WHAT IS FORM C15 USED FOR?

Form C15 is a supplementary form which is sent alongside form C1 to the court to ask for more contact with a looked after child (a child in local authority care).

Unless there is a court order in place preventing contact between a child in care and their parents and others with parental responsibility, it is the local authorities duty to make sure there is adequate contact. The type of contact and the amount of contact will be detailed in the child’s care plan. 

If the child, the parents and any other individual with parental responsibility feel that they would like more contact but the local authority is not listening then an application can be made to the family court to ask for more contact. The court form needed to do this is form C1 or form C2 if there are existing proceedings ongoing. Form C15 is sent alongside form C1 or C2.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C1

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C2

Please note the following:

1. Permission is not required to submit this application for contact to the court unless the person(s) are the grandparents, aunt, uncle or siblings of the child.
2. A copy of the application form and all attachments will need to be sent to local authority child services and any person with parental responsibility on top of the one you will send to the court.

This application for more contact can be made under section 34 of the children act 1989.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR SECTION 34 OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989

Please note that if there are care proceedings which are ‘live’ then a parent or a person with parental responsibility can get legal aid to pay for their contact order application. Please check on the government legal aid website.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR CHECK IF YOU CAN LEGAL AID.

You can talk to the family rights group for further help. Please click on the link below

LINK TO WEBSITE FOR THE FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE FORM C15?

For background information on family contact for looked after children please click on the link below.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FAMILY CONTACT FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN.

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND FORM C15 TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

There is a fee to submit form C15 to the court because it is a supplementary form sent alongside form C1 or form C2. 

There is a fee to send form C1 or form C2 to the court. 

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C1

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C2

HOW TO COMPLETE FORM C15 AND WHERE TO SEND IT

• NOTE 1 – If you are completing and sending form C15 to the court then you are known as the petitioner or applicant. Everyone else who needs to be notified is known as the respondent. These are individuals with parental responsibility and anyone involved or affected by this application including the local authority. 
• NOTE 2 – You can complete form C15 online, then print a hard copy and sign and date it. Alternatively you can download it, print it and then complete it by black pen; 
• NOTE  3 – If you find there is not enough space to complete your answers on your form C15 then please use additional sheets of paper to continue and attach them to your supplementary form. Please write your name, address, and question number on the top of your additional sheets of paper. 
• NOTE 4 – Please send at least 3-4 copies of form C15 alongside your completed 3- 4 copies of form C1 or form C2. The court will distribute the copies accordingly. One copy is required for the court, one for your local authority and one for each party in the proceedings and Cafcass.
• NOTE 5 – Please keep a copy of your form c15 and any attachments for yourself outside of the ones you send to the family court.
• Form C15 is 1 page long.
• You will be required to write the name of the court that is dealing with this application/or you are sending the application to, in the box in the top left hand corner.
• Underneath you will need to write the name of the child(ren) you would like more contact with.
• Section 1 will ask you what your relationship is to the child. You will need to write it in the box provided. 
  1. You are the child’s parent or guardian
  2. You have a residence court order which was in force before the care order was made (a residence order is now referred to as a child arrangements order).
  3. You had care of the child through an order before the care order was made.
• Section 2 is asking you to detail the court order you are asking the court to make and to give your reasons why. If you are going to mention a report or any evidence you must state it and attach a copy
• You must date and sign the form at the bottom.
• Please send your completed form to your local family court alongside form C1 or form C2.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FIND YOUR LOCAL FAMILY COURT.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM C15/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Please click on the link below to access form C15 from the government website. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM C15

WHEN WAS FORM C15 FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

Form C15 was first published by the government (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) on 01-09- 1999 and it was last updated on 11-02-2021