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Court forms · C1A

Form C1A: allegations of harm

Form C1A is how you tell the family court about harm that you or your children have suffered or are at risk of, or respond to allegations in the other person's application[1]. It is not an application in itself: it goes in with a C100, or with Form C7 if you are responding[2][3]. The current edition is 06.26[1].

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Last reviewed Sources checked

Prepare with MiamSee the sources
Current edition of the C1A[1]
For a respondent to return the C7 and any C1A[4]
Ask for safety arrangements at court at least[5]

01/ At a glance

Form C1A at a glance

Tell the court about harm you or your children have suffered or are at risk of, or respond to allegations in the other person's application. It is sent with Form C100 or Form C7; it is not an application for an order.

Current edition
C1A (06.26)[1]
Download C1A (PDF, GOV.UK)Apply online (GOV.UK)

Always take the form from its GOV.UK page: an old edition can be returned.

02/ What it is for

What the C1A form is for

HMCTS describes Form C1A as the way to tell the court about harm that you, a child or children have suffered or are at risk of suffering, or to respond to allegations the other person made in their application[1]. The form itself says it cannot be used to apply for a court order and must go to the court with the application it belongs to[2].

On the C100, if you say the children have experienced or are at risk of harm from domestic abuse, child abduction, child abuse, drugs or alcohol or another safety concern, you must complete a C1A and file it with the application[9]. The court sends it to Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru with the C100, and serves it on the other parent with the application[10].

Practice Direction 12J sets out what the court must do in any case where domestic abuse is alleged, admitted or otherwise suspected[11]. The court, not either parent, decides what happened and what arrangements are safe[12][13].

If you answer yes to any of the safety questions on the C100, you complete a C1A and send it with the application[9]. On a paper application, the C1A checklist asks you to enclose the C100 with it[14].

03/ The words the form uses

What "harm" and "domestic abuse" mean here

The C1A's first page explains its terms[2]. It describes domestic violence or abuse as any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, whatever their gender or sexuality[2]. It defines "harm" as ill-treatment or damage to health and development, including damage from seeing or hearing someone else being ill-treated[2].

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 definition, which the court uses, covers physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, and psychological, emotional or other abuse, whether a single incident or a course of conduct[17][12].

Cafcass recognises children as victims of domestic abuse if they see, hear or experience its effects and are related to, or cared for by, the adult who was abused or the person responsible[18]. HMCTS guide CB7 makes the same point: allegations of harm are also about whether the children were there and the effect on them[5].

04/ Section by section

What each part of the C1A asks

The 06.26 form runs to 14 pages, with guidance notes at the end that GOV.UK says to read before you start[1].

Form C1A (06.26), part by part
PartWhat it covers
Section 1About you: applicant or respondent, whether you completed Form C8, and the children
Section 2Kinds of abuse, protective orders you have or had, and a short table of what happened
Section 3Abduction: any risk, past threats, passports and police involvement
Section 4Other concerns about the children's safety and wellbeing, as a summary
Section 5Steps or orders you want to protect safety, and what contact you agree to
Section 6Statement of truth
Attending courtSpecial arrangements such as separate waiting rooms, screens or video links
ResponseFor the person who receives the form to comment briefly

Read off the 06.26 form[2][19][20][14][15].

Section 2: what happened

You tick the kinds of abuse you or the children have experienced: physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial[19]. You list any non-molestation, occupation, forced marriage protection or restraining order, other injunction or undertaking, with dates, and attach copies[19].

A table with 5 numbered rows asks when the behaviour started and how long it continued, what happened, who you sought help from and whether they did anything[19]. The dates do not need to be exact, one entry can cover the same kind of behaviour over a period, and you can say whether it is still happening[19].

Section 3: abduction

If you believe the children are at risk of being abducted, you say why, whether there have been threats or attempts before, where the children are now, who holds their passports and whether the passport office or the police have been involved[20].

Section 5: keeping everyone safe

You say what steps or orders you want the court to take or make to protect the children or yourself[20]. The form also asks whether you agree to the children spending unsupervised time, supervised time, or having other contact such as calls or messages with the other person[20]. See supervised contact.

05/ Filling it in

Writing the table of incidents

The table is for a short description so the court can decide what needs to happen next; the form says there will be further chances to make a detailed statement[19].

"Who you sought help from" can mean the police, social services, your doctor, a voluntary sector worker, Citizens Advice, any other agency, or a friend or family member[19]. Section 4 asks for other concerns as a summary rather than a full statement, and you may be asked for a full statement later[20].

HMCTS guide CB1 says a schedule (table) of incidents can help where the court is asked to deal with allegations of abuse, and that you should give only the information the form asks for unless the court allows more[21]. CB7 says that if you accuse the other parent of something serious, the court will probably want evidence, and that nothing untrue should be said about the other parent[5]. The form ends with a statement of truth, which warns that contempt proceedings can be brought for a false statement made without an honest belief in its truth[14].

Before you send the C1A

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06/ Safety at court

Asking for special arrangements at court

The C1A asks whether you want special arrangements at court, such as separate waiting rooms, separate entrances, screens or video links[14]. The court tries to meet these needs, depending on its facilities, and the form says to telephone the court before the hearing[14].

CB7 says to tell the court as soon as possible if you do not feel safe facing the other parent, and to make the request no less than 10 days before the hearing unless it is a short-notice urgent hearing[5]. Under Practice Direction 12J, where the court is told special arrangements are needed, it must make them so far as practicable, including for waiting and for entering and leaving the building[23]. Where practicable it should ask the person who says they have experienced abuse how they wish to take part[12].

The court must also consider measures such as a live link, or preventing a party seeing the other, where a party is, or is at risk of being, a victim of domestic abuse by another party[24]. In some circumstances the law stops one party questioning the other in person[25].

Free, confidential support for domestic abuse is available 24 hours a day[26]. See domestic abuse support, and the support lines below.

07/ What happens next

What the court does with a C1A

These are the steps in Practice Directions 12B and 12J; your notice of hearing gives your actual dates[10].

  1. The court sends the C100 and any C1A to Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru, and serves them on the other parent with a blank C1A and Form C7[10].

08/ Disputed allegations

If the allegations are disputed

If the other parent denies the allegations, the court decides whether a finding of fact hearing is needed[5]. In deciding, it considers things such as the views of the parties and Cafcass, any admissions, other evidence, and whether the allegations would affect its decision if proved[29]. At a fact-finding hearing, the person who makes an allegation has to show it is more likely than not that it happened[31].

The court can direct a schedule setting out what is alleged, including any pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour, and the reply to it, and can ask for documents from the police, health services or domestic abuse support services[29].

Until disputed allegations are decided, the court should not make an interim child arrangements order unless it is in the child's interests and would not expose the child or the other parent to an unmanageable risk of harm[12]. It considers whether any contact should be supervised or supported, or indirect[32]. It orders contact only if the safety of the child and the parent the child lives with can, as far as possible, be secured[12].

09/ Getting help

Help with a C1A and protection

Legal aid may be available for protecting yourself or a child from abuse, and for advice on children or finances if you have been in an abusive relationship[33]. GOV.UK says you may get legal aid for a legal adviser with evidence that you are a victim of domestic abuse[34].

A C1A does not itself protect you: it tells the court about harm in a children case[2]. A non-molestation or occupation order is applied for separately, on Form FL401, and there is no fee to apply[35]. Evidence of domestic abuse in one of the forms Practice Direction 3A lists can also support a MIAM exemption[36]; see MIAM exemptions.

10/ Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is a C1A form?

Form C1A is the family court's form for telling the court about harm that you or your children have suffered or are at risk of, or for responding to allegations in the other person's application[1]. It goes with a C100 or a C7 and is not an application itself[2][3].

Do I have to fill in a C1A?

If your C100 says the children have experienced or are at risk of harm, you must complete a C1A and file it with the application[9]. If you are responding and answer yes to the harm questions on Form C7, you must also fill one in[3].

Will the other parent see my C1A?

Yes. The court serves the other parent with the application and any C1A, and sends both to Cafcass[10]. To keep your contact details private, leave them blank and use Form C8[22].

How do I respond to a C1A?

The C1A has a "Response to allegations of harm" section for brief comments on the table of incidents; you do not have to complete it unless you wish to comment[15]. You will have a chance to make a more detailed statement later[15].

Can I fill in the C1A online?

HMCTS said its online child arrangements service covers Forms C100, C1A and C8[37]. Where a case is on the online system, the respondent's C7 and C1A can be posted or uploaded[38].

Do I need Form FM5 if I have filed a C1A?

No. The requirement to file a statement on non-court dispute resolution does not apply where a Form C1A has been filed or the domestic abuse MIAM exemption was claimed[30].

11/ Sources

Sources we checked

  1. Form C1A: allegations of harm and domestic violence — HMCTS, GOV.UK · Form C1A (06.26), PDF — HMCTS
  2. Form C1A (06.26), opening page and section 1 — HMCTS
  3. Form C7 (10.23), instructions — HMCTS
  4. Practice Direction 12B, paras 8.11–8.12 and 14.2 — Child Arrangements Programme, justice.gov.uk
  5. Guide for separated parents: children and the family courts (CB7), allegations of harm — HMCTS, GOV.UK
  6. FMC MIAM Standards (Aug 2022) PDF
  7. GOV.UK — mediation · FPR r3.9
  8. FPR Part 3, r3.8(1)(d)
  9. Form C100 (06.26), sections 1, 6, 15 and 16 — HMCTS
  10. Practice Direction 12B, paras 8.7–8.9 — Child Arrangements Programme, justice.gov.uk
  11. Practice Direction 12J, paras 1–4 — justice.gov.uk
  12. Practice Direction 12J, paras 3, 6, 10, 25 and 36 — justice.gov.uk
  13. Children Act 1989, section 1 — legislation.gov.uk
  14. Form C1A (06.26), section 6, attending court, checklist and notes — HMCTS
  15. Form C1A (06.26), response to allegations and notes — HMCTS
  16. Form C7 (10.23), questions 1 to 10 — HMCTS
  17. Domestic Abuse Act 2021, section 1 — legislation.gov.uk
  18. If domestic abuse is known or alleged during family court proceedings — Cafcass
  19. Form C1A (06.26), section 2 and notes — HMCTS
  20. Form C1A (06.26), sections 3 to 5 — HMCTS
  21. CB1: evidence and attending court — HMCTS, GOV.UK
  22. Form C1A — HMCTS, GOV.UK (updated 1 June 2026) · Form C1A (06.26), PDF — HMCTS
  23. Practice Direction 12J, paras 5, 9 and 10 — justice.gov.uk
  24. Family Procedure Rules, Part 3A (rules 3A.2A and 3A.8) — justice.gov.uk
  25. Practice Direction 3AB — Prohibition of cross-examination in person, justice.gov.uk
  26. Domestic abuse: how to get help — Home Office, GOV.UK
  27. Practice Direction 12B, paras 13.1–13.6 — Child Arrangements Programme, justice.gov.uk
  28. Practice Direction 12B, para 13.7 — Child Arrangements Programme, justice.gov.uk
  29. Practice Direction 12J, paras 14 to 20 and 29 — justice.gov.uk
  30. Practice Direction 3A, paras 9 and 10A to 10E — justice.gov.uk
  31. A guide to words and expressions used in private children cases (CB6), PDF — HMCTS
  32. Practice Direction 12J: Child arrangements and contact orders, domestic abuse and harm — justice.gov.uk
  33. Legal aid: what you can get legal aid for — GOV.UK
  34. Apply for a court order: get help from a legal adviser — GOV.UK
  35. Get an injunction if you've been the victim of domestic abuse — GOV.UK · Form FL401 — HMCTS, GOV.UK
  36. FPR r3.8 · PD3A
  37. Digital form quicker and easier for separated parents applying to see children — Ministry of Justice and HMCTS, GOV.UK
  38. Practice Direction 36ZD: pilot scheme, online system for private law proceedings — justice.gov.uk

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