Short answer
Prohibited steps order enquiries should identify parental responsibility, the proposed action being disputed, existing child arrangements, safeguarding context, school or travel records, previous agreements and any hearing or application deadline. Legal4U cannot decide whether an order should be made.
Quick checklist
Start with these
Collect Parental Responsibility And Existing Order Records
Save birth or adoption certificates, parental responsibility agreements, child arrangements orders, specific issue or prohibited steps papers, previous court directions, Cafcass letters and any solicitor or mediator correspondence.
- birth certificate
- PR agreement
- existing order
- Cafcass letter
- mediation record
Organise The Proposed Action And Child Welfare Evidence
Prepare a factual note explaining the proposed move, school change, medical decision, travel plan, name change or other disputed step, plus relevant messages, school records, health records, passport details and the child arrangements currently in place.
- proposed action
- message trail
- school record
- health record
- passport detail
Flag Urgency, Safeguarding And Court-Form Questions
Tell Legal4U whether travel is imminent, a passport is held by one person, domestic abuse, abduction risk, social care involvement, without-notice issues or an existing hearing date is involved. A family-law specialist must review route, evidence and timing.
- imminent travel
- passport issue
- safeguarding
- without notice
- hearing date
General information only for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland need separate content checks.
Content governance
Editorial and source information
- Author
- Legal4U Editorial Team
- Professional review status
- Pending. Family-law solicitor, barrister or regulated family specialist review required before publication as legal guidance.
- Jurisdiction
- England and Wales
- Date published
- 9 September 2026
- Regulatory status
- Legal4U is a legal enquiry intake and professional matching platform, not a law firm.
- Sources
-
- Apply for a court order to make arrangements for a child or resolve a dispute about their upbringing: Form C100 HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Checked 8 September 2026.
- Making an application: children and the family courts HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Checked 8 September 2026.
- Practice Direction 12B - Child Arrangements Programme Ministry of Justice. Checked 8 September 2026.
- Editorial policy
- Legal4U guides are written to help users prepare structured enquiries. The professional-review status and reviewer details are shown separately on each guide.
- Correction process
- Corrections or update requests can be sent through the Legal4U contact page for editorial review.
- Information and advice
- This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Legal advice is provided only by an authorised professional or firm after they accept instructions.
Ask For Legal Help
Legal4U helps clients request legal help through a suitable Legal professional. The information on this page is general information only, not legal advice about your individual circumstances.
If your matter is urgent, include hearing dates, court deadlines, orders and any documents you already have when you submit your enquiry.
