
- Arrive early; tell the usher you are present; ask where litigants wait (away from the other party).
- Court list order varies: directions arguments first, then evidence (usually you and key witnesses last, after the professional evidence), then submissions. Ask your legal adviser or the judge about the running order.
- Give evidence in short factual answers; if you do not know or cannot remember, say so. Never argue with the cross-examiner — answer the judge's questions and let the judge manage aggression.
- If the other side makes a late proposal, courts increasingly require parents to respond on the day — so know your bottom line in advance.
After judgment
Take notes of the order terms and check the written order matches what was said. If you need help implementing it (contact centres, therapy referrals), ask at the hearing. Appeals require permission and target errors of law, not outcomes — see your appeals routes before deciding.
Official links
- https://www.gov.uk/child-arrangements-order
- https://www.gov.uk/represent-yourself-family-court (guidance for litigants in person)
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41 (Children Act 1989, s.1(3) welfare checklist)
- https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS or gov.uk.
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.