Fact checked by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy, [21.05.2026]
Key Takeaways
- The C100 court fee in 2026 is £270, paid directly to HMCTS when you submit your application.
- A MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) is required before most C100 applications, costing around £138 per person.
- Using a solicitor to complete and submit your C100 typically costs £500 to £1,000 just for the form, with full representation reaching £3,000 to £15,000+.
- The C100 Completion Service offers a fixed fee of £240, saving hundreds compared to traditional legal routes.
- You may qualify for fee remission through form EX160 if you are on a low income or receive certain benefits.
- The biggest cost is rarely the application itself, it is what comes afterwards if the case becomes contested.
Working out the family court costs in 2026 can feel confusing, especially when different sources quote different figures. The headline cost to apply to the family court using a C100 form is £270, but that is only one part of the picture. Once you add a MIAM, possible legal advice and the time spent completing the form correctly, the true total can range from around £400 to several thousand pounds depending on the route you take.
This guide breaks down every cost involved in a C100 application in 2026, including court fees, MIAM fees, solicitor fees and lower-cost alternatives like the C100 Completion Service. By the end, you will know exactly what you are likely to pay and where you can save money without cutting corners.
What Are the Family Court Costs in 2026?
When people ask about family court costs in 2026, they usually mean the total cost of applying for a court order about their children, finances or both. For most parents using a C100 form to ask for a Child Arrangements Order, Prohibited Steps Order or Specific Issue Order, the costs fall into four main areas:
The court fee paid to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).- The MIAM fee for the mandatory mediation assessment.
- Help completing the form, whether through a solicitor, completion service or DIY.
- Ongoing legal costs if the case goes to a contested final hearing.
The court fee paid to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).Each of these has a different price tag, and the choices you make at the start can dramatically change the total bill.
How Much Is the C100 Court Fee in 2026?
The current C100 court fee in 2026 is £270. This is the fee HMCTS charges when you submit a C100 application for orders relating to children. It is paid once per application, regardless of how many children or issues are included on the form.
The fee is reviewed annually and tends to rise with inflation, so always check the latest figure on GOV.UK before you apply.
Who Pays the C100 Court Fee?
The applicant (the person making the application) pays the £270 court fee. In rare cases, the court can order the other party to reimburse this fee at the end of proceedings, but this is not common in private family cases.
Help with Fees
If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support or Pension Credit, you may qualify for fee remission through HMCTS. This can reduce or completely cover the £270 court fee. You apply separately using form EX160 before submitting your C100.
How Much Does a MIAM Cost?
Before you can apply to court using a C100, you usually need to attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting). This is a legal requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014, with limited exemptions for cases involving domestic abuse, child protection or urgency.
A MIAM at Mediate UK costs £138 per person. The mediator will discuss your situation, explain the options and decide whether mediation is suitable. If it is not, they sign a MIAM certificate, which is valid for four months and must be filed with your C100.
“We see a lot of parents who arrive thinking court is the only option. After a MIAM, around 70% of those couples end up resolving things through mediation, saving themselves thousands of pounds and months of stress. The MIAM is not a hurdle, it is genuinely an opportunity to find a faster, cheaper resolution if one is possible.”
– Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK
What Does It Cost to Use a Solicitor for a C100?
If you instruct a solicitor to complete and submit your C100, the cost varies widely depending on the firm, the complexity of your case and where you live. As a rough guide in 2026:
- Fixed-fee C100 preparation: £500 to £1,000.
- Hourly rate work: £200 to £400 per hour, with 3 to 8 hours typically needed to draft the form and supporting statement.
- Full representation through proceedings: £3,000 to £15,000+ if the case is contested.
Solicitor fees can quickly escalate once court proceedings are underway. Every letter, phone call and hearing attendance is billed, so what starts as a £800 piece of work can become a five-figure bill if the case goes the distance.
Not sure if you need a MIAM before submitting your C100?
Use our free MIAM Calculator to find out in 60 seconds, or read our guide on whether you need a MIAM for your C100 application.
The Cost of a Child Arrangements Order: Full Comparison
To make it easier to compare your options, here is a side-by-side breakdown of the typical cost of a child arrangements order in 2026 across three common routes.
What Is the C100 Completion Service and How Does It Save Money?
The C100 Completion Service is a fixed-fee option offered by Family Law Service for parents who want professional help with the form without paying full solicitor rates. The cost is £240, which includes:
- A qualified family law professional reviewing your situation.
- Drafting the C100 form correctly with the right orders selected.
- Drafting a clear, court-ready supporting statement.
- Checking your MIAM certificate is attached correctly.
- Guidance on the next steps once the form is filed.
For most parents, the saving compared to a solicitor is between £260 and £760 on this first stage alone. The biggest benefit, though, is avoiding the common DIY mistakes that lead to forms being rejected by the court, which can delay your case by weeks or months.
Common DIY C100 Mistakes That Cost You Time and Money
- Missing or expired MIAM certificate.
- Selecting the wrong order type for your situation.
- Vague or emotional supporting statements that do not address what the court needs to decide.
- Incorrect details about safeguarding issues.
- Forgetting to include the C1A form where safeguarding concerns exist.
Hidden Costs of Family Court You Should Plan For
Beyond the headline fees, families often face additional costs that are easy to overlook. These can include:
- Cafcass involvement: free for parents, but cases involving Cafcass tend to take longer, which can extend any legal fees you are paying.
- Expert reports: psychological assessments, drug and alcohol testing or independent social work reports can cost £500 to £3,000+.
- Time off work: most contested cases require at least 2 to 4 hearings, often during work hours.
- Travel and parking: court venues can be inconvenient, particularly in rural areas.
- Emotional toll: not a financial cost, but worth weighing when choosing between court and mediation.
“We always encourage parents to think about the total cost of court, not just the application fee. The £270 is the easy bit. It is the months of hearings, expert reports and legal correspondence that quietly add up. If there is any realistic chance of agreeing things in mediation, it is almost always cheaper, faster and less damaging to the family.”
– Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK
How to Keep Your Family Court Costs Down in 2026
If you do need to make a court application, here are some practical ways to keep the bill manageable.
- Try mediation first. Most cases settle in 2 to 3 sessions, costing a fraction of court.
- Use a fixed-fee completion service rather than a full solicitor for the C100 itself.
- Apply for fee remission using form EX160 if you are eligible, before you submit the form.
- Keep correspondence with the other parent in writing and child-focused, which reduces the need for additional applications.
- Stay out of contested hearings by being open to compromise, especially on smaller issues.
- Use unbundled legal services where a solicitor advises on specific issues rather than handling everything.
Summary
The headline family court costs in 2026 start at £270 for the C100 court fee, plus around £138 for a MIAM, giving a minimum spend of about £401 if you complete the form yourself. Adding professional help raises that figure, but the gap between a fixed-fee completion service (£240) and a solicitor (£500 to £1,000+ just for the form) is significant.
The biggest cost of family court is rarely the application itself. It is what comes afterwards if the case becomes contested. Choosing the right starting point, whether that is mediation, a completion service or a solicitor, can save thousands and protect your family from months of unnecessary conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to apply to family court in 2026?
The court fee for a C100 application is £270 in 2026, paid to HMCTS when you submit the form. On top of that, most applicants pay around £138 for a MIAM and may pay anything from £240 (completion service) to £1,000+ (solicitor) for help with the form itself.
Is the C100 court fee refundable?
The £270 court fee is not normally refunded once your application has been issued, even if you later withdraw or settle the case. If your application is rejected before being issued, you may be able to recover the fee.
Can I get help paying the family court fee?
Yes. HMCTS offers fee remission for applicants on low incomes or certain benefits. You apply using form EX160 and may get a partial or full reduction in the £270 fee.
Do I have to pay for a MIAM before going to court?
In most cases, yes. A MIAM is a legal requirement before applying to court for a Child Arrangements Order, with limited exemptions for domestic abuse, urgency and child protection issues. A MIAM at Mediate UK costs £138 per person.
Is it cheaper to use a solicitor or a C100 completion service?
A completion service is significantly cheaper for the form itself. The Family Law Service C100 Completion Service costs £240, compared to £500 to £1,000+ for most solicitors. If your case becomes contested later, you can still bring in a solicitor at that point.
How much does a contested child arrangements case cost?
A fully contested case with solicitor representation typically costs £3,000 to £15,000 or more, depending on the number of hearings and whether expert reports are needed. This is why mediation is usually recommended where possible.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your MIAM now for just £138 and get one step closer to resolving things without court.
Doing a DIY Approach?
Read our page by page guide to completing a C100 Form yourself, with step by step help throughout.
Need Help Completing the C100?
Our family law experts can complete the C100 form for you for a fixed fee of just £240.
Have an Urgent Matter?
Book your MIAM within 24 hours and get your signed MIAM certificate the same day.
About The Author
