Court preparation, explained plainly.
Short, sourced guides on the paperwork side of court — written for people representing themselves and the McKenzie friends helping them.
Family court · 14 guides
Representing yourself in family court: the complete guide
Hearings, forms, fees, the domestic-abuse evidence types and free help - the whole journey.
The C100 form and child arrangements orders: the process, the £270 fee and getting help with fees
From MIAM to first hearing: what the C100 covers (child arrangements, prohibited steps, specific issue), what it costs, and who pays less or nothing.
Cafcass and the Section 7 report, explained
What the safeguarding letter and s.7 report are, how the Family Court Adviser reaches a recommendation, and how to respond in writing.
How to write a position statement for family court
The structure judges and advisers actually want: issues, your position, evidence locators - and the mistakes that sink statements.
Witness statements for family court: the format the court expects
FPR r.22.4 and PD22A made practical: numbering, exhibits, statement of truth, plus a template.
Fact finding hearings: what they are and how to prepare
PD12J process, the allegations schedule, balance of probabilities, and preparation for both sides.
Non-molestation orders explained: who can apply, what they cover, how long they last
FLA 1996 s.42, the no-fee application route, ex parte protection, breach as a criminal offence, and the evidence that helps.
Occupation orders: rights to stay in the family home
Who can apply under ss.33-38, the balance-of-harm test, and occupation vs non-molestation orders.
Prohibited steps orders explained
What they stop, when courts grant them, and how they differ from non-molestation orders.
Taking a child abroad: consent and permission
The GOV.UK rule, the 28-day exception, consent letters, and the court route when refused.
Parenting plan template: what to include, clause by clause
The Cafcass-based structure - living, school, holidays, money, communication - and how to agree one.
Character references for family court
Who to ask, what referees should say, and a template the judge will actually read.
The financial remedy timeline
How long each stage really takes, what slows cases down, and how to settle faster.
Family court fees 2026: the full EX50 list
Divorce £628, C100 £270, financial orders, enforcement, appeals - every key fee on one page.
Court forms, step by step · 14 guides
How to fill in form C1A: allegations of harm
Form C1A explained section by section for applicants and respondents: what it asks, the incident table, the response page, PD12J and what happens next.
How to fill in form C2 in a children case
Form C2 explained for parents without a lawyer: permission to apply, directions, adjournments, joining a party, the £270, £195 and £62 fees, and Part 18 notice.
Served with a C100? How to fill in form C7
Received a C100 about your child? How form C7 works: the 14-day deadline, each question, adding a C1A or C8, how to send it, and what Cafcass and the court do next.
Form C8: keep your address confidential in family court
How form C8 keeps your address, phone and email from the other party: who sees it, when to use it with a C100, C7, C1A or FL401, and the slips that reveal it.
Form C79: enforcing a child arrangements order
What form C79 is for, who can apply, the £270 fee, the reasonable excuse test, what the court can order, and what happens after you apply. England and Wales.
How to fill in form EX160 for Help with Fees
Form EX160 explained for family court fees: online or paper, the 15 questions, savings and income tests, partners, evidence, refunds and one application per fee.
How to fill in form FL401
Form FL401 asks the family court for a non-molestation or occupation order. What each section asks, the supporting statement, without notice, service and no fee.
Form FL403: vary, extend or discharge an order
Form FL403 asks the court to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation order. Who can use it, each section, fees, service and timing.
Served with a non-molestation order? Your options
Served with a non-molestation order? What it means, the return hearing, the response form, the options open to a respondent, undertakings and breach.
Form FM5: your position on mediation and NCDR
What form FM5 is, when each party must file it, the 7-day deadline, what the questions ask, how it goes in the hearing bundle, and the costs risk of ignoring NCDR.
Form A: applying for a financial order
What Form A is, when you need it, the £321 fee (£62 by consent), the MIAM rule, how the form is laid out, and the first appointment timetable. England and Wales.
Form D11: application notice in divorce and finances
How form D11 works for applications inside divorce or financial remedy cases: interim maintenance, adjournments, directions, fees of £195 or £62, and service rules.
Form D81: statement of information for a consent order
What form D81 is, how it goes with the draft consent order and Form A, the £62 fee, what the judge checks, the questions on the form and common mistakes.
Form N161 appellant's notice for family appeals
How to fill in form N161 to appeal a family court decision in England and Wales: which form, the 21-day deadline, the £251 or £146 fee, and each section.
Common questions · 15 answers
How much does a C100 child arrangements case cost in total?
The full cost of a C100 case in England and Wales: the £270 fee, MIAM, mediation, C2 applications, testing, contact centres, transcripts, appeals, and help to pay.
How much does a non-molestation order cost?
There is no court fee for a non-molestation order. What legal aid covers for applicants and respondents, costs orders, service and the other costs to plan for.
Is it worth appealing a family court decision?
What a family court appeal can and cannot do in England and Wales: the legal test, permission, deadlines, fees, costs risk and the alternatives to appealing.
Is it worth getting a solicitor for a fact-finding hearing?
Factors to weigh before a family court fact-finding hearing: legal aid, the cross-examination ban, unbundled and direct-access help, and what you can prepare yourself.
Do I need a lawyer for a non-molestation order hearing?
For applicants and respondents: what happens at without-notice and return hearings under the 2026 President's Guidance, legal aid, free help, and what you can do alone.
Cafcass section 7 report: what if I disagree?
What you can do if you disagree with a Cafcass section 7 report: correcting facts, responding in writing, questioning the adviser at court, addendums and complaints.
McKenzie friend vs solicitor: what each can do in family court
What a McKenzie friend may and may not do under the 2010 Practice Guidance, how that differs from a regulated solicitor or barrister, and questions to ask.
MIAM and mediation vs going straight to court
Mediation or court for child arrangements in England and Wales: the MIAM rule and exemptions, the court's powers since April 2024, costs, timescales and safety.
Undertaking vs non-molestation order: the differences
An undertaking is a promise to the court; a non-molestation order is an order. How each works, when an undertaking cannot be accepted, and what breach means.
Position statement vs witness statement: the difference
A witness statement is your evidence; a position statement is your written submission for one hearing. Rules, deadlines, page limits and format compared.
Can I cross-examine my ex in family court? In person vs QLR
When the family court bans questioning your ex in person, what EX740 and EX741 are for, and how a court-appointed qualified legal representative works.
Supervised vs supported contact: what is the difference?
Supervised and supported contact compared for England and Wales: who watches, reports, risk level, costs, how referrals work and how contact moves on from a centre.
Common position statement mistakes (PD27A 2026 rules)
Twelve position statement mistakes in family court, each tied to the PD27A 2026 paragraph it breaks, with what to do instead. England and Wales.
Common witness statement mistakes in family court
Twelve witness statement mistakes in family court, each linked to FPR Part 22, PD22A, Part 17 or PD27A, and what to do instead. England and Wales.
First hearing (FHDRA) mistakes to avoid in family court
Eleven mistakes parents make before and at the first hearing (FHDRA) in a child arrangements case, tied to the PD12B rules, and what to do instead.
Evidence, bundles and costs · 6 guides
Build a chronology that helps the judge help you
Why judges read the chronology first, and how to build one that holds up.
The trial bundle checklist: what the court actually requires
Deadlines, contents, pagination and indexing under CPR rule 39.5 and Practice Direction 32.
WhatsApp and text messages as court evidence
Authenticity, completeness, formatting: make message exhibits that survive attack.
Small claims court fees in 2026: what you pay and when
The full fee table, when you pay, when you get it back, and the Help with Fees route.
Can't afford a family solicitor? What actually works
Realistic options compared: unbundled help, McKenzie friends, full DIY - and what the court expects from you.
Best court preparation software UK (2026)
EvidenceCanvas vs Opus 2, Casefleet, Everlaw and manual templates - chronology, statements, bundles and pricing, compared honestly.
Parking penalty charge notices · 9 guides
How to appeal a council PCN, stage by stage
Every stage of a council parking PCN in England: the 14-day discount, informal challenge, Notice to Owner, the tribunal, and the TE13 and TE14 forms.
PCN contravention codes explained: what each one means
What each council PCN contravention code means in England: higher and lower levels, exemptions, the evidence that matters and your deadlines.
All 9 grounds to appeal a council PCN, and the evidence each needs
The nine grounds for formal representations in England (SI 2022/576), with the evidence each one usually needs.
Informal PCN challenge: your first (free) move
The informal challenge stage explained: what to send in the first 14 days, how the discount is protected, and when to skip straight to formal representations.
Notice to Owner received? Your 28-day response window
Notice to Owner explained: what it must contain, the 28-day representation window, the nine statutory grounds, and what happens after rejection (TPT appeal).
What makes a PCN invalid? The defect checklist
PCN defect checklist: mandatory contents, date and service errors, amount errors, code mismatches - which defects cancel tickets.
PCN appeal letter template (UK): grounds that match the law
Free PCN appeal letter template: statutory grounds in plain English, evidence to attach per ground, wording councils accept. England.
Box junction PCN appeal: the rules and your options
Box junction PCNs: the rules, the camera evidence, the grounds people rely on (exit clear on entry, markings) and how to appeal.
PCN appeal services compared: what you pay for
PCN appeal services and solicitors compared with doing it yourself: costs, success models, and when software beats both. Honest comparison by EvidenceCanvas.
These guides are general information about court process in England and Wales. They are not legal advice. EvidenceCanvas is not a law firm.