Form C79: how to apply to enforce a child arrangements order

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

A missed weekend or a cancelled holiday can feel like the order means nothing. Form C79 is the route the law provides, but it is narrower than many parents expect. This guide explains what the court can and cannot do, and how the form is set out, whether you are applying or you have been told someone has applied against you.

What form C79 is for

Form C79 is the application form for orders connected with enforcing a child arrangements order made under the Children Act 1989, sections 11J to 11P. On one form you can ask for any of these:

• An enforcement order. The person who broke the order must do unpaid work in the community, between 40 and 200 hours in total (Schedule A1, paragraph 3B), supervised through the probation service.
• Action after an enforcement order is broken. If the unpaid work is not done, the court can add hours, up to the 200-hour maximum, or make a further order.
• Compensation for financial loss under section 11O.
• Revoking or amending an enforcement order: ending it, moving the unpaid work to a new area after a house move, reducing the hours, or extending the usual 12 months allowed to finish the work.

The last group is usually used by the person doing the unpaid work, so the form serves both sides of the case.

When you can use it, and when you need a different form

Four conditions have to be met before the court can make an enforcement or compensation order.

1. There is a child arrangements order. An informal agreement, a parenting plan or a message thread is not enough. If you agreed something different from the order and want it to be binding, it has to be turned into a new order.
2. The order carries a warning notice. Section 11I requires the court to attach a notice warning of the consequences of not complying. Gov.uk says orders made after 8 December 2008 already include one; for older orders you first apply on form C78 to attach it.
3. The person knew about the warning. Under section 11K, the court cannot make an enforcement order unless, before the breach, the person had been given a copy of the warning notice or told its terms.
4. The person was an adult. No enforcement or compensation order can be made for a breach that happened before the person turned 18. An enforcement order can only be made against someone who usually lives in England and Wales.

Who can apply. Section 11J(5) lists: the person the child lives with or is to live with under the order; a person whose time with the child is provided for in the order; a person subject to a condition or activity condition in the order; and the child, who needs the court's permission first and must have sufficient understanding.

When a different route fits better. If the arrangements no longer work for the child, asking the court to change the order may address the real problem. Gov.uk explains that you can agree changes and ask the court to approve a consent order, or ask the court to decide; our C100 guide covers applying. Mediation or another form of out-of-court help can be quicker, and our page on mediation versus court compares the two. Breaking a court order can also be contempt of court, which CB5 notes can lead to a fine or prison, but that is a separate process with its own rules, not something you ask for on C79.

The fee and Help with Fees

The EX50 fees list (gov.uk, updated 13 July 2026) sets these fees:

If you get certain benefits, have a low income or have little in savings, Help with Fees may cover all or part of the fee. You apply online or on form EX160 and put the reference number in the Help with Fees box on the front of the C79. Our EX160 guide and family court fees guide explain the tests.

Before you start

• The current version. The gov.uk form page was last updated on 1 June 2026, and the current English form is marked 06.26 in its footer. That update points you to the confidential contact details form (C8) if your address must be kept private. Our C8 guide explains it.
• A copy of the child arrangements order, or at least the court name, case number and date.
• A dated list of each breach: what the order said should happen, what happened instead, and any reason you were given at the time. Keep it factual.
• For compensation: receipts, booking confirmations and cancellation terms showing the money you actually lost.
• For changes to an enforcement order: a copy of that order and the hours done and outstanding.

C79 is a paper form. HMCTS also publishes guidance booklet CB5, which the form refers to. It dates from 2014, so some details, such as website addresses, are out of date, but its explanation of the tests is still useful.

Form C79, section by section

The current form has ten numbered sections and a checklist.

1. About the current child arrangements order. The court that made it, the case number, the date, who applied and the children named. Attach a copy where you can.
2. What order you are applying for. Tick one or more boxes: an enforcement order, action after an enforcement order is broken, compensation, or revoking, moving, reducing or extending an enforcement order.
3. About you. Your details, and whether you have a solicitor. Leave contact details blank and use form C8 if they must stay confidential. There is room for a second applicant.
4. The children. Each child, oldest first, and your relationship to them.
5. The respondents. For enforcement or compensation, the respondent is the person you say did not keep to the order.
6. Other people to be notified. CB5 lists, for example, a Cafcass officer monitoring the order, or a children's guardian if the child was a party in the earlier case.
7. Why you are applying. 7a covers an enforcement order: how the arrangements were broken, when, and how long since you last saw the children. 7b covers compensation: the total amount, why, and the receipts. 7c covers breach of an enforcement order. 7d covers changes, including hours done and outstanding and any new completion date.
8. Other court cases about the children, with case numbers and any Cafcass officer.
9. Statement of truth. Signing confirms you believe the facts are true. A false statement can lead to contempt proceedings.
10. Attending court. Interpreter needs, disability needs, and any special arrangements, such as a separate waiting room.

The checklist on the final page asks for a copy of the order, the fee or Help with Fees reference, copies of the application for each respondent and one for Cafcass, and any receipts. Send it to the family court local to the child.

What the court looks at

The standard of proof. For an enforcement order the court must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the order was broken (section 11J(2)). That is the criminal standard, and higher than in most family cases.

Reasonable excuse. The court cannot make an enforcement order if it is satisfied the person had a reasonable excuse (section 11J(3)). The person relying on the excuse has to prove it, on the balance of probabilities (section 11J(4)). The same applies to compensation. What counts as reasonable depends on the facts; the Act does not list examples.

Necessity and proportionality. Under section 11L the order must be necessary to secure compliance, and its likely effect must be proportionate to the seriousness of the breach. The court must check unpaid work is available locally, consider how it would fit with the person's work, education or religious beliefs, and take the child's welfare into account.

Compensation. The amount cannot exceed the loss, and the court considers the paying person's financial circumstances. An unpaid award can be recovered as a civil debt.

A fictional example: a parent pays £600 for a holiday the order allowed, and the other parent keeps the child at home with no explanation. The claim is the money that could not be recovered, backed by the booking and cancellation terms, not the distress caused.

Common mistakes

• Applying when there is no order, only an agreement.
• Not checking whether an older order has a warning notice.
• Writing a long history of the relationship in section 7 instead of the specific breaches and dates.
• Claiming compensation for inconvenience, travel time or upset rather than money actually lost, or forgetting the receipts.
• Forgetting copies for each respondent and for Cafcass.
• Posting about the case online. Children cases are private, and publishing information from them can itself breach the law (Administration of Justice Act 1960, section 12).

What happens next and deadlines

The court office checks the form, issues it and fixes a first hearing. CB5 says it returns copies and notices of proceedings for you to serve on the respondents and the other people named. The C79 itself says Cafcass will carry out the checks it considers necessary. If a Cafcass officer has cause to suspect a child is at risk of harm, they must carry out a risk assessment for the court (section 16A).

If an enforcement order is made, the court asks a Cafcass officer to monitor compliance with the unpaid work and report back (section 11M). The court can also suspend an order for a period it chooses. Your court's directions will set dates for any statements; keep a note of each one.

If you are the respondent, you can tell the court about any reasonable excuse and the evidence for it, and say what you think would help the arrangements work. Our guide to responding to a statement may help. Free help is available from legal aid where you qualify, and from Citizens Advice and Coram Children's Legal Centre.

Download the official form

Download form C79 from gov.uk. The same page links to the CB5 guidance. Gov.uk's page on changing or enforcing a child arrangements order explains the options in plain English.

Where EvidenceCanvas fits, and where it does not. EvidenceCanvas does not fill in form C79, work out compensation, or send anything to the court or the other parent. What it can do is help you turn your messages, booking emails and notes into a dated list of what was supposed to happen and what did, with each date shown next to where it came from, so you can confirm it before using it in section 7 or a statement.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to apply on form C79?

£270 for an enforcement order or compensation for financial loss, and £119 to revoke, amend or extend an enforcement order or to ask the court to act after one is broken. Help with Fees can reduce or remove the fee.

Can the court send someone to prison on a C79?

No. A C79 enforcement order means 40 to 200 hours of unpaid work. Breaking a court order can also be contempt of court, which can lead to a fine or prison, but that is a separate process.

What counts as a reasonable excuse?

The Children Act does not list examples; it depends on the facts. The person relying on the excuse must prove it on the balance of probabilities, and if the court accepts it, no enforcement or compensation order can be made.

Can I claim compensation for missed time with my child?

Compensation under section 11O covers actual financial loss caused by the breach, such as a lost holiday booking. It does not cover upset or inconvenience, and it cannot be more than the money lost.

Do I need a warning notice before I apply?

Yes. Orders made after 8 December 2008 include one. For an older order, gov.uk says to apply on form C78 to attach a warning notice first.

Can a child apply to enforce an order?

Yes, but only with the court's permission, which is given only if the court is satisfied the child has sufficient understanding to make the application.

Checked on 23 October 2026: gov.uk form C79 page (updated 1 June 2026) and form version 06.26; gov.uk, change or enforce an order; EX50 family court fees (updated 13 July 2026); Children Act 1989 sections 11I to 11P, 16A and Schedule A1; Family Procedure Rules Part 12. General information for England and Wales, not legal advice. Your court's directions take priority over this guide.