When parents are already dealing with the financial impact of separation, the question of how much does a child arrangement order cost in the UK can affect whether they feel able to take the next step. The current court fee for a new application under the Children Act 1989 is £270, but that payment may represent only one part of the eventual expense.
The total cost depends heavily on how the case is managed. A parent who completes the application without legal representation may pay little beyond the court fee. A disputed case involving solicitors, several hearings, a barrister or specialist evidence can become considerably more expensive.
We have prepared this guide to separate the fixed court charge from the optional and case-dependent expenses. It also explains when Help with Fees, Legal Aid or family mediation may reduce the financial burden.
The figures and procedures discussed apply to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different family court systems.
What is the court fee for a child arrangements order?
The fee for making a new application under the Children Act 1989 is currently £270. This applies to applications for a Child Arrangements Order, Specific Issue Order or Prohibited Steps Order. The revised amount took effect on 13 July 2026.
A Child Arrangements Order can determine where a child lives, when they spend time with another parent or carer, and the form that this contact should take.
The fee is normally paid when Form C100 is submitted. Applicants using the online court service usually pay electronically, while the available payment method for a paper application depends on the instructions provided by HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Court fees are generally payable at the start of the relevant service.
The £270 charge is the same whether the application concerns one child or several children included in the same proceedings. A parent should check the current HMCTS fee schedule immediately before applying because court charges can be revised.
What does the £270 application fee cover?
The court fee allows a new case to be opened and managed within the family court system. It should not be confused with the wider cost of preparing or presenting the case.
Several parts of the ordinary procedure are covered by the initial payment, while professional services arranged by the parties remain separate.
Issuing the application
Payment enables the court to process Form C100, open the proceedings and arrange the initial stages of the case. The application will ordinarily be sent to the other party, and the court will begin managing the dispute under the relevant family procedure.
The charge also covers the administrative work connected with starting the case. Applicants are not paying £270 for a guaranteed outcome or for the court to approve the arrangement they have requested.
An application can still be returned or delayed when the form is incomplete, the MIAM section has not been dealt with correctly or required information is missing. Paying the fee does not remove the applicant’s responsibility to complete the paperwork accurately.
Hearings included within the proceedings
A separate hearing fee is not generally charged for every ordinary hearing within a Child Arrangements Order case. The £270 payment starts the proceedings, which may then include an initial hearing, dispute resolution appointments and a final hearing where these are required.
The number of hearings can still affect the overall expense. Each appearance may generate solicitor preparation time, barrister fees, travel costs, childcare expenses and time away from work.
A case resolved at the first hearing is therefore likely to cost less overall than one continuing through reports, disputed allegations and a final contested hearing, even when the court fee itself is the same.
Costs that are not covered by the court fee
The initial payment does not provide legal advice or representation. Solicitors and barristers charge separately for their services. Other expenses may include:
- Advice before completing Form C100.
- Assistance preparing statements or evidence.
- Solicitor correspondence with the other party.
- Representation at court hearings.
- Barrister fees.
- Approved expert evidence.
- Travel and accommodation.
- Childcare during appointments or hearings.
- Copies of documents requested from the court.
- Further applications made after proceedings have begun.
The official guidance distinguishes court fees from legal costs, including the amount paid to a solicitor. Parents should therefore ask for a clear explanation of what any professional quotation includes. A price for preparing Form C100 will not necessarily cover later hearings or ongoing correspondence.
How much are solicitor fees for a child arrangements order?
There is no official fixed amount for legal representation. Each firm sets its own charges, and the final bill depends on the type of support required, the hourly rate, the number of hearings and the complexity of the dispute.
Some parents obtain advice at selected stages. Others instruct a solicitor to manage the entire case. These approaches can lead to very different totals.
Paying for initial legal advice
A one-off consultation may help a parent understand the available options, the strengths and limitations of their proposal, and the information that should be included in the application.
This can be useful for someone intending to represent themselves. They may pay for targeted guidance while retaining responsibility for completing the form and attending hearings.
The consultation fee will vary between providers. Parents should ask how long the appointment lasts, whether document review is included and whether they will receive written advice afterwards.
A lower hourly rate does not always mean a lower final cost. The scope of the service and the amount of preparation included should be considered alongside the price.
Fixed-fee services
Some firms offer a defined service for an agreed amount. This might cover an initial meeting, preparation of Form C100 or representation at one hearing.
A fixed fee can provide greater certainty, but its boundaries should be checked carefully. Parents may need to establish whether the quotation includes:
- VAT.
- Reviewing background documents.
- Drafting a supporting statement.
- Correspondence with the other party.
- Filing documents with the court.
- Preparation for a hearing.
- Attendance at the hearing.
- Work required after the hearing.
Tasks falling outside the package may be charged separately. A case that develops in an unexpected direction can therefore cost more than the original fixed amount.
Full representation throughout the case
A solicitor instructed from the beginning may manage the application, correspondence, evidence, court directions and preparation for hearings.
The overall expense will be influenced by the level of conflict and the number of issues requiring attention. Frequent correspondence, late evidence and repeated changes of position can increase the time spent on the file.
Proceedings involving domestic abuse allegations, relocation, disputed parentage or complex safeguarding concerns may require more work than a limited disagreement over a weekend schedule.
Parents should request regular cost updates rather than waiting until the conclusion of the case. A written estimate is helpful, but it cannot always predict every development.
Barrister and hearing fees
A solicitor may recommend instructing a barrister to provide specialist advice or represent a parent in court. The amount charged can depend on:
- The barrister’s experience.
- The complexity of the hearing.
- The preparation required.
- The expected length of the hearing.
- Whether written submissions or a conference are needed.
- How close to the hearing date the instruction is made.
A short procedural hearing will usually require less preparation than a final hearing involving witnesses and disputed evidence. Parents should confirm whether the barrister’s fee is included within the solicitor’s quotation or payable as a separate expense. They should also ask what happens to the fee if the hearing is postponed.
What other costs can arise during the proceedings?
The court fee and legal representation are the most visible expenses, but they are not the only financial considerations. Some costs are paid directly. Others arise through time, travel or the practical demands of taking part in proceedings.
Preparing statements and court documents
The court may direct one or both parties to file statements, schedules of allegations, chronologies or other written material. A parent representing themselves can prepare these documents without paying a professional. They remain responsible for following the directions, meeting deadlines and presenting the information in a clear and relevant form.
Solicitor involvement can increase the financial cost but may help organise complicated evidence. The amount charged will depend on the volume of material and the work needed to prepare it.
Lengthy collections of messages and documents can take significant time to review. Selecting information because it is relevant to the child’s welfare may help reduce unnecessary legal work.
Expert reports and professional evidence
Some cases require evidence beyond the ordinary safeguarding work undertaken by Cafcass. An expert can only become involved where the court considers that the evidence is necessary and gives the appropriate permission.
Possible examples include medical, psychological or other specialist assessments. The cost depends on the professional, the questions being asked and the work required.
The court may decide how the expense should be divided between the parties. Legal Aid may affect the arrangements where one or more participants qualify.
A parent should not commission a private expert report and assume that the family court will automatically admit it. Permission and procedural requirements should be considered before money is spent.
Travel, childcare and time away from work
Attending court can create indirect costs even where a parent has no solicitor. These may include travel, parking, meals, accommodation, childcare and lost income. Several hearings can make these expenses significant.
Some appointments may take place remotely, but parents should not assume that every hearing will be conducted online. The court decides the format.
Planning early can reduce practical disruption. Hearing notices should be checked carefully so that childcare, work arrangements and travel can be organised without last-minute expense.
Further applications made during the case
The original £270 payment does not necessarily cover every separate request made later. HMCTS publishes fees for applications made within existing family proceedings. The charge can depend on whether the application is made with notice to the other party or without notice. From 13 July 2026, the listed fees include £195 for a general on-notice application and £62 for a general without-notice application, unless another specific fee applies.
Not every request attracts a further payment. The correct amount depends on the type of application and the procedural circumstances.
Parents should check the latest fee schedule or ask the court before filing additional forms. Repeated applications may create both new court charges and further professional costs.
Does a more complex case cost more?
The court fee for the initial application remains £270 whether the disagreement is straightforward or highly contested. The difference usually appears in the legal and practical expenses generated after the case begins.
A relatively limited matter may conclude after the parents agree at an early hearing. In that situation, a self-represented applicant could finish the case having paid only the court fee and their personal expenses. Costs can rise when the case requires:
- Several hearings.
- Extensive solicitor correspondence.
- A fact-finding hearing.
- Witness statements.
- Counsel for one or more court appearances.
- Specialist assessments.
- Large volumes of evidence.
- Urgent or additional applications.
- Work connected with safeguarding allegations.
The conduct of the adults can influence expense as much as the legal subject matter. Constantly reopening settled issues, sending excessive correspondence or failing to comply with directions can create more work.
Narrowing the disagreement can therefore have a direct financial benefit. Even where the parents cannot reach a complete agreement, settling some points may reduce preparation time and the length of later hearings.
Who pays the costs of a Child Arrangements Order?
Each person should normally expect to pay their own legal expenses. Family proceedings concerning children do not usually operate on the same basis as ordinary civil litigation, where the losing party may be ordered to pay the winner’s costs.
The position can change when a party behaves unreasonably or causes avoidable expense.
The usual position in family proceedings
The applicant ordinarily pays the court fee when submitting Form C100, unless they qualify for Help with Fees.
Each party is then responsible for the solicitor, barrister or other professional they choose to instruct. One parent is not automatically required to fund the other parent’s representation because the application succeeds or fails.
This approach recognises that proceedings concern the welfare of a child rather than a conventional financial contest between two opponents.
Parents should budget on the assumption that they will bear their own costs unless they receive specific legal advice indicating otherwise.
When the court may make a costs order
The family court has the power to order one party to contribute towards another party’s costs, but this is not the routine outcome in children cases.
A costs order may be considered where conduct during the proceedings has been unreasonable or has caused unnecessary expense. The circumstances must be assessed individually. Examples could involve serious failure to comply with court directions, pursuing an improper application or behaving in a way that substantially increases costs without justification.
A parent should not begin proceedings expecting a future costs order to reimburse their solicitor’s bill. The possibility is too uncertain to form part of a reliable budget.
Costs when parents reach an agreement
An agreement can reduce future expense by removing the need for further contested hearings. The parents may still incur costs for legal advice, drafting proposed terms or asking the court to approve a consent order.
They can discuss how any shared expense will be handled. One parent may pay a particular charge, or they may divide it between them.
The arrangement should be recorded clearly. Financial disagreement about drafting or filing agreed terms can undermine progress made on the parenting issues.
Can you apply without a solicitor?
Parents are allowed to complete Form C100 and represent themselves. There is no rule requiring a solicitor to submit the application or attend every hearing. Taking this route can substantially reduce the financial cost. The applicant will still need to pay the £270 court fee unless Help with Fees is granted.
Self-representation also means taking responsibility for:
- Completing the correct forms.
- Understanding court correspondence.
- Meeting filing deadlines.
- Preparing documents.
- Attending hearings.
- Following judicial directions.
- Presenting the relevant facts clearly.
Some parents use limited legal advice rather than full representation. They may ask a solicitor to review Form C100, advise before a hearing or help prepare a statement.
This approach can control costs while preserving access to professional guidance at important stages. It may be less suitable where the case involves serious allegations, complex evidence or an imbalance affecting the parent’s ability to participate effectively.
Can you get Help with Fees for Form C100?
Applicants with limited financial resources may qualify for full or partial assistance through the HMCTS Help with Fees scheme. Eligibility is assessed using factors that include income, certain benefits and disposable capital. The scheme applies to court and tribunal fees in England and Wales.
Full or partial fee remission
An eligible person may have the entire £270 charge removed or may be asked to pay only part of it. The outcome depends on the applicant’s financial circumstances. The official calculator can indicate the maximum contribution that may be required after income and capital have been considered.
Help with Fees applies to the court charge. It does not automatically pay for a private solicitor, barrister or other professional.
Where two or more people make a joint application, the rules concerning eligibility can differ. HMCTS guidance explains that each applicant may need a separate assessment, while partners applying together may use one application in the circumstances described by the scheme.
Applying through EX160
The application can be made online or by completing Form EX160. HMCTS recommends reading the EX160A guidance before applying. A person applying online may receive a Help with Fees reference to use when submitting the court application. Someone using the paper route should send the required remission information with Form C100.
The application for assistance should normally be made at the same time as the court application where the fee has not yet been paid.
Incorrect or incomplete financial information can delay the decision. Applicants should use current figures and follow requests for any evidence required by HMCTS.
What happens if the fee has already been paid
A retrospective application may be possible where the person paid the court fee within the previous three months and was eligible for assistance at the time of payment.
The request is not granted merely because the applicant’s finances later become more difficult. Eligibility relates to the circumstances that existed when the charge was paid.
The completed application should be sent to the court or tribunal that received the payment. Evidence or further information may be requested. Parents who believe they qualify should act promptly because the three-month time limit applies.
Is mediation cheaper than applying to family court?
Mediation and court proceedings perform different functions, so their costs cannot be compared solely through one fixed figure. A judge can impose a decision. A mediator helps parents explore whether they can create their own arrangements. Where discussions succeed, mediation may avoid the court fee and much of the legal expense associated with contested proceedings.
The cost of a MIAM
Before making most Child Arrangements Order applications, the prospective applicant must attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting unless a recognised exemption applies.
Each mediation service sets its own private MIAM fee. The appointment is normally individual and is used to explain the available options, understand the circumstances and assess whether mediation is suitable.
Paying for a MIAM does not guarantee that the other parent will participate or that mediation will proceed. The cost should be confirmed before booking. Parents can ask whether the amount includes the documentation required if they later decide to apply to court.
Family mediation session fees
Private mediation fees vary between providers and may be charged per person, per session or according to the type of process used.
The total will depend on the number of meetings required and whether extra work is needed to prepare written summaries. Parents should ask for information about:
- The length of each session.
- Whether the price is per person.
- Online and face-to-face charges.
- Shuttle mediation fees.
- Cancellation policies.
- Charges for written documents.
- VAT where applicable.
Both participants will need to decide how the expense is shared. GOV.UK confirms that parents are responsible for agreeing how mediation costs will be divided.
The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme
Eligible families can usually receive a voucher worth up to £500 towards family mediation, regardless of income. The funding is generally available for cases involving children.
The voucher contributes to mediation sessions rather than the MIAM. A family receives one shared voucher rather than £500 for each parent. An accredited mediator applies for the funding where the case qualifies. Parents do not apply directly to the government.
The contribution may cover several sessions or only part of the total, depending on the mediator’s fees and the format used. Any balance remains payable under the provider’s terms.
Legal Aid for family mediation
A person on a low income may qualify for Legal Aid covering the MIAM and mediation. When one participant qualifies, public funding may also cover the other person’s MIAM and first mediation session in the circumstances permitted by the scheme.
Eligibility must be assessed through an authorised provider. Evidence concerning income, benefits and capital may be required. Parents should ask about the assessment before paying privately. A mediator can explain the evidence required and whether the service offers Legal Aid.
How can you keep the overall cost under control?
The court fee is fixed, but many of the wider expenses are affected by the decisions made before and during the case. We recommend considering these practical measures:
- Define the exact disagreement. A case concerning one unresolved holiday arrangement should not automatically become a dispute about every aspect of parenting.
- Use professional advice selectively. A parent may obtain advice at important stages without instructing a solicitor for all correspondence and hearings.
- Request written cost information. Quotes should identify VAT, barrister fees, document preparation and the work covered by any fixed package.
- Comply with court directions. Late documents and missed deadlines can generate extra legal work or additional hearings.
- Organise relevant evidence. Paying a solicitor to review large volumes of unrelated messages can increase the bill without strengthening the case.
- Consider partial agreements. Settling some issues can reduce the time required for later preparation and hearings.
- Check Help with Fees before paying. Eligible applicants may receive full or partial remission of the £270 charge.
- Ask about Legal Aid for family mediation and voucher funding. Financial support may be available for mediation even where privately funded court representation is unaffordable.
- Review mediation before issuing proceedings. A workable agreement may remove the need for the court application or narrow the issues requiring a decision.
Cost control should not come at the expense of safety or appropriate legal advice. Cases involving domestic abuse, possible harm, international relocation or complex evidence may require specialist support.
How Direct Mediation Services can help you reduce the cost of resolving child arrangements
We help separated parents explore whether they can reach practical arrangements without committing immediately to the financial demands of contested family court proceedings. We provide the MIAM required before most applications for a Child Arrangements Order. During this private appointment, we explain the available options, consider whether mediation is appropriate and identify any safety measures that would be required.
Online mediation can reduce travel and make appointments easier to fit around work and childcare. Shuttle mediation may be considered when participants should remain in separate meetings.
Mediation cannot guarantee agreement, but successful discussions may remove the £270 court application fee and reduce the need for extensive legal work. Where proceedings remain necessary, narrowing the disagreement can make the case more focused and potentially less expensive.
You can contact Direct Mediation Services on 0330 043 6799, via email info@directmediationservices.co.uk or by our contact form.