Written for England & Wales By a dad, not a solicitor Updated 2026 Used by 1,072 UK fathers

Being stopped from seeing your children?

Understand your next step before you make a mistake.

A plain-English family court guide for fathers in England & Wales who need clarity on Child Arrangements Orders, C100 forms, CAFCASS, hearings, and self-representation.

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A 90-second introduction from Andrew — turn your volume on.

The UK Family Court Guide for Fathers

This page is for dads who need to understand whether to apply for a Child Arrangements Order — and how to do it without spending thousands on solicitors.

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The 143-page PDF guide
The Family Court Roadmap
C100 guidance and common mistakes
CAFCASS preparation
Position statement and evidence guidance
Hearing preparation and next steps
30-day no-questions refund

What it looks like

You probably recognise at least one of these.

If your contact with your child has broken down, it usually looks like one of these. Sometimes more than one. None of these are normal — even though they feel normalised when you're living them.

She won't let you see the kids at all.

You've gone weeks — maybe longer — without contact. Messages asking when you'll see them go unanswered, or get answered with reasons that don't quite add up.

She only lets you see them when it suits her.

There's no consistent pattern. Weekends get cancelled at the last minute. You're being slotted in around her plans rather than your children having structured time with their father.

She's ignoring your messages.

You've tried to be reasonable. Calm texts about pickup times, weekend plans, school holidays. The replies have stopped coming, or they come days later with no answer.

She's using the kids as a bargaining chip.

Contact has been made conditional on something else — money, agreeing to her terms on a separate issue, or even getting back together. The children have become leverage rather than people.

If you recognise yourself in this — even partly — the next step is not to send another angry message, show up unannounced, or wait indefinitely. The next step is to understand your options calmly.

What the guide helps with

Get clear before you act.

When contact breaks down, the worst mistakes usually happen in panic. This guide helps you understand the process before you fill in forms, speak to CAFCASS, attend a hearing, or respond to allegations.

Understand whether court is the right next step.

Family court is not always the answer, but when informal contact has broken down, you need to know what the legal process actually looks like.

Know what to do before submitting a C100.

The guide explains MIAMs, exemptions, C100 basics, and the common early mistakes that make self-represented dads look disorganised.

Prepare for CAFCASS and safeguarding checks.

Understand what they are assessing, how to stay child-focused, and how to avoid emotional answers that hurt your position.

Represent yourself with more confidence.

Position statements, timelines, evidence logs, hearings, enforcement, and what happens after an order — explained in plain English.

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Real fathers · Real feedback

Join 1,072 dads who've used this

Fathers across England and Wales using the guide to approach family court with more clarity, structure, and confidence.

Danny

36 · Southport

Liam

32 · Harrogate

Marcus

42 · Bristol

Craig

39 · Leeds

What court actually is

Family court isn't what you think it is.

Most dads avoid family court because they imagine the TV version. The reality is usually more practical: a structured process for creating clear arrangements for your children.

Family court is a process, not a fight.

Its purpose is to put a clear, legal structure around your contact with your children. It is not about punishing your ex. It is about establishing arrangements that are written down and enforceable.

The order is called a Child Arrangements Order.

It can specify when your children spend time with you, where they live, how holidays work, and what happens if anyone breaches the order.

The court is used to people without solicitors.

You do not automatically need legal representation. Many parents self-represent. The guide helps you understand the process before you step into it.

The cost can be much lower than you think.

The court fee is far lower than a solicitor-led case. If you handle the process yourself, the key is understanding what to do, what to prepare, and what mistakes to avoid.

Waiting feels safer. It usually isn't.

The longer contact is restricted, the harder it can become to re-establish a stable arrangement. This guide helps you understand your next step clearly, without panicking, escalating the conflict, or making emotional mistakes that can be used against you later.

You do not need to decide your entire case today. But you can get clear on the process today.

Your options

So how do you actually do this?

The hard part is not deciding you need help. The hard part is knowing what to fill in, what to say, what not to say, and what to expect at each stage.

Hire a solicitor — often thousands of pounds

Useful in complex cases, but not affordable or necessary for every dad who simply needs to understand the process.

Try to figure it out alone — free, but slow and risky

You can spend dozens of hours piecing together forums, government pages, and conflicting advice. The risk is missing something important until it matters.

Read the guide written by a dad who's done it — £19.99

A 143-page step-by-step walkthrough of the family court process for fathers in England and Wales. Written in plain English by someone who self-represented and obtained a Child Arrangements Order.

What's inside

The UK Family Court Guide for self-representing fathers

Everything I wish I'd had when I sat where you're sitting now — from the moment contact breaks down to the moment a Child Arrangements Order is in your hand.

The UK Family Court Guide for Fathers — ebook mockup

The full family court process, step by step — from contact breaking down to final order, in plain English.
The C100 application explained properly — including the part many dads struggle with.
How to handle CAFCASS and safeguarding checks — what they assess, what to say, and what mistakes to avoid.
Position statements, timelines, and evidence logs — the documents that shape how the court sees you.
What actually happens at FHDRA and final hearings — what the judge is looking for and how to present yourself.
Responding to allegations — including false allegations and urgent applications.
Representing yourself confidently — how to stay organised without a solicitor.
Enforcement and what happens after an order — including breach handling.

★ Also included

The Family Court Roadmap

For when you do not need more information — you need exactly what to do next. Includes practical scenarios, form guidance, templates, timeline support, MIAM information, and breach log guidance.

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Who wrote this

Why I built it

Andrew Barley, founder of The Present Father Project

A few years ago my relationship broke down and my ex tried to restrict me from seeing my children. I didn't know the forms, the process, or the language. I just knew I was losing time with my kids and couldn't afford a solicitor.

I went through the process as a litigant in person. C100. CAFCASS. Position statements. Hearings where nobody explained what was coming next. Eventually I obtained a Child Arrangements Order. My children are safe and well.

Since then I've helped friends through the same thing. This guide is everything I learned, written down so the next dad doesn't have to figure it out the way I did.

Andrew Barley

Founder, The Present Father Project

The offer

The price of getting clear is less than one hour of a solicitor's time.

A practical guide you can read tonight and keep with you through the process.

Normally £47.99 · Price £19.99

If the guide does not help you, email within 30 days and you can have your money back. No questions, no forms, no awkward conversations.

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Honest expectations

What this is — and isn't

This is NOT

Legal advice for your specific case
A guarantee of any specific outcome
A way to “win” against your ex
A replacement for a solicitor in complex cases
Suitable for cases in Scotland or Northern Ireland

What it IS

A clear explanation of the process
Written by a dad who's been through it
Practical, plain English, no jargon
Designed for England & Wales family courts
Yours to keep and reference at every stage

30-day, no-questions refund

Email me within 30 days if the guide didn't help you, and I'll refund you in full. I'd rather give you your money back than have you feel like you wasted it on something that wasn't right for you.

Common questions

Things dads ask me

I haven't applied to court yet — is this for me?

Yes. Most readers haven't applied yet. The guide is designed for dads at every stage — from thinking about whether court is needed through to preparing for a hearing.

What if I'm not sure I actually want to go to court?

Read it before deciding. The guide explains what court is, what it isn't, what your alternatives are, and when court may or may not be the right choice.

What if my ex and I reconcile?

The 30-day refund covers you. If your situation resolves and you no longer need the guide, email me within 30 days and I'll refund you.

Will this work if I can't afford a solicitor?

Yes — that's exactly who this is for. The guide is written for fathers self-representing without a solicitor.

How is this different from googling it?

Free information is scattered, contradictory, often outdated, and rarely written specifically for dads. This guide puts the process in order, in plain English, from the perspective of someone who's been through it.

What if I'm worried about my ex finding out I bought this?

Billing on your card statement appears as “PRESENT FATHER PROJECT” — neutral and discreet. The PDF is delivered to your email and is yours to download privately.

What if my case is complicated?

The guide covers allegations, social services involvement, and urgent applications at a practical level. For genuinely complex cases, use the guide as a foundation but consider getting professional legal input.

Is this just for fathers?

The guide is written specifically for fathers — the language, examples, emotional context, and practical framing are all aimed at dads.

Do you offer 1-1 help or coaching?

I don't currently offer 1-1 work. The guide is everything I'd say in a 1-1 conversation, written down, in the right order.

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One more thing

You can get clear today.

You do not need to panic. You do not need to spend thousands before you understand the basics. You do not need to walk into the process blind.

This guide is £19.99. The decision is yours.

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