C79 Application Form – Fill Out and Use This PDF

C79 Application Form PDF Details

The C79 Application form is the official prescribed form for enforcing a Child Arrangements Order in England and Wales. File the C79 with the family court when the other party has failed to comply with the terms of an existing order, such as denying you agreed contact with your child or failing to follow the child's living arrangements as set out in the order.

When to File Form C79

You should consider filing a C79 when:

• The other parent has denied you court-ordered contact on at least one occasion
• The other parent is not returning the child after agreed contact periods
• The living arrangements set out in the order are not being followed
• Direct communication or mediation has not resolved the issue

Applications must be filed at the family court that originally made the order. You should act reasonably promptly after each breach and document the dates and details of each occasion the order was not followed.

Information You Will Need

To complete the C79, prepare the following before you start:

• A copy of the original Child Arrangements Order with the court case number and date
• Full names and addresses for both parties and the child or children involved
• Specific dates and descriptions of each occasion the order was not followed
• Evidence of prior attempts to resolve the issue, such as written messages or a mediation certificate

Enforcement Options Available to the Court

When the family court reviews a C79 application, it can impose enforcement measures including an unpaid work requirement, a financial penalty, or a variation of the existing Child Arrangements Order. In repeated or serious cases, the court may find the non-compliant party in contempt.

Related Family Court Forms

The C79 is often used alongside other court documents. The C1A form is filed alongside the initial application where there are allegations of harm or domestic abuse affecting the child. The C104A form covers applications for emergency protective measures. For interim contact arrangements during an ongoing dispute, a temporary custody form may be appropriate. Where child maintenance is also in dispute, the Child Support Enforcement Transmittal handles financial enforcement separately from contact arrangements.