Received a C100? How to Respond with Form C7 and C1A (2026 Guide)

Quick answer: How do I respond to a C100 application?

If you have been served with a child arrangements application and a Form C7:

1. Read the notice of hearing and any court directions immediately.
2. Check the deadline. Under the ordinary Child Arrangements Programme, respondents must send Form C7 and any applicable C1A to the court within 14 days after receiving the application, unless the court specifies a shorter period.
3. Complete Form C7, saying whether you oppose the application and identifying any safeguarding issues.
4. Complete Form C1A if you need to respond to relevant allegations of harm or raise concerns about harm or risk of harm; the current C7 expressly instructs completion in the circumstances covered by its questions 6 and 7.
5. Use Form C8 if necessary to keep confidential contact details from the other parties.
6. Keep proof of submission and follow your court’s directions about sending copies and attending the hearing.

Download the current official Form C7 →

1. What is Form C7—and what is it not?

Form C7 is an acknowledgement used when you are named as a respondent to certain court applications involving children. It allows the court to record basic information about you, whether you oppose the application, whether safeguarding concerns arise, whether you intend to seek an order yourself and whether you need an interpreter or disability-related support.

It is not the same as:

Answering ‘yes’ to question 8 of C7, which asks whether you intend to apply for an order, does not by itself amount to making that separate application. If you seek your own substantive order, check the correct application route and any applicable fee or procedural requirement. Our Form C2 guide explains one possible route in existing proceedings.

2. Important update: Form C7 changed on 30 September 2026

HMCTS’s official Form C7 publication was last updated on 30 September 2026. The update notice says the completion and sending process was changed. The current English form is marked “C7 Acknowledgement (09.26)” and runs to seven pages.

The September form tells respondents they may send the completed form by post or by email to the court’s published address. Where a covering letter gives instructions for an HMCTS online dashboard, it also describes responding through the portal or posting the form to the address in the letter.

The practical rule: follow the instructions sent with your particular case. Do not assume a form downloaded months ago, or submission instructions copied from somebody else’s case, are still correct.

Other relevant form updates include the June 2026 revisions to C1A and C8. These make careful handling of confidential contact details particularly important.

3. How long do you have to return Form C7?

Under Practice Direction 12B, paragraph 8.11, a respondent ordinarily must send Form C7, and C1A where applicable, to the court within 14 days after receiving the application, unless the court has specified a shorter time.

That is not a reason to wait 14 days. Read the court’s notice immediately: the hearing may be approaching, additional directions may already have been made, and local or case-specific processes—including areas using the Child Focused Model—may affect what happens next.

What if the 14 days have already passed?

Do not ignore the papers or assume that missing the deadline means you can no longer participate. Promptly check the latest court order, contact the court office using the details on your notice, and ask how to lodge your response and whether any application or explanation is required. If there is an imminent hearing, make sure you address attendance and any safeguarding concern without delay.

The consequences of a late response depend on the directions, stage of proceedings and circumstances. It is not safe to promise that an extension will be granted—or to suggest that failing to return C7 automatically decides the merits of the children’s case.

What documents should you check first?

• Form C100 or other originating application;
• any completed C1A and supporting documents;
• the notice of hearing and its date, time and venue or remote link;
• any court order or directions stating what must be filed and by when;
• the covering letter explaining paper, email or online submission.

Keep a private record of the date you received the paperwork. If service or receipt is disputed, preserve the envelope, delivery notification, email headers or other objective evidence.

4. How to complete Form C7: the current September 2026 version

Use the official PDF rather than relying solely on this walkthrough. Check the case number, child names and hearing details on its first page. The substantive questions are straightforward, but some have implications beyond a simple tick box.

Questions 1–3: Your identity, solicitor and correspondence address

Question 1 asks for your personal details. Question 2 concerns any solicitor; the form says to write “None” if you do not have one. Question 3 asks where correspondence should be sent.

Be alert to confidentiality. If disclosure of your address would create a safety or privacy problem, do not automatically insert it into the ordinary shared sections: use Form C8 as instructed in the C7 notes, and follow the court’s secure procedure. Consider whether other documents or attachment metadata might reveal the same information.

Question 4: When you received the application

Enter the date accurately. It is relevant to the response timetable and can help explain any delay or discrepancy about service.

Question 5: Do you oppose the application?

This question asks whether you oppose the application. Think carefully about the order actually requested, rather than responding to the personality or behaviour of the applicant. You might accept that the child should maintain a safe relationship with both parents but oppose the particular schedule, lack of safeguards or factual basis put forward. That distinction may need to be explained in a later court-directed statement or at the hearing.

Questions 6–7: Allegations of harm and safeguarding

Question 6 asks whether the applicant included a completed C1A and, if so, whether you wish to comment on what it says. Question 7 asks whether you believe the child has suffered or risks harm from domestic abuse, household violence, abduction or other relevant conduct.

The current C7 instructions require a C1A if you answer yes to both relevant parts of question 6 and/or answer yes to question 7. The C1A is not a substitute for evidence, but it is an important way of identifying matters the court must consider.

Question 8: Do you intend to seek an order?

Answer truthfully, and identify any separate application requirement. Merely indicating an intention does not put a full counter-application before the court. If what you want is a different child arrangements order, a protective direction, or an urgent change, work out the precise relief and procedural vehicle before filing unnecessary forms.

Questions 9–10: Interpreter and disability-related support

Tell the court promptly if you need an interpreter, accessible material, hearing assistance, communication adjustments or other practical support. Do not assume the court can arrange everything at short notice. More extensive protective participation arrangements may also be available where vulnerability or domestic abuse is relevant.

Statement of truth

Read it before signing. Do not guess, embellish or copy allegations you cannot honestly support. The form expressly warns about the possibility of contempt proceedings where a false statement verified by a statement of truth is made without an honest belief in its truth.

5. Form C1A: when allegations of domestic abuse or harm are involved

Form C1A is for providing supplemental information about harm or risk of harm and responding to allegations made in an application. It is relevant to both applicants and respondents, although the procedural timing and way it is submitted may differ.

For a respondent, there are two distinct situations:

1. You need to answer allegations made about you or another person. Identify the allegation, whether it is admitted, denied or partly accepted, and which facts or documents help the court understand the dispute.
2. You need to raise your own safeguarding concerns. Describe what happened or what risk exists, how it affects the child or the child’s carer, and why it matters to decisions about arrangements.

These situations can coexist. Do not assume an allegation is true merely because it appears on a form, or false merely because the other party denies it. Allegations are not findings. The court decides what issues are relevant and how disputed matters should be determined.

Evidence should be handled proportionately. Do not attach a large unsolicited bundle, share confidential records without proper authority, or send unredacted personal data merely because it exists. Follow the court’s directions about statements, exhibits, disclosure and bundles. See our family court records and disclosure guide.

6. How do you keep your home address confidential?

If revealing a home address, telephone number or other contact detail could place you or a child at risk, examine Form C8 before completing shared papers. The September C7 tells respondents to leave the relevant address sections blank and use C8 where confidentiality is needed.

Confidentiality requires more than ticking a box. Consider whether the information also appears on a witness statement header, an old court order, a school document, a screenshot, email signature, file name or PDF properties. Ask the court about how to submit confidential information separately where needed.

Read JSH Law’s dedicated guide: How to keep your address confidential in family court using Form C8.

7. How should you respond when the other parent’s allegations are disputed?

It is understandable to feel angry or alarmed when an application contains statements you believe are wrong. But a reactive answer can bury the issues a judge needs to decide.

Separate four categories: agreed facts; disputed facts; facts not yet known; and issues that matter to the child’s welfare. A disagreement about a date may be resolved by a message or an order. A serious domestic abuse allegation may require a more structured judicial decision about whether fact-finding is necessary.

Consider the Children’s Act welfare framework: section 1 of the Children Act 1989 makes welfare paramount when the court decides questions about a child’s upbringing. The child’s ascertainable wishes and feelings, age and understanding, needs, risk of harm and likely consequences of change are relevant to the statutory evaluation. The child’s views matter; they do not automatically determine the outcome.

A calm response example

“I disagree with the account of the handover on 12 August. The contemporaneous messages appear to show that the collection time had been changed beforehand. I can provide those messages in accordance with the court’s directions. My immediate concern is ensuring predictable, safe arrangements for the child while the disputed matter is considered.”

This is an illustrative writing example, not a statement of actual events. Its strength is its structure: an identifiable disputed fact, a possible source of verification, a child-focused explanation and no unnecessary accusation.

Where there are allegations of coercive control or post-separation abuse, do not reduce a pattern to isolated text-message exchanges. Explain the alleged pattern, its chronology, corroboration and its consequences for the adult’s or child’s safety. Equally, avoid labelling a parent as abusive or alienating as a substitute for identifying specific conduct and evidence.

Received C100 or C7 papers and need help responding?

JSH Law provides defined, paid litigation support for people representing themselves in family proceedings. We can help you identify the immediate deadline, organise documents, structure a response to relevant allegations, prepare a chronology and understand what the court has directed.

Our support is evidence-led, child-focused and safeguarding-aware. We do not guarantee an outcome, conduct reserved litigation activities, or replace regulated representation where it is needed.

Book a JSH Law consultation →

8. Domestic abuse, safeguarding and the right to participate safely

Where domestic abuse is alleged, admitted or otherwise indicated as a risk, Practice Direction 12J matters. The court must identify relevant allegations and welfare issues, address the potential risk of harm and consider whether disputed facts need to be determined before particular decisions about arrangements are made.

It is not enough to say, “Contact is a good thing,” or, conversely, “There are allegations so contact is impossible.” The legal assessment is individual, risk-sensitive and centred on the child. Under PD12J, interim arrangements where relevant abuse allegations remain unresolved demand careful consideration of safety and potentially unmanageable risks.

What if you are frightened of attending court?

Do not wait until the hearing to raise that issue. Family Procedure Rules Part 3A and Practice Direction 3AA deal with participation and giving evidence where parties or witnesses are vulnerable. Where a party or witness states that they are, or risk being, a victim of domestic abuse by a relevant person, the rules contain a specific vulnerability assumption for participation-direction purposes; this is not an automatic finding that abuse occurred.

Depending on the circumstances, reasonable requests might concern arrangements for entering and leaving court, separate waiting spaces, giving evidence, breaks, interpretation or adjustments for disability. The September C7 also refers to possible restrictions on in-person cross-examination and the EX740/EX741 forms in appropriate cases.

Immediate danger? Do not rely on an ordinary C7 filing as an emergency safeguarding response. Contact emergency services where there is an immediate threat, and obtain urgent specialist advice where necessary.

9. What happens before the first hearing?

In the ordinary Child Arrangements Programme, the court sends application materials to Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru. Safeguarding enquiries may include police and local authority checks and discussions with the adults. A safeguarding letter can identify risk concerns and advise what should happen next. See Cafcass’s explanation of its safeguarding letter.

The first hearing is often a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA), but you must check the actual notice; proceedings in Child Focused Court areas may operate differently. Changes to the national approach are being implemented progressively, not at every court on a single date.

In March 2026, Cafcass welcomed the announced expansion of Child Focused Courts across England and Wales over approximately three years. Their approach is intended to bring more timely and child-centred assessment, including earlier attention to domestic abuse and safeguarding. It does not remove the court’s underlying duties under the Children Act, PD12J or the requirements of procedural fairness.

The court may need to consider interim arrangements, whether further evidence is needed, whether the allegations are relevant and disputed, whether a fact-finding hearing is necessary, or whether further welfare assessment is required. No particular outcome follows just from filing a C7 or C1A.

What should you take into the first hearing?

• The complete application and the court’s latest orders;
• your submitted C7 and any C1A, plus proof of filing;
• a short, dated chronology of the most important events;
• a concise list of disputed and agreed issues;
• specific, proportionate directions you may seek, where appropriate;
• your notes about urgent child welfare risks and any special participation requirements.

Follow the judge’s directions on when documents may be filed or relied upon. The court has not necessarily authorised you to submit a lengthy statement or full evidence bundle before the first hearing.

For further help see our FHDRA first-hearing guide and guide to Cafcass safeguarding checks.

10. Three practical examples: what does a useful response look like?

Example A: You agree with contact in principle, but not the proposed arrangements

An applicant seeks immediate overnight stays. The respondent does not oppose a safe relationship but considers the proposed handover arrangements, travel time or the child’s additional needs insufficiently addressed. The useful response distinguishes agreement about the principle from disagreement about the proposed order, identifies evidence of the child’s needs and considers appropriate interim arrangements without hostility.

Example B: A C1A makes serious allegations which you dispute

The respondent should not treat C7 as a comprehensive trial of disputed facts. Complete the form, respond using C1A as instructed, preserve original records, identify any witnesses or available independent records and be ready to explain why particular disputed facts may matter to risk or welfare. Avoid altering messages or gathering evidence unlawfully.

Example C: You have safeguarding concerns not fully reflected in the application

The respondent identifies a pattern of alleged coercive control affecting both parent and child. A bare assertion of “high conflict” may obscure rather than explain the concern. A stronger response identifies incidents and patterns, gives dates where possible, distinguishes direct knowledge from reported information, explains child impact, and alerts the court to any necessary safety or participation directions.

Your pre-filing checklist

• Have I confirmed the case number, hearing date, service date and directions?
• Am I using the C7 dated September 2026 or a subsequently issued official version?
• Have I answered the opposition question carefully and truthfully?
• Have I considered whether the form requires me to complete C1A?
• Am I exposing confidential details that should be given in C8?
• Have I told the court promptly about interpreter, disability or safe-participation needs?
• Have I checked how this court wants documents sent and copied?
• Have I retained proof of the actual submission?

11. The JSH Law Six-Question Check

Before you send a response, ask:

1. What is the court actually being asked to decide? Identify the application and proposed order.
2. What is agreed, disputed or still unknown? Keep those categories separate.
3. Where is the best evidence? Prioritise reliable, relevant sources over volume.
4. What is the child’s experience? Explain needs, safety, relationships and the effect of proposed changes.
5. What must happen procedurally? Check forms, notices, deadlines, service and participation directions.
6. What is the proportionate next decision? Ask for clarity rather than making every grievance part of the application.

Explore the JSH Law Six-Question Check resource.

Can artificial intelligence help you respond to Form C7?

AI can assist with organisation: building a list of the form’s questions, turning dated events into a chronology, identifying documents mentioned in an application, or helping you edit a draft for clarity. It should not decide whether allegations are true, invent case law, determine safeguarding risk or make the final declaration of truth on your behalf.

Do not paste identifiable children’s records, confidential court materials or domestic abuse evidence into an unapproved AI service without understanding privacy, confidentiality and information-security implications. Verify every suggested rule, quote and court form against an official source. Read and approve anything filed in your name.

12. Frequently asked questions about Form C7

Do I need a solicitor to complete Form C7?

No. You can normally complete the acknowledgement yourself as a litigant in person. Legal representation or specialist advice may nevertheless be valuable where there are serious risks, complex orders or disputed allegations.

Do I need Form C1A if I just disagree with contact?

Not merely because you disagree about the proposed timetable. C1A concerns allegations of harm, risk of harm and domestic abuse. Check the particular answers you give to questions 6 and 7 of the current C7 and its instructions.

If I tick ‘oppose’, will the judge refuse the application?

No. The acknowledgement records a position; the court determines the issues according to law, evidence and child welfare. Opposing an application does not automatically resolve it.

Can I put my full witness statement in with the C7?

Only where appropriate and consistent with the court’s instructions and directions. C7 is an acknowledgement, not a substitute for a court-directed statement or evidence process. If additional space is required for an answer, the form permits continuation sheets with identifying case details.

Can I return C7 by email?

The September 2026 form refers to sending it by post or email using the court’s published address. It also describes online response options where an HMCTS dashboard covering letter has been issued. Follow the instructions for your case.

What if I live in Wales?

The form and Child Arrangements Programme cover England and Wales, but Cafcass Cymru is a distinct service from Cafcass in England. Follow the directions and service information for your court.

What if I have received papers but no C7?

Check the court’s correspondence and online portal where applicable. Different applications may involve different response procedures. Contact the court promptly to ask what document or process applies to your case rather than assuming a generic C7 deadline.

Does submitting C7 mean the hearing will be cancelled or delayed?

No. Attend as directed unless you receive a further court order or official notice changing the arrangements. Filing a response does not itself adjourn proceedings.

What if I need urgent protection?

Raise urgent safeguarding matters with the appropriate authorities immediately and consider specialist legal advice about available protective measures. Do not rely on an ordinary acknowledgement form to provide emergency protection.

13. Official sources and further JSH Law resources

Primary sources reviewed for this article:

• HMCTS: Form C7 (last updated 30 September 2026).
• Practice Direction 12B: Child Arrangements Programme, particularly paragraphs 8.7–8.12.
• HMCTS: Form C1A and Form C8.
• Practice Direction 12J: Domestic Abuse and Harm.
• FPR Part 3A and Practice Direction 3AA.
• Children Act 1989, section 1.
• Cafcass: Child Focused Courts reform announcement (17 March 2026).

Continue with these related JSH Law guides:

• C100 application guidance
• Form C2 explained
• Domestic abuse evidence and PD12J
• Schedules of allegations: preparation support
• Preparing for your first hearing

You do not have to answer every accusation in one document. You do need to identify the decision the court must make.

A well-prepared response is not necessarily the longest. It is one that meets the deadline, identifies the real issues, makes relevant safety concerns visible and helps the court decide what evidence and directions are needed to protect the child’s welfare.

If you need assistance organising your court papers, reviewing a C7/C1A response or preparing for the first hearing, explore JSH Law’s court form support or book a consultation.