How to fill in form C1A, the allegations of harm form (2026 guide)

Family court · Forms · England and Wales · Last checked 23 October 2026

The C1A is short, but it is often the first thing a judge and Cafcass read about safety in a case. This guide explains what each section asks for and how the form is used, whichever side of the allegations you are on.

What form C1A is for

The gov.uk page describes it as the form for supplemental information when making or responding to allegations of harm and domestic violence. The form itself says it "cannot be used to make an application for a court order": it travels with the application or response it supports.

The front page sets out the definitions the court uses. Domestic abuse covers threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or were partners or family members. "Harm" comes from section 31(9) of the Children Act 1989 and includes impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another person.

When you need it, and when you do not

The C1A is for children cases. If you need protection for yourself now, a non-molestation or occupation order is applied for on a different form, FL401, which has no court fee. Our non-molestation order guide explains it.

Fee and Help with Fees

There is no fee for a C1A. It is supplemental information, not an application. You pay only the fee for the form it goes with, for example £270 for a C100, which Help with Fees (EX160) can reduce or remove. A C7 response has no fee.

Before you start

Write in black ink and block capitals if completing by hand, as the form asks.

The form, section by section

  1. Section 1, About you. Your name, whether you are the applicant or the respondent, whether you have completed a C8, the children's names and dates of birth, and any solicitor.
  2. Section 2, Details of domestic violence or abuse. Three parts. First, tick the kinds of abuse (physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial) for you and for the children. Second, a table of any current or past orders: non-molestation, occupation, forced marriage protection, restraining, other injunctive orders, and undertakings, with dates, length and court. Third, the incident table, with up to five numbered rows. Its columns ask when the behaviour started and how long it went on, what happened, whether you sought help and from whom, and whether they did anything.
  3. Section 3, Abduction. Only if you believe a child is at risk of being abducted: why, any previous threats or attempts, where the children are now, passports and whether the passport office or police were involved.
  4. Section 4, Other concerns. Any other worries about the children's safety and wellbeing, as a summary. The form says you may be asked for a full statement later.
  5. Section 5, Steps or orders required. What you are asking the court to do to protect the children or you, and three yes or no questions: do you agree to the children spending unsupervised time, supervised time, or other contact (telephone, text, email, social media) with the other person.
  6. Section 6, Statement of truth. Signed by the applicant or respondent. A false statement without an honest belief in its truth can lead to contempt proceedings.
  7. Section 7, Attending court. Tick any arrangements you want to ask for: separate waiting rooms, separate entrances and exits, screens, video links, separate toilets, advance viewing of the court, an interpreter, disability support or a sign language interpreter. Courts try to meet these, depending on facilities.

After a checklist of what to enclose, the response to allegations of harm page lets the person who receives the form give brief comments numbered to match the rows of the incident table, plus any other comments. It has its own statement of truth. You do not have to complete it, and the form says there will be an opportunity for a more detailed statement later.

How much to write

The notes ask for a short description in each row, and say the same type of behaviour over a period can go in one entry. A fictional example of one row: "From about spring 2024, ongoing. Repeated messages late at night demanding to know where I was. Told my GP in June 2024. GP referred me to a local support service." Facts, approximate dates and who knew are more useful than adjectives.

If you are responding, the same applies: take each numbered entry in turn, say what you accept, what you dispute and, briefly, why. Our guide to a statement in response covers the longer document the court may ask for later.

Common mistakes

What happens next

Cafcass (or Cafcass Cymru in Wales) carries out safeguarding checks before the first hearing and may phone each parent about safety. The court then considers the allegations under Practice Direction 12J. Paragraph 5 requires the court, at all stages, to consider whether domestic abuse is raised and to identify the factual and welfare issues at the earliest opportunity, usually at the first hearing (FHDRA). Paragraphs 16 and 17 deal with whether a separate fact-finding hearing is necessary and proportionate. If one is held, the court decides which allegations are proved on the evidence. Our fact-finding hearing guide explains that stage.

If oral evidence is to be given, rules under Part 4B of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 can prevent a party from questioning the other in person where abuse is alleged; the court sends forms EX740 or EX741 where relevant. Children cases are private: publishing information likely to identify a child involved can breach section 97 of the Children Act 1989.

Official form

Download form C1A from gov.uk. A bilingual Welsh and English version is on the same page.

Where domestic abuse is involved, legal aid may be available for family cases: check if you can get legal aid. The form's own notes say the same.

Where EvidenceCanvas fits, and where it does not. EvidenceCanvas does not fill in, sign or file a C1A and does not decide what goes in it. It can help you get dates right first: upload your own messages, letters and records, and it suggests the dates it finds with where each came from, for you to confirm or reject. Later it can draft a chronology, a witness statement or a response to the other side's statement from your papers. No person reads a draft before you get it, drafts can be wrong, and you check every line.

Questions people ask

Can a respondent fill in a C1A?
Yes. A respondent who has their own concerns about harm completes a C1A and returns it with the C7. A respondent who wants to comment on the applicant's C1A uses the response page at the back of the form they received.
Is there a fee for form C1A?
No. The C1A is supplemental information, not an application, so it has no fee. You pay only the fee for the application it goes with, such as £270 for a C100.
How much detail should go in the C1A?
A short description per row: approximate dates, what happened, who you told and what they did. The form says there will be further opportunities to make a detailed statement.
Will the other parent see my C1A?
The C1A is part of the court papers and is normally served on the other party, which is why the response page exists. Keep your address off it and use form C8 if you want your contact details kept confidential.
Does a C1A mean there will be a fact-finding hearing?
Not automatically. Under Practice Direction 12J the court decides whether a fact-finding hearing is necessary and proportionate, considering the parties' and Cafcass's views, any admissions and other evidence.

Checked on 23 October 2026: gov.uk, form C1A (updated 1 June 2026; form C1A 06.26 and its notes) and form C7 (C7 09.26); Practice Direction 12J (paras 5, 16 and 17); Children Act 1989, sections 31(9) and 97; gov.uk, check legal aid. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice. Your court's directions take priority over this guide.