Contact Stopped? Informal Arrangements No Longer Working? Disputes With Your Ex? Time for a Clearer Plan. - Because Dad's Matter Just As Much

When Contact Gets Restricted,

Most Dads Have No Idea What To Do Next

When Contact Gets Restricted,

Most Dads Have No Idea What To Do Next

Step-by-step. Practical. Written

By A Father Who's Been Through It

Inside This Guide You'll Learn:

How the UK family court process actually works — from C100 application to final order — explained in plain English, not legal jargon
The exact steps to prepare before your first hearing — what to bring, what to say, and what the judge is looking for from fathers
How to handle a CAFCASS call and safeguarding checks — what they're assessing, what to say, and the common mistakes that hurt a dad's case
How to write a strong position statement, timeline, and evidence log — the three documents that shape how the court sees you
How to respond to allegations calmly and effectively — without making things worse or appearing defensive
How to represent yourself confidently — even if you can't afford a solicitor, and without relying on legal aid that may not be available

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When Family Court Feels Overwhelming, Most Fathers Don’t Know Where to Start

When Family Court Feels Overwhelming,

Most Fathers Don’t Know Where to Start

If you've been cut off from your children, or your time with them is being restricted, the first feeling isn't confusion — it's panic.

Then it's anger. Then it's the slow realisation that you're about to go up against a legal system you don't understand, probably without a solicitor you can afford.

C100 forms. CAFCASS calls. Safeguarding checks. Position statements. Hearings where nobody tells you what's coming next.

Every step feels like a test you haven't been given the answers to — and every mistake feels like it could cost you time with your children.

Most fathers figure it out the hard way: by getting something wrong at a hearing, by saying too much on a CAFCASS call, by filing the wrong form, by waiting too long to act.

This guide was built to replace that confusion with a clear, step-by-step plan. So instead of second-guessing every move, you'll know what to prepare, what to say, and what to expect — at every stage, from first application to final order.

This Guide Is For You If

Your ex has restricted or stopped contact with your children and informal arrangements are no longer working
You need to apply to the family court and don't know where to start — or you've been told to file a C100 and don't know what that means
You have a CAFCASS call, safeguarding check, or hearing coming up and you want to prepare properly
You're facing allegations and need to respond without making things worse
You can't afford a solicitor — or you've decided to represent yourself and want a clear roadmap before court
You already have a Child Arrangements Order and your ex is breaching it — and you need to know how to enforce it

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Why I Built This Guide and

Started Present Father Project

A few years ago I found myself in a situation I never expected to be in.

My relationship broke down, and my ex tried to restrict me from seeing my children. Like a lot of dads in that position, I didn't know what to do.

I didn't know the forms, the process, the language. I just knew I was losing time with my kids and I couldn't afford a solicitor to stop it.

Then it got worse. It became clear my children weren't being properly looked after. Social services got involved.

I made the decision to bring my children into my care to protect them — and then I had to figure out how to make that legal, on my own, representing myself.

I went through the whole family court process as a litigant in person.

The C100. The CAFCASS interviews. The position statements. The hearings where nobody explained what was coming next. All of it, without a guide like this one.

I made mistakes I could have avoided. I spent hours trying to find clear, honest information and mostly found legal jargon that didn't help.

Eventually I obtained a Child Arrangements Order. My children are safe and well.

Since then, friends have come to me with the same story — their ex restricting contact, no idea where to start, lost in a process nobody explains.

I sat with them, showed them what to prepare, walked them through what to expect.

Watching them go through the same confusion I went through is what pushed me to finally put everything I know in one place.

That's why I built this.

Because I've been in that room. I know what it feels like to sit in a family court hearing not knowing what's coming next.

And I know how much better prepared I would have been if someone had handed me something like this at the start.

If you're a father going through this right now — whether you're just starting to worry about contact, or you're already deep in proceedings — this guide is everything I wish I'd had.

Andrew Barley Founder, The Present Father Project — written for dads in England and Wales, by a dad who's been there

What's Inside The Guide?

The full UK family court process, step by step — from the moment contact breaks down to final order, mapped out in plain English so you always know what's next
The C100 application, explained properly — including how to complete Section 6 (the section most dads get wrong) and what to do if your situation is urgent
How to handle your CAFCASS call and safeguarding check — what they're assessing, what to say, and the common mistakes that damage a dad's case
How to write a strong position statement, timeline, and evidence log — the three documents that shape how the court sees you as a father
What actually happens at FHDRA, directions hearings, and final hearings — what the judge is looking for, how to present yourself, and what each hearing is for
How to respond to allegations calmly and effectively — including false allegations, safeguarding concerns, and urgent Prohibited Steps Orders
How to represent yourself confidently — a clear roadmap for dads doing this without a solicitor, including how to stay organised throughout proceedings
What happens after an order is made — including enforcement, C79 applications, and what to do when your ex breaches the order

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Also Included: The Family Court Roadmap

When you're in the middle of this, you don't need more information. You need to know exactly what to do next.

That's what the Family Court Roadmap gives you. A visual step-by-step reference that maps every route through the family court system in England and Wales — every scenario, every form, every stage — in plain English you can actually use at 11pm the night before a hearing.

Whether you're just starting out or already deep in proceedings, this is the document you'll come back to again and again.

12 real scenarios mapped out in full — including contact gradually stopping, a child about to be taken abroad, false allegations, and social services getting involved. Find your situation, see exactly what to do next.
A fully completed example C100 — showing you exactly how to write Section 6, the part most fathers get wrong.
A ready-to-use Prohibited Steps Order template — for urgent situations, including how to apply without the other parent being told in advance.
A completed C79 Enforcement Application — showing how to document breaches properly, plus a breach log template you can start filling in today.
A step-by-step master timeline — from the day you submit your C100 all the way to final order, with realistic timeframes at every stage.
The MIAM exemptions table — all 11 legal exemptions that let you skip mediation and go straight to court, with the evidence required for each and the exact box to tick on your C100.
Every key form explained in one place — C100, C79, D81, C1A, EX160, FM1. What each one does, what it costs, and when to use it.
A ready-to-print breach log template — laid out the way courts want to see it, so your evidence is organised and court-ready from day one.
Key contacts and resources — including how to find a direct access barrister, where to get free legal advice, and who to call if your child is at risk of being taken abroad.

What Dads Are Saying

Fathers across England and Wales have already used this guide to approach family court with more clarity, structure, and confidence.

Danny, 36 - Southport

Liam, 32 - Harrogate

Marcus, 40 - Coventry

Craig, 41 - Bolton

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a substitute for a solicitor?

No — and it's not pretending to be. This is a practical guide written specifically for fathers who either can't afford a solicitor or have decided to represent themselves. If your case is complex or involves serious safeguarding issues, a solicitor or direct access barrister is still the right call, and the guide includes information on how to find one. But for most fathers going through standard contact proceedings, this gives you the knowledge and structure to handle it yourself with confidence.

Will this apply to my specific situation?

The guide covers the full range of situations fathers face in family court in England and Wales — from informal arrangements breaking down, to filing a C100, to urgent applications, to enforcement after an order is made. The bonus Family Court Roadmap specifically maps out 12 real scenarios so you can find the one that matches your circumstances. If your case is in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the legal system there is different and this guide won't apply.

What if I've already started proceedings?

That's fine — the guide is structured so you can jump to the stage you're currently at. Whether you've just filed, you've got a CAFCASS call coming up, you're preparing for FHDRA, or you already have an order and need to enforce it, there are dedicated sections for each stage. You don't have to read it cover to cover.

Is this up to date?

Yes. The guide reflects the family court process in England and Wales as of 2026, including current forms, fees, and procedures. Family law does change — if significant updates happen, existing buyers will be notified.

What format is the guide and how do I access it?

It's a downloadable PDF you'll get instant access to the moment you complete checkout. You'll receive a confirmation email with the download link, and you can save it to your phone, tablet, or computer to read whenever you need. No app, no subscription, no login — it's yours to keep.

Is my purchase private?

Yes. The charge on your statement will appear as "Present Father Project" or similar, not as anything identifying the guide's subject. Your details aren't shared with anyone, and you won't be added to any public mailing list.

What if the guide isn't right for me?

If you read through it and genuinely feel it wasn't what you were expecting, email me within 30 days and I'll refund you. I'd rather give you your money back than have you feel like you wasted it. My goal is to help fathers — if this isn't helping you, a refund is the right outcome.

Disclaimer: Educational use only. This guide does not provide legal advice or guarantee any family court outcome. Court decisions depend on the facts of each case and the child’s welfare.