Specific issue and prohibited steps orders — when you need the court to decide one question

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-30

Not every children dispute needs a full child arrangements order. Sometimes parents agree on living arrangements but clash on one specific question: which school, medical treatment, a haircut, religion, moving abroad. Two targeted orders exist for exactly these situations: the specific issue order (SIO) and the prohibited steps order (PSO) — both under section 8 of the Children Act 1989, both applied for on the same C100. This guide explains when each fits. It is general information, not legal advice.

Specific issue order — asking the court to decide a question

A specific issue order directs a particular question about the child's upbringing:

School choice — where parents with PR disagree on state vs private, or between two schools
Medical decisions — non-urgent treatment disputes (vaccinations, elective surgery; urgent matters go to the High Court's inherent jurisdiction)
Religion — which faith upbringing, ceremonies, or schooling
Name changes — day-to-day first name or formal change (formal change needs every PR holder's consent or a court order — see our surname change guide)
Passport and travel — whether a child may holiday abroad, and passport release where one parent withholds it
Returning a child's property — phone, laptop, belongings withheld by one parent
Contact with specific people — grandparents, new partners (where not resolved by a child arrangements order)

Prohibited steps order — stopping a specific action

A prohibited steps order prevents a person from taking a stated action without the court's consent:

Removal from the jurisdiction — stopping a relocation abroad (permanent relocation needs either consent or leave; PSOs prevent unilateral moves pending decision)
Preventing a name change — blocking a planned formal change
Stopping contact with a named person — where that person poses a risk (overlapping with child arrangements applications)
Preventing medical procedures one parent objects to (non-urgent)
Preventing removal from a parent's care — interim protection while a case runs

How to apply

Both orders are applied for on form C100 (fee £270, from 13 July 2026) — tick the specific issue or prohibited steps box, or both
The MIAM requirement and its exemptions apply (domestic abuse evidence exempts — see our MIAM guide)
Attach a C1A if there are allegations of harm
Set out in your application (and later a short statement): the question, why it matters to the child, and what you ask the court to decide
Urgency: for matters that can't wait (imminent removal abroad), request a without notice hearing with reasons

The court's approach

The welfare checklist applies — the child's best interests decide the question, not parental rights
The court applies the no order principle: if the question can be resolved without an order, it should be — expect the judge to probe whether you've genuinely tried to agree
Schools and medical questions: courts give heavy weight to professional views (education and health professionals' evidence)
Relocation abroad: a major decision — the court weighs the relocating parent's plans, the left-behind parent's relationship, and the child's welfare holistically
Many SIOs/PSOs are made interim pending a fuller hearing, or are resolved at the FHDRA when the parties see the court's lean

Common scenarios and likely outcomes (realistic framing)

School dispute: usually decided on the child's educational needs and logistics; expert-ish evidence from the schools helps
Holiday abroad: courts routinely permit reasonable holidays with conditions (itineraries, return dates, passports held by a third party) — refusals usually need genuine risk grounds
Passport withholding: courts dislike it without reason; apply for release or an order compelling it where there's no risk
Relocation abroad: permission applications are genuinely hard-fought; outcomes turn on the proposals' realism and the child's ties

After the order

Breach of a PSO can be enforced (and, where a penal notice is attached, contempt proceedings follow wilful breach)
Either parent can apply to vary or discharge if circumstances change (C79/C100 as directed; fee applies)
Orders last until the child turns 16 (18 in limited cases) unless time-limited

Official links

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS or gov.uk. This page is general information and is not legal advice.

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.