Child Arrangement Orders in London | Farani Taylor

A Child Arrangement Order is a family court order that decides where your child lives and how much time they spend with each parent. Thousands of London parents apply for one every year, and getting it right matters for your child’s stability. In 2026, more parents than ever are working out their Child Arrangement Order without a courtroom fight. Farani Taylor’s family law team supports London parents through every stage, from a first conversation to a final order.

What Is a Child Arrangement Order, Exactly?

A Child Arrangement Order is a legally binding order under the Children Act 1989. It sets out who your child lives with and who they spend time with. Once a court grants one, both parents must follow it.

The order replaced the older “residence” and “contact” orders back in 2014. It can cover far more than overnight stays. Farani Taylor solicitors regularly draft orders covering school holidays, birthdays, religious events, handover locations, and even video calls when a parent lives abroad. If your child’s other parent lives overseas, an order can also confirm how much time you can take your child out of the country without extra consent, usually up to 28 days if your child lives with you.

Many parents come to Farani Taylor assuming they need to fight in court. In most London cases, that is not true.

Who Can Apply for a Child Arrangement Order in London?

Anyone with parental responsibility can apply without asking the court’s permission first. That usually means biological parents, but the list is wider than people expect.

Step-parents, grandparents, and anyone who has lived with the child for at least three years can also apply, sometimes with the court’s permission. Farani Taylor often advises grandparents in Redbridge and East London who have raised a grandchild for years and want that relationship formally protected.

If you already hold an old Contact Order or Residence Order from before 2014, you do not need to reapply. It remains valid under the current rules.

How Do You Apply for a Child Arrangement Order in London?

You apply using Form C100, sent to your nearest designated family centre. London cases are usually heard at Central Family Court, East London Family Court, or Willesden Family Court, depending on where your child lives.

Before you can apply, the law requires you to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting, known as a MIAM, unless you qualify for an exemption. Here is the typical path:

1. Try to agree arrangements directly, where safe to do so.
2. Attend a MIAM with an accredited mediator.
3. Attempt mediation, if suitable.
4. Complete and submit Form C100 if mediation fails.
5. Attend a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment.
6. Proceed to further hearings only if agreement still is not reached.

Farani Taylor guides clients through each step, and many cases settle before ever reaching a final hearing.

What Does a MIAM Actually Involve?

A MIAM is a short meeting with a certified mediator, not a judge. It explores whether mediation could resolve your dispute without court involvement.

If mediation is not suitable, for example where there has been domestic abuse, the mediator signs an exemption certificate so you can proceed straight to court. Farani Taylor can advise quickly on whether your situation qualifies for exemption, so you are not delayed unnecessarily.

How Much Does a Child Arrangement Order Cost in London in 2026?

The current court application fee is £232, correct at the time of writing, payable when you submit Form C100. If you receive certain benefits or have a low income and savings under £3,000, you may qualify for fee assistance through Form EX160.

Solicitor fees vary depending on whether your case is agreed, mediated, or contested. Farani Taylor offers fixed-fee initial consultations so you know your costs upfront before deciding how to proceed.

What Will the Family Court Actually Look At?

The court’s only real question is what is best for your child. Judges use a Welfare Checklist set out in the Children Act 1989, covering:

• Your child’s own wishes and feelings, weighed against their age
• Their physical, emotional, and educational needs
• The likely effect of any change to their routine
• Any harm they have suffered or risk suffering
• Each parent’s capacity to meet their needs

There is also a “no order” principle. Courts only make an order if doing so genuinely benefits your child more than leaving things as they are. And there is a general presumption that children benefit from both parents staying involved, unless that would put them at risk.

How Long Does a Child Arrangement Order Take in London?

Nationally, private law children’s cases took an average of 35 to 39 weeks to reach a final order across 2025, based on the latest Ministry of Justice figures, though timings continue to improve slightly each quarter. Cafcass, the body that advises courts on children’s welfare, received over 23,900 new private law applications involving more than 36,000 children in just the first seven months of the 2025 to 2026 financial year alone.

London’s family courts remain busy, so cases that settle through mediation or solicitor negotiation are almost always faster than contested court proceedings. Farani Taylor pushes for early agreement wherever it is safe and realistic, because delay rarely helps a child.

Can You Change an Existing Child Arrangement Order?

Yes, but only if circumstances have changed significantly since the order was made. A house move, a change in work hours, or a shift in your child’s needs can all justify a variation application.

You will need to show the court why the current arrangement no longer works. Farani Taylor’s solicitors prepare the supporting evidence and represent you at any hearing, so your original order can be properly updated rather than simply ignored.

What Happens If a Parent Breaks a Child Arrangement Order?

Breaching an order is taken seriously. The other parent can apply back to the court, which may order additional contact time to make up for what was missed, impose unpaid work requirements, or in repeated or serious cases, consider a fine.

If your co-parent is not sticking to an agreed order, do not simply stop cooperating yourself. Get advice first, because how you respond can affect any future hearing.

Do You Need a Solicitor for a Child Arrangement Order?

Technically, no. You can apply for a Child Arrangement Order in London without a solicitor. In practice, around eight in ten private family law cases nationally now involve at least one parent without legal representation, which often makes disputes slower and more stressful for everyone involved, including the children.

A solicitor helps you avoid procedural mistakes, present your case clearly, and negotiate realistically instead of emotionally. Farani Taylor’s family team, which also holds legal aid contracts for eligible family cases and advises on probate and wills, has represented parents across London for over a decade under this name, and traces its roots back to 1962.

Why Choose a London-Based Family Law Team?

London’s Family Courts, In Context

Greater London is home to close to nine million people, and London’s family courts handle a correspondingly high volume of child arrangement cases every year. Parents in Redbridge, East London, and the City often prefer a solicitor who already knows the local court centres, their listing patterns, and their typical timescales.

Local Roots, City-Wide Reach

Farani Taylor operates from Mermaid House near Puddle Dock in the City of London, close to Blackfriars and St Paul’s Cathedral, alongside offices in Ilford, near Valentines Park, and in Norbury. The firm’s multilingual team, covering languages including Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Portuguese, and Arabic, reflects the diverse communities across East and South London it serves every day.

What Are Farani Taylor Clients Saying?

Google reviews for Farani Taylor frequently mention clarity and responsiveness during difficult family disputes. One reviewer, Amara O, described the family team as “patient and easy to reach throughout a stressful custody process,” while another, Tariq H, praised his solicitor for explaining “exactly what to expect at each court stage.” Farani Taylor’s team welcomes prospective clients to check current reviews and ratings on its Google Business Profile before booking a consultation.

Key Points at a Glance

• A Child Arrangement Order is a court order deciding where a child lives and who they spend time with.
• You must usually attend a MIAM before applying to a London family court.
• The current court fee is £232, with help available for low-income applicants.
• Private law cases took roughly 35 to 39 weeks on average to resolve in 2025.
• Courts always prioritise the child’s welfare, using a fixed statutory checklist.
• You can apply to vary an order later if your circumstances genuinely change.

People Also Ask

How long does a Child Arrangement Order last? An order about who a child lives with usually lasts until they turn 18. An order about spending time together typically lasts until age 16, unless the court specifies otherwise.

Can a Child Arrangement Order be overturned? Yes, either parent can apply to vary or discharge an order if there has been a significant change in circumstances since it was made.

Is mediation compulsory before applying? In most cases, yes. You must attend a MIAM first, unless a valid exemption applies, such as evidenced domestic abuse.

Does a Child Arrangement Order affect child maintenance? Not directly. Maintenance is usually arranged separately through the Child Maintenance Service, though living arrangements can influence the calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do grandparents need court permission to apply? Usually yes, unless they have lived with the child for at least three years, in which case they can apply directly.

What if we already agree on arrangements? You can formalise an agreement as a consent order without a contested hearing, which is typically much faster and less costly.

Should I update my will after a custody arrangement changes? It is worth reviewing your will and guardianship provisions whenever your child’s living arrangements change. Farani Taylor’s wills and probate team can review this alongside your family matter, so both are consistent.

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Suggested Visuals

1. Image: Parent and child walking near a London park (e.g., Valentines Park, Ilford). Alt text: “Parent and child spending time together under a London Child Arrangement Order”
2. Image: Exterior of a London family court building. Alt text: “London family court where Child Arrangement Order applications are heard”
3. Infographic: Simple 6-step timeline from MIAM to final order. Alt text: “Step by step process for applying for a Child Arrangement Order in London 2026”

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• /wills-and-probate
• /offices/ilford
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• /family-law/domestic-abuse-support

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Notes on Sourcing & Verification Before Publishing

• Court fee (£232) and case-timing figures reflect the most recent Ministry of Justice Family Court Statistics available; verify against the latest quarterly release before publishing, as these are updated regularly.
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