WHAT IS FORM C7 USED FOR?

Form C7 is the form you must complete and return to the family court to reply to the following court applications made by your ex-partner – 

• Form C100 – your ex-partner sent this form to the court to start proceedings for a child arrangements order.
• Form C1 – your ex-partner sent this form to the court to apply for a specific court order under the children’s act 1989 except a care and supervision order, a section 8 order and an enforcement of a child arrangements order.
• Form C78 – your ex-partner sent this form to the court to apply for an attachment of a warning notice to a child arrangements order.
• Form C79 – your ex-partner sent this form to the court to apply to the court to enforce, set aside or amend an existing child arrangements order.

Form C7 will allow you to agree or oppose the making of any court orders that your ex-partner has applied for. 

The court will send you a court stamped copy of your ex-partners completed application form (C100, C1, C78 or C79) and a new form C7 for you to complete and return. 

Your ex-partner will be known as the applicant and you will known as the respondent in the court proceedings.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C100

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

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C78

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C79

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE FORM C7?

No, there are no specific government guides for this form at present.

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND FORM C7 TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

There is no fee to send this form to the court.

HOW TO COMPLETE FORM C7 AND WHERE TO SEND IT.

• NOTE 1 – If you are completing and sending this form to the court, then you are known as the respondent.
• NOTE 2 – You can complete this form online and then print a hard copy. Alternatively you can download it, print it and then complete by black pen. 
• NOTE  3- If you find there is not enough space to complete your answers on your form then please use additional sheets of paper to continue on and attach them to your form. Please write your name, address, case number and question number on the top of your additional sheets of paper. 
• NOTE 4 – Once you have completed form C7, you must send 3-4 copies to the court within 14 days of receiving your notice of proceedings or the date of the stamp on the court envelope sent to you. You must also send 3-4 copies of form C1A to the court (please see below). The court will distribute accordingly. They will keep a copy for themselves, one for Cafcass, they will send one court stamped copy to your ex-partner and will send one court stamped copy to you. You can also send (serve) a copy of form C7 and form C1A to your ex-partner/the applicant or any other party named in the proceedings yourself if you do not want the court to do it.
• NOTE 5 – Please keep a copy of all evidence, sheets and forms for yourself outside of the ones you send to the family court.
• NOTE 6 – If your ex-partner is asking for finances then you do not need to complete part 6 and part of form C7. You will need to complete form C10A (statement of means form). The court will send form C10A to you or you can obtain it from the court office.
• Form C7 is 5 pages long.
• At the top of the first page you are required to write the name of the court where the case is being heard, the court case number, the full names of the children the case is concerning and the date of the next hearing. 
• On the second page, part 1 of form C7 will ask you about your personal and contact details. If you want to keep your contact details confidential from your ex-partner or any other third party then please do not complete the contact details on form C7. Please complete form C8 and send it to the court alongside your form C7. You only need to send one copy of your form C8 to the court because it is only for the court.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HEP GUIDE FOR FORM C8 

• Part 2 will ask about your solicitor details if you have one. If not then write ‘none’.
• Part 3 will ask you to write down the address to which you would like letters and paperwork to be sent. Again please do not complete part 3 if you want to keep your contact details confidential from your ex-partner or third party. Please complete form C8 instead.
• Part 4 will ask you to write down the date you received a copy of your ex-partners form C100/C1/C78/C79 from the court or from your ex-partner.
• Part 5 will ask you if you oppose the application your ex-partner has made.
• Part 6 will ask if you have received/been served a copy of your ex-partners form C1A and do you wish to comment on any of the statements made in the form. Form C1A is a supplemental form used to make and respond to any domestic violence and abuse. If you would like to respond then you can do this on page 9 of form C1A you have been served. If you need to attach any evidence you can do so.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C1A

• Part 7 will ask you if you believe the children named in the application have suffered or are at risk of suffering from domestic violence, child abduction, or harm from any persons involved in caring, lives with or has contact with the children. If the answer is yes you can detail this information on a new form C1A or on page 9 of the copy completed by  your ex-partner sent to you by the court. Please attach any evidence you wish to rely on to form C1A.
• Part 8 asks you if you intend to apply for a court order yourself.
• Part 9 will ask if you need an interpreter in court proceedings.
• Part 10 will ask if you have a disability and require special assistance or facilities when attending court. If you do please write what your needs are in the box provided.
• Just under part 10 there is a statement you will be required to read. It is two paragraphs long. The paragraphs are about the questioning of a victim of domestic violence or a witness by the alleged perpetrator or the questioning of an alleged perpetrator by the victim. If your case involves domestic violence and your court hearing is one where you or your ex-partner will give oral evidence then the court may send forms EX740 (the party making the abuse allegation) and EX741 (the party accused of abuse) to you and/or your ex-partner along with the court order informing you of the date of the oral hearing. You and/or your ex-partner will need to complete forms EX740 and EX741 and return them to the court. Once the court has one or both of these forms then the court can consider whether to prevent the questioning or cross-examination in person of either party by each other. You can also make this application to the court by yourself if you DO NOT wish to be cross-examined by the perpetrator or the accuser.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM EX740

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM EX741

• On page 5 you will be required to sign and date a statement of truth.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM C7/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Please click on the link below to download form C7 from the government website. Please complete and send by post (signed for recorded delivery).

LINK TO GOVERNMENT GUIDE FOR FORM C7

WHEN WAS FORM C7 FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

Form C7 was first published by the government (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) on 01-11-2013 and it was last updated on 09-10-2023.