Consent Orders for Child Arrangements in Wales

You and your ex have agreed on a parenting schedule. The children will live with mum during the week, spend alternate weekends with dad, and split school holidays. Everyone's on board. But a verbal agreement — or even a written parenting plan — isn't legally enforceable.

A consent order turns your agreement into a court-approved, legally binding document. If either parent later breaks the arrangement, the other can apply to the court for enforcement.

What Is a Consent Order?

A consent order is a court order made by agreement between both parties, rather than imposed after a contested hearing. For child arrangements, it records who the child lives with, who they spend time with, and any specific conditions (like handover times, holiday splits, or restrictions on relocation).

The family court judge reviews the proposed order to confirm it serves the child's welfare. The judge can reject it or request modifications, but in practice, consent orders submitted by cooperating parents are usually approved without a hearing.

How Much Does It Cost?

Getting a consent order for child arrangements in Wales is significantly cheaper than contested litigation:

• Court fee for a consent order: £62 (as of July 13, 2026 — previously £60)
• If using a solicitor to draft it: £500 to £1,500 depending on complexity
• If drafting it yourself: Just the court fee

Compare that to a contested Child Arrangements Order application: £270 for the C100 filing fee alone, plus months of hearings and potential solicitor costs of £3,000 to £15,000.

How to Apply for a Consent Order

If both parents agree on the arrangements, the process is straightforward:

Step 1: Draft the order. The document should set out the arrangements clearly and specifically — not "the children will spend reasonable time with the father" but "the children will spend time with the father every alternate weekend from Friday 4pm to Sunday 6pm, and every Wednesday from 4pm to 7pm."

Step 2: Complete Form C100 (or Form D81 if you're applying alongside divorce financial proceedings). Both parents must sign to confirm agreement.

Step 3: Submit to the family court. File at the court nearest to where the child lives. You can submit by post or, in some cases, online through the HMCTS portal.

Step 4: Judicial review. A judge reviews the proposed order on paper. If the arrangements appear to be in the child's best interests, the judge approves and seals the order — often without requiring either parent to attend court.

When a Consent Order Makes Sense

A consent order is appropriate when:

• Both parents genuinely agree on the arrangements (not when one parent is being pressured)
• The arrangements are detailed enough to be enforceable
• There are no safeguarding concerns that require court investigation

If there is any dispute — even on minor points like handover times — you cannot use the consent order route. You'll need to file a standard C100 application and go through the Pathfinder or CAP process.

Can You Change a Consent Order Later?

Yes, but you need either mutual agreement to vary the order (by applying for a new consent order) or a court hearing if you can't agree. Changes in circumstances — such as a parent relocating, a child starting secondary school, or a significant shift in work schedules — are common reasons for variation.

The court applies the same welfare checklist criteria to any proposed change: is the variation in the child's best interests?

Getting the Wording Right

The most common reason consent orders are sent back by the court is vague drafting. The judge needs specific, enforceable terms — not general intentions.

The Wales Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes consent order drafting templates with example wording for weekly schedules, holiday rotations, handover logistics, and communication protocols that courts expect to see.

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