Family court

Which order do I need?

Tick what you need to happen. This page then shows the family court orders that usually fit, the form each one uses, and the evidence to start gathering now.

Information only. This is not legal advice. Court procedures and the law change. Always confirm with a solicitor, Citizens Advice, or a domestic abuse advocate before acting.

Before you start

There are only a handful of orders. Most people need one about their children, one about their own safety, or both — and you can apply for both at the same time.

Nothing here is stored. Ticking a box does not send anything to anyone, and nothing is saved to this device.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 (press 55 if you cannot speak). A court application is not an emergency service.

Step 2 — the orders that usually fit

Tick at least one box above and your results will appear here. Not sure? Read the full list of orders below — every one is explained in plain English.

You can ask for more than one

A non-molestation order (about your safety) and a child arrangements order (about your children) are separate applications on different forms, but they can run alongside each other and be heard by the same court. Many survivors apply for the protective order first, because it can be granted within days, and deal with children's arrangements after.

Whatever you apply for, ask for special measures in writing at the same time — separate waiting areas, screens, a separate entrance and arrival time, or joining by video. The abuser is also barred from questioning you directly (s.65 Domestic Abuse Act 2021).

Every order, in plain English

The full list, whether or not you ticked something above.

Child Arrangements Order: Sets out who your child lives with, and who they spend time with — including whether that time is supervised, indirect (letters and cards), or paused.; Form C100, plus Form C1A if you are raising abuse or risk of harm
Prohibited Steps Order: Stops the other parent doing a specific thing — taking your child abroad, moving them, removing them from school, or changing their name.; Form C100 (tick 'Prohibited Steps Order'), plus C1A where abuse is raised
Specific Issue Order: Asks the court to decide one disputed question — which school, a medical treatment, a passport, a holiday abroad, religion.; Form C100 (tick 'Specific Issue Order'), plus C1A where abuse is raised
Non-Molestation Order: Orders them not to threaten, harass, contact or come near you (and can cover your children). Breaking it is a criminal offence.; Form FL401, with a sworn or signed witness statement
Occupation Order: Decides who can live in the family home. It can order them to leave, keep them out of an area around it, or let you back in — even if the home is in their name.; Form FL401, usually filed alongside a non-molestation order
Section 91(14) barring order: Stops them making any further application about your child without the court's permission first. Used where repeat applications are themselves a form of abuse.; Ask for it in your position statement or at a hearing — the court can also make one on its own initiative
Enforcement of an existing order: Asks the court to enforce a Child Arrangements Order that is being ignored. The court can order unpaid work, a fine, compensation for financial loss, or in rare cases committal.; Form C79 (enforcement), or Form C100 if you need the arrangements changed instead
Special Guardianship Order: Gives a relative or carer long-term parental responsibility for a child, usually until 18, without ending the parents' legal status.; Form C100 (with permission to apply if needed) — take legal advice first

Common mistakes at this stage

Applying for the wrong thing to avoid conflict. Asking only for "contact to be reviewed" when what you need is for the child not to be taken abroad wastes months. Name the specific thing you need stopped or decided.
Waiting for the police first. You do not need a report, a charge or a conviction to apply for any of these orders. The family court decides on the balance of probabilities.
Leaving your address on the forms. Use Form C8 to keep your address confidential — see the C100 walkthrough.
Not claiming the MIAM exemption. Domestic abuse exempts you from mediation. You should not be asked to sit with the person who harmed you.
Turning up with no dated record. A simple, dated log beats a long emotional account every time.

What to do next

Looking for protective orders across the whole UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland? See protective court orders or the protective orders checklist.

Which order do I need?

Step 1 — what do you need to happen?

Where my child lives and who they see

Stopping something from happening

Settling one specific decision