A big part of the child arrangements process is form filling. Solicitors charge a fortune to fill them in and we let them because the process seems daunting. Our advice is don’t be afraid – the worse that can happen is that the court will return your form to you to amend and re-submit. 

You can use this L.I.P Help Guide 5 to find out what form you need for which part of your child arrangements process. Please click on the boxes below to access these forms and download them. Our L.I.P and government guidance notes that accompany these forms will help you fill them in and send them to the court. This whole process is free. 

Although there are many forms on the government website we have only included the most commonly used forms.

Once child arrangement proceedings start there are many different types of statements, documents, and bundles that you will be ordered to produce by a judge/magistrate for a court hearing. If a judge has not asked you to do this, it may be prudent and in your best interest to write and submit them anyway. Please click on box 3 below to read about them and learn how to produce them yourself. Again, producing them yourself is free.  

Finally, we at I AM L.I.P cannot count the amount of times many of us filled in our forms incorrectly and sent them to the court, for them only to be returned. In one case, one particular form came back so many times that a court administration staff member actually wrote what to correct on the form so she didn’t have to return it again. Please do not get embarrassed when forms are returned or let your ego get in the way. Just remember free is free and your money is still in your pocket rather than your solicitors bank account no matter how many times your forms are returned! 

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR FORM FILLING

Please read the following notes before you continue. These notes are mentioned again in the write up’s on how to complete the forms below. Please remember them when required.

• NOTE 1 – In court proceedings you and your ex-partner will be referred to by specific words such as applicant, applicant 1, applicant 2 and respondent. Which one you will be known as throughout your proceedings will depend upon whether a joint or sole application was made to start proceedings and which one of you submitted the forms to start child arrangement proceedings. 
• NOTE 2 – When submitting a hardcopy of a form by post, if you find there is not enough space on your form to complete your answers then please continue on additional sheets of paper and attach them to your form. Please remember to write your full name, date of birth, your case number and question/section number on the top of your additional sheets.
• NOTE 3 – The words ‘to serve your ex-partner or other party‘ means they must receive the relevant divorce applications/court papers that require them to be informed, respond, comply with directions or attend court. 
• NOTE 4 – The words to ‘to file at court‘ means submitting a court application form, evidence, statements or any other document to the court. This can be done by post, email or in person. If you are posting something to the court please send by ‘signed for recorded delivery’ so you have proof you sent it in case the court lose your documents. If you are submitting in person either get a receipt from the court or if like my local family court you find your local family court has a drop in box then please record yourself dropping your envelope into the box. Again this is proof you sent it.
• NOTE 5 – With most of the forms below you can input your answers online and then print a hardcopy. Alternatively you can download and print the form then complete it by black pen. 
• NOTE 6 – The courts may require you to send 3 – 4 copies of the form and all attachments to them so they can distribute accordingly. They will keep one, they will send one court stamped copy back to you, one court stamped copy to the respondent or each respondent if there are more and a copy to anyone else involved in the proceedings such as Cafcass. Please make sure you send enough copies. Our write ups will inform you if you need to send more than 1 copy.
• NOTE 7 – Please keep a copy of your completed application form and all attachments for yourself outside of the ones you send to the court.
• NOTE 8 – Some forms will require you to attach a document such as a statement from yourself where you will need to add a statement of truth sentence above your signature. Please find below a few examples of a statement of truth sentence. Our write ups will inform you if you need to do this.

‘I believe the above statement to be the truth to the best of my knowledge’.

‘I believe the facts in this statement to be true’.