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Last reviewed: June 2026 · For use in England & Wales · eLitigant is a Community Interest Company (No. 16566612), not a law firm. Always check the current official form on GOV.UK before you file, and sign the statement of truth yourself.
Official form & guidance: Form C2 (Application in existing children proceedings) →
In short
Form C2 is the application notice used within existing Children Act 1989 proceedings — to vary a Child Arrangements Order, ask the court’s permission to apply (for example a grandparent seeking contact under s.10(9)), return to court after a s.91(14) barring order, or join a party. It should set out the precise order sought, short child-focused grounds, and usually a supporting witness statement. These are sensitive matters, and you don’t have to face them alone — eLitigant drafts your C2, or reviews the draft you’ve written, from your own documents in complete confidence.
① Draft it from scratch
Tell Chris the proceedings, the order sought and the change of circumstances. Chris drafts your C2 — child-focused, court-respectful, anchored to your facts.② Check the draft you’ve written
Already drafted your C2 or witness statement? Upload it. Chris reviews the wording, the grounds and the structure against the Litigant Standard.③ You’ve been served — respond
Someone has applied within your proceedings? Run what you received by Chris and prepare a measured, welfare-led response.Common C2 uses
- Variation of an existing Child Arrangements Order
- Application by a grandparent for leave to apply for contact
- Step-parent seeking permission to apply for Parental Responsibility
- Application for leave following a s.91(14) barring order
- Joining a third party as a respondent (new partner, grandparent, Local Authority)
- Application for enforcement or variation of interim orders
Grandparents — the leave threshold
Grandparents have no automatic right to apply for contact. They must apply for leave under s.10(9) CA 1989. The court considers:- Nature of the application
- Applicant’s connection to the child
- Any risk of the application disrupting the child’s life
- Wishes of those with Parental Responsibility
Let Chris draft this for you
Upload the facts. Chris drafts a child-focused, court-respectful document — no raised voices, no accusations, no inflammatory language. The judge reads what helps the child. That is what Chris writes.
Section 91(14) — the barring order
Where the court bars further applications without leave (often where repeat applications are disruptive or harassing). C2 is the route back in — must show:- Change of circumstances since the barring order
- Genuine merit in the proposed application
- Proportionality — the child’s welfare justifies re-opening
Structure — the Litigant Standard
- The order or direction sought — precise wording
- The grounds — short, child-focused, anchored to facts
- Supporting witness statement (usually required)
- Any evidence — letters, school reports, medical records
Variation applications
Where an existing CAO is to be varied, show:- What has changed since the order was made
- How the current order is no longer serving the child’s welfare
- What alternative arrangement is proposed
- Why it is in the child’s interests
Related Court Forms & Guides
- Form N260: Statement of Costs — the costs schedule used at summary assessment.
- Form N244: Application Notice — the form for interim applications.
- Start a Money Claim Online (OCMC) — where most civil money claims begin.
- Particulars of Claim — setting out the basis of your claim.
- Civil Court Forms Index — every civil court form guide in one place.
Can Chris draft C2?
Yes. Tell Chris the proceedings, the order sought, and the change of circumstances. Chris drafts C2, a supporting witness statement with statement of truth, and a position statement for the directions hearing. Where multiple C2s are anticipated, Chris drafts each one.Prepare to win. Plan not to fail.
Within-proceedings applications are where cases are quietly won or lost. Draft carefully.See it done — an application in children proceedings (C2) in minutes
An application in children proceedings (C2), drafted to a high, professional standard — Chris builds all 10 pages from your facts in minutes, where doing it right yourself can take weeks to get right. Scroll the sample below.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Form C2 used for?
C2 is the within-proceedings application — used where the main proceedings are already under way or an order already exists. Common uses include varying an existing Child Arrangements Order, a grandparent seeking leave to apply for contact, a step-parent seeking permission to apply for Parental Responsibility, returning to court after a s.91(14) barring order, joining a third party as a respondent, and enforcing or varying interim orders.I’m a grandparent — do I need permission first?
Grandparents have no automatic right to apply for contact and must apply for leave under s.10(9) CA 1989. The court weighs the nature of the application, your connection to the child, any risk of disrupting the child’s life, and the wishes of those with Parental Responsibility. Well-framed applications usually succeed; badly framed ones do not.What is a section 91(14) barring order and how does C2 help?
A s.91(14) order bars further applications without the court’s leave, often where repeat applications have been disruptive or harassing. C2 is the route back in — you must show a change of circumstances since the bar, genuine merit in the proposed application, and that the child’s welfare justifies re-opening matters.How should a C2 application be structured?
Under the Litigant Standard: state the order or direction sought in precise wording; set out short, child-focused grounds anchored to the facts; include a supporting witness statement (usually required); and attach any evidence such as letters, school reports or medical records.What do I need to show to vary an existing order?
Where an existing Child Arrangements Order is to be varied, show what has changed since the order was made, how the current order is no longer serving the child’s welfare, what alternative arrangement is proposed, and why it is in the child’s interests.Can Chris draft my C2?
Yes. Tell Chris the proceedings, the order sought and the change of circumstances. Chris drafts the C2, a supporting witness statement with a statement of truth, and a position statement for the directions hearing, and across multiple C2s where anticipated.Get your Form C2 drafted to elite drafting standards
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