Glossary
Family court terms in plain English.
- Applicant
- The person who starts the court proceedings by filing the application.
- Respondent
- The person the application is made against.
- Litigant in Person (LiP)
- Someone representing themselves in court without a solicitor or barrister.
- C100
- The main application form for a Child Arrangements Order, Specific Issue Order, or Prohibited Steps Order.
- C1A
- The supplemental form used to set out allegations of harm (domestic abuse, harm to children).
- C7
- The form respondents use to reply to a C100.
- C79
- Application to enforce a Child Arrangements Order.
- Child Arrangements Order (CAO)
- An order setting out with whom a child lives, spends time, or has other contact.
- Prohibited Steps Order
- An order stopping someone with parental responsibility from doing something specific (e.g. taking a child abroad).
- Specific Issue Order
- An order deciding a specific question about a child (e.g. schooling, name change, medical treatment).
- Parental Responsibility (PR)
- The legal rights, duties, and responsibilities a parent has for their child.
- MIAM
- Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting — a required step before applying to court in most cases.
- Cafcass
- Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service — safeguards and promotes the welfare of children in family proceedings.
- Section 7 report
- A welfare report ordered by the court under section 7 of the Children Act 1989.
- Section 37 report
- A report ordered where the court is considering whether care or supervision by a local authority is needed.
- FHDRA
- First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment — usually the first hearing in a private law case.
- DRA
- Dispute Resolution Appointment — a hearing to try to resolve outstanding issues before a final hearing.
- Fact-finding hearing
- A hearing where the court decides, on the balance of probabilities, whether alleged events happened.
- Scott Schedule
- A tabular document listing allegations, dates, evidence, and the other party's response — used in fact-finding hearings.
- PD12J
- Family Procedure Rules Practice Direction 12J — how the court should deal with allegations of domestic abuse.
- PD27A
- Practice Direction 27A — rules about court bundles, including the 350-page limit and formatting.
- PD3AA
- Practice Direction 3AA — special measures for vulnerable parties and witnesses.
- Part 3A
- Rules preventing a party accused of abuse from personally cross-examining an alleged victim; the court may appoint a Qualified Legal Representative.
- Position statement
- A short document (usually 1–2 pages) setting out a party's position for a particular hearing.
- Witness statement
- A formal written account of evidence a party wants the court to consider, signed with a statement of truth.
- Statement of truth
- The declaration at the end of a court document confirming its contents are true. False statements can be contempt of court.
- Welfare checklist
- The factors in section 1(3) of the Children Act 1989 the court must consider when making orders about children.
- No order principle
- The court will not make an order unless doing so is better for the child than making no order at all (Children Act 1989, s.1(5)).
- Consent order
- A court order embodying the agreement of the parties.
- Special measures
- Arrangements (screens, separate entrances, video link) that help a vulnerable party give evidence.
- McKenzie friend
- A person who helps a litigant in person in court — they can take notes, quietly advise, but usually cannot speak for you.
- Legal aid
- Government-funded legal help. Available for family cases in limited circumstances, mainly domestic abuse and child protection.
- Non-molestation order
- A court order forbidding molestation, harassment, or use/threat of violence.
- Occupation order
- An order regulating who can live in the family home.
- Prohibited cross-examination
- The rule preventing certain cross-examinations in person — see Part 3A.