Education and Child Matters

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

Form FC600

Application Form Used to Inform The Court When
There Has been A Contempt Of Court

 

WHAT IS FORM FC600 USED FOR?

Form FC600 is used to inform the court that there has been a contempt of court in family court proceedings under rules 37.3 and 37.4 of the family procedure rules 2010.

Contempt of court is when:

  1. A person does not comply with a court order.
  2. When a person is rude to a judge, shouts out in court or takes photos in court
  3. When a person does not answer a question they are asked in court.
  4. When a person leaks information about a case that the judge has said cannot be made public. 

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE FORM FC600?

There are no government guides to help you complete form FC600

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND FORM FC600 TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

If this application form is with regards to a breach of a non-molestation or occupation order then there is no fee to send this form to the court.

If this application is with regards to anything else then the fee is £184.00 

  • You can pay by cheque or postal order made payable to HM Courts & Tribunal Service. Please attach the cheque or postal order to your form FC600.
  • You can pay by debit or credit card over the phone. Write down your telephone number in the box provided on page 11 so the court can call you. You can also ask the court to email you the details on how to pay by credit card. Please write your email in the relevant box on page 11.
  • If you are on certain benefits or on a low income you can apply to the court to have your fees paid for you. The form you need is called form EX160. You can complete and submit the form online or download a hardcopy from the government website. You will need to attach proof of your benefits, your income, and/or 3 months bank statements. The government website also has the EX160A guidance notes which you can download and read to help you complete form EX160. You can send the completed form EX160 with all attachments along with your completed form FC600 for the court to consider. Or you could have sent your completed form EX160 to the court in advance and received a ‘help with fees’ reference number starting with HWF to put in the relevant box on page 11 of form FC600.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR ‘FORM EX160’(Here, you can access both form EX160 & EX160A guidance notes) 

HOW TO COMPLETE FORM FC600 AND WHERE TO SEND IT.

  • NOTE 1 – Please keep a copy of your completed form FC600 and any attachments for yourself outside of the copy you send to the court.
  • NOTE 2 – You can complete form EX160 online and print a hard copy. Alternatively you can print the form and complete it with black pen.
  • NOTE 3 – If you feel that you do not have enough space on the form to complete a question, please continue on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to your completed form FC600. Please write your full name, date of birth and case number on top of the sheet of paper.
  • NOTE 4 – You only need to send 3 – 4 copies to the court. The court will distribute them accordingly. They will keep one for themselves, send one to the defendant, one to any other party who should be sent a copy and they will send one court stamped copy to yourself.    
  • Form FC600 is 11 pages long.
  • On page 1 on the right hand side you will be asked the name of the court, your case number, the claimants name (your name) and the defendants name (the person who has committed the contempt of court). Then you will be asked to write down the date you are completing this application form.
  • On page 1 part 1 will ask your name if your are the claimant or the legal representative of the claimant. 
  • Part 2 will ask if you are the claimant or the legal representative of the claimant. Please tick the relevant box.
  • Part 3 will ask you the name and address of the defendant. You will also be asked the name and address of any other person who should be served (given/sent) a copy of this application. 
  • Part 4 will ask you to write a statement to support this application. Please include any evidence. The statement must be written on a separate piece of paper and attached to your form. Please write your full name, date of birth and case number on top of the sheet of paper. You can get this statement signed by a notary public or a lawyer so it becomes an affidavit. Of you can affirm the statement with the following paragraph yourself –
‘I solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that the signature to this affidavit is my signature and that every statement in the affidavit is true’
 
  • Part 5 will ask you if you need permission to make this application. If you do then tick the small box that says ‘yes’ and give your reasons in the large box provided. You only need permission when there has been interference with the administration of justice, except in relation to existing High Court or family court proceedings. Also when there is an allegation of knowingly making a false statement in any affidavit, affirmation or other document verified by a statement of truth or in a disclosure statement. If you do not need permission then tick the small box that says ‘no’.
  • On page 4 there are statements of information and list of rights for the defendant. 
  • Part 6 will ask you to write down the nature of the contempt of court. For example was it a breach of a court order or
    undertaking or contempt in the face of the court. Please continue on a separate piece of paper if need be and attach it to your form.
  • Part 7 will ask you if the contempt of court was a breach of a court order. If you tick the ‘yes’ box then you must continue to part 8. If you tick the ‘no’ box then go to part 11.
  • Part 8 will ask you to write in the large box provided the date and terms of the court order allegedly breached or disobeyed. If more than one court order has been breached then write the date and terms of these court orders also. Please attach a copy of the court order(s) if you have it/them.
  • Part 9 will ask you the date the court order was personally served on the defendant. If the court order in question was not personally served then you are required to write the date and terms of a court order dispensing with the personal service of the court order in question.
  • Part 10 will ask you if the court order contained a penal notice. Please tick either the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ box.
  • Part 11 will ask you for the date and terms of any undertaking allegedly breached. If there is more than one such undertaking write the date and terms of each undertaking in the large box provided. Please attach a copy of the undertaking if you have one. 
  • Part 12 will ask if you (the claimant) believes that the person who gave the undertaking (the defendant) understood its terms and the consequences of failure to comply with it. If you tick the small box which says ‘yes’ then give details in the large box provided. Continue on an extra sheet of paper if required. If the answer is no then tick the small box which says ‘no’.
  • Part 13 will ask you to write in the large box provided a brief summary of facts detailing the contempt of court. Write these facts in chronological order and in numbered points.
  • You will then be asked to sign a statement of truth.
  • On page 10 you will be asked to write down your contact details. If you do not wish your contact details to be shared with the defendant or any other party who will be sent a copy of this application then please do not write your contact details in this section. Instead please complete form C8 and send it with this form. You will only need to complete one form c8 and send it to the court. As stated above please keep a copy for yourself. Form C8 will inform the court not to share your contact details. However, it is your duty to make sure any correspondence, evidence or statements you send to the court do not contain your contact details. You must do this because the court will not do this for you. 

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

  •  Page 11 details information about the fee to send this form in.  

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM FC600/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Please click on the link below to download a paper copy of form FC600 from the government website. As said above, please complete and send by post (signed for recorded delivery) to the court. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM FC600 

WHEN WAS FORM FC600 FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

Form FC600 was first published by the government (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) on 21-07-2021 and last updated on 01-05-2024.