Updated: July 2026
Reviewed by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK. Information reflects current family law and court procedure in England and Wales as of 8 July 2026.
Key Points
- A Specific Issue Order is a family court order that settles one particular disagreement about a child’s upbringing when parents cannot agree.
- Common disputes include which school a child attends, medical treatment and vaccinations, religious upbringing, taking a child abroad, and changing a child’s surname.
- It is a Section 8 order under the Children Act 1989, and the court’s decision is guided by what is best for the child.
- You apply using the C100 form, the same application used for child arrangements and prohibited steps orders. You set out exactly what you want in the orders sought section.
- You usually need to attend a MIAM (a short mediation information meeting) before applying, unless an exemption applies. The court fee is £270 (from 13 July 2026).
Quick Answer
A Specific Issue Order is a family court order that decides a single disagreement about a child’s upbringing, such as schooling, medical treatment or a trip abroad, when parents with parental responsibility cannot reach agreement. It is a type of Section 8 order under the Children Act 1989. You apply for one on the C100 form, and it is usually worth trying mediation first, since many of these disputes can be resolved without a court order at all.
When separated parents cannot agree on one important decision about their child, a Specific Issue Order lets the family court step in and settle it. Perhaps you disagree about which school your child should start in September, whether they should receive a particular vaccination, or whether one of you can take them abroad for a holiday. These are exactly the kind of single, specific questions this order is designed to answer.
This guide explains what a Specific Issue Order is, the disputes it most often covers, when it makes sense to apply, and exactly how to request one on the C100, the standard court form for children’s matters. Wherever possible we will point you to the quicker, less stressful route first, because a court application is not always the best place to start.
What is a Specific Issue Order?
A Specific Issue Order is an order made by the family court to resolve a specific question about how a child is brought up or cared for. It is one of the three Section 8 orders set out in Section 8 of the Children Act 1989, alongside child arrangements orders and prohibited steps orders. Parental responsibility means the legal rights and duties a parent has for their child. When two people who share it cannot agree on a single decision, either of them can ask the court to make that decision instead.
The order is usually for a one-off decision that carries long-term weight, such as a school place or a medical procedure. Once the court makes it, the order is legally binding and both parents must follow it. The court’s only priority when deciding is the welfare of the child, a principle set out in Section 1 of the Children Act 1989.
A Specific Issue Order normally ends when the child turns 16, though in exceptional circumstances it can last until they are 18. Where the order is about a single event, such as a particular holiday, the court can limit it to that occasion. The court cannot make a Specific Issue Order for a child who is in the care of a local authority.
Specific Issue Order vs Prohibited Steps Order
These two orders are often confused because the court process for both is almost identical. The difference is what they do. A Specific Issue Order makes something happen, such as enrolling a child at a chosen school. A Prohibited Steps Order stops something happening, such as preventing a parent from taking a child abroad without consent.
It also helps to separate a Specific Issue Order from a child arrangements order. A child arrangements order decides who a child lives with and how much time they spend with each parent. A Specific Issue Order deals with a single decision within that wider picture, not the living arrangements themselves.
Common reasons to apply for a Specific Issue Order
Almost any single decision about a child’s upbringing can become the subject of a Specific Issue Order if parents genuinely cannot agree. In practice, a handful of disputes come up again and again.
School and education disputes
Choosing a school is one of the most common reasons parents ask the court to step in. A school dispute in the family court might involve a disagreement over a state or private school, a faith school, moving a child mid-year, or which catchment area to apply within. School application deadlines are fixed, so these disputes often need resolving to a timetable, which is worth keeping in mind when you decide whether to apply.
Medical treatment and vaccinations
A medical treatment dispute can arise when one parent agrees to a course of treatment and the other does not. This covers routine matters such as vaccinations and dental care, as well as elective procedures such as surgery or orthodontic work. When the court decides a medical question, it will usually give significant weight to the advice of the treating doctors alongside each parent’s views, always measured against what is best for the child.
Religious upbringing
Parents from different faiths, or with different views on religion, sometimes disagree about how a child should be raised. A Specific Issue Order can decide questions such as which faith a child is brought up in, whether they take part in particular religious practices, or whether a religious ceremony should go ahead. The court approaches these questions sensitively and focuses on the child’s welfare rather than favouring one belief over another.
Taking a child abroad and holidays
If one parent wants to take a child abroad for a holiday and the other will not agree, a Specific Issue Order can give permission for that trip. A permanent move abroad, sometimes called leave to remove, is a bigger decision and is dealt with in the same way, though the court looks at it far more closely. If your concern is the opposite, stopping a child being taken out of the country, that is usually a prohibited steps order instead.
Changing a child’s surname
After a separation or a new relationship, one parent may want to change a child’s surname. Where the other parent does not consent, the court can decide the question through a Specific Issue Order. Courts treat name changes with real care, because a name is closely tied to a child’s identity and to their relationship with both parents.
When should you apply for a Specific Issue Order?
A Specific Issue Order is worth considering when you have a genuine, specific disagreement that you cannot resolve between yourselves, and a decision needs to be made. The court will not make an order unless doing so is better for the child than making no order at all, so it helps to be clear about why a decision is needed now.
Before you apply, it is almost always worth trying to reach agreement first. Many of the disputes above, from school choices to holidays, are resolved in mediation without anyone going to court. Reaching agreement this way is usually quicker, less stressful and far less expensive than a contested court hearing, and it keeps the decision in your hands rather than a judge’s.
“Most of the specific issue disputes we see, whether it is a school place, a vaccination or a religious question, could be settled around a table rather than in a courtroom. We would always encourage parents to test that first. A court order is the right answer when agreement genuinely is not possible or a deadline is looming, but it should rarely be the first move.”
Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy, Mediate UK
There are times when you may need to act quickly. If there is a real and immediate risk, for example a parent is about to remove a child from the country, the court can deal with an urgent application, sometimes without giving the other parent notice first. These situations are the exception, and the court will still want to hear from both sides as soon as it can.
Mediate UK
Could Mediation Settle This Without Court?
School choices, medical decisions and holidays are among the disputes mediation resolves most often. Our sister service Mediate UK can help you and your co-parent reach a workable agreement, and where children are involved you may qualify for the government’s family mediation voucher of up to £500 towards the cost.
Who can apply for a Specific Issue Order?
Anyone with parental responsibility can apply for a Specific Issue Order. That usually means the child’s parents, but it can also include step-parents and guardians who hold parental responsibility, and anyone named in a “lives with” child arrangements order.
- Parents: mothers automatically, and fathers who have parental responsibility, apply directly.
- Others with parental responsibility: step-parents and guardians who hold it can apply directly.
- Grandparents and other relatives: those without parental responsibility can still apply, but must first ask the court for permission, known as leave.
How to apply for a Specific Issue Order using the C100 form
If agreement is not possible, you apply for a Specific Issue Order using the C100. This is the same form used to apply for child arrangements and prohibited steps orders, and the government confirms it covers all three. Here is how the process works.
- Attend a MIAM first: a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) is a short meeting with an accredited mediator, and it is required before most C100 applications. Find out more in our guide on whether you need a MIAM, or check the MIAM exemptions if you think one applies to you.
- Complete the C100 form: use the current version (06.26) of the C100 form on GOV.UK. On the form you confirm which Section 8 order you are applying for, and here you tick “specific issue order”. Our step-by-step C100 guide walks through every section.
- Set out the orders sought: in the section that asks what order you want, describe the exact decision you are asking the court to make. Be specific and factual (see the examples below).
- Support your application with evidence: attach anything that helps the court understand the issue, such as school information, medical letters, or a short summary of the background. A well evidenced application gives the court a clear picture from the start.
- Pay the court fee: the fee to apply is £270 (from 13 July 2026). You can read the current court fees on GOV.UK, and our guide to family court costs in 2026 explains it in full. If you are on a low income or certain benefits, you may pay a reduced fee or nothing at all through Help with Fees.
- Submit and serve: most C100 applications are now filed online. Once the court issues your application, you give the other parent notice of it and of the first hearing date.
Example: What to Write in the Orders Sought Section
Keep the wording short, specific and neutral. State the outcome you want, name the child and add any date that matters. For example:
Schooling: “A Specific Issue Order that [child’s name] be enrolled at and attend [name of school] from September [year].”
Vaccination: “A Specific Issue Order permitting [child’s name] to receive the routine childhood vaccinations recommended by the NHS.”
Holiday abroad: “A Specific Issue Order permitting [child’s name] to travel to [country] with [parent’s name] for a holiday from [date] to [date].”
Name change: “A Specific Issue Order permitting [child’s name]’s surname to be changed from [current surname] to [new surname].”
If more than one thing is in dispute, you can ask for more than one order on the same C100. Avoid loaded or emotive language, and let your supporting evidence make the case.
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What happens after you apply?
Once your C100 is issued, CAFCASS (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) carries out background safeguarding checks. Your case is then listed for a first hearing, the FHDRA, usually within four to six weeks, although busy courts can take eight to ten. Our guides on what happens after you submit a C100 and the FHDRA first hearing explain each step.
The judge will often ask both parents to file short written statements, and in some cases will order a welfare report from a CAFCASS officer. Throughout, the court applies the welfare checklist in the Children Act 1989, weighing things like the child’s needs, wishes and feelings, and the likely effect of any change. If either parent later ignores the order, the other can ask the court to enforce it.
In Summary
A Specific Issue Order lets the family court decide one particular question about a child’s upbringing, from schooling and medical treatment to religion, holidays abroad and name changes, when parents cannot agree. It is a Section 8 order under the Children Act 1989, and you apply for it on the C100 form, setting out clearly what you want in the orders sought section.
Before you apply, it is worth trying to agree the issue directly or through mediation, which is usually quicker and less expensive than court. When a decision genuinely cannot be reached, a Specific Issue Order gives you a clear, binding answer, always guided by what is best for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Specific Issue Order the same as a Prohibited Steps Order?
No. A Specific Issue Order makes something happen, such as allowing a child to attend a chosen school. A Prohibited Steps Order stops something happening, such as preventing a child being taken abroad. Both are Section 8 orders under the Children Act 1989 and both are applied for on the C100 form.
Do I need a MIAM before applying for a Specific Issue Order?
In most cases, yes. You usually need to attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) before you can file a C100, unless a recognised exemption applies, for example where there is evidence of domestic abuse or a genuine urgency.
How much does a Specific Issue Order cost?
The court fee to apply on the C100 is £270 (from 13 July 2026). If you are on a low income or certain benefits, you may qualify for Help with Fees, which reduces or removes the fee.
How long does a Specific Issue Order take to get?
After you submit the C100, the first hearing (the FHDRA) is usually listed within four to six weeks, though busy courts can take longer. Straightforward cases may be resolved at that first hearing, while more disputed ones can take several months and further hearings.
Can I apply for a Specific Issue Order urgently?
Yes. Where there is a real and immediate risk, such as a child about to be removed from the country, the court can hear an urgent application, sometimes without notice to the other parent at first. The court will still arrange to hear both sides as soon as possible.
What happens if the other parent ignores a Specific Issue Order?
A Specific Issue Order is legally binding. If a parent does not comply, the other can apply back to the family court to enforce it. The court has a range of options and, in serious cases, can impose penalties for breaching an order.
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