The Family Court Line

Position Statement Template

For children cases in the Family Court in England and Wales. Answer the questions and your position statement builds itself at the bottom of the page.

GET MONEY. GET OUT. GET RID.

Read this first

This is an example of how a position statement can be laid out. It is not an official form, it is not legal advice, and it is not guaranteed to be right for your case.

Every case is different. The orders and directions the court has made in your case always come first. If your order says something different from this template, follow your order.

Rules change. This template was checked against the rules in force on 13 November 2026.

Nothing you type here is saved or sent to us. It is gone when you close this page. If you share a device, close this page when you are done.

What a position statement is

The judiciary’s guide for litigants in person describes it as “a short document that explains a party’s position for that hearing”. It tells the judge what you are asking for at this hearing and why. It is not the place for your full story or your evidence.

What the rules ask for

These come from Practice Direction 27A, which has applied to family court hearings since 2 March 2026.

The ruleIn plain words

No more than 3 pages, unless the court accepts the case is complex and directs a different limit3 pages is the maximum, not the target. Aim for 2. Short is easier for the judge to read before the hearing.

Numbered paragraphsEvery paragraph has a number, so everyone can point to it.

Date prepared and hearing date on the front page, just below the headingPut both dates at the top.

Define and confine the matters in disputeSay what is actually disagreed and needs deciding at this hearing.

Set out the directions or orders soughtSay clearly what you want the court to order.

Cross-referenced to the bundleWhere you mention a document, give its bundle page number if you have one.

Self-contained, a new one for each hearingDo not say “see my last position statement”. Write a fresh one each time.

No new evidence, no exhibits, no long quotationsPoint to evidence already filed. Do not attach anything.

Where applicable, your views on non-court dispute resolutionSay whether you think mediation or similar is suitable, and why not if it is not safe.

At least 12 point, 1.5 or double spacing, side margins, Arial or Times New Roman where possibleUse a plain, readable layout.

When to send it

Unless your order says otherwise, send it to the court and to the other parties by 11am on the working day before the hearing. For a Wednesday hearing, that is 11am on Tuesday. Each party writes their own. You do not need the other side to agree yours.

How to use the template

Answer the questions below. Leave out anything that does not apply.
The notes on the right explain each question. They do not go into your position statement.
Your paragraphs are numbered for you as you go.
If your address is confidential, do not put it in your position statement.

See a finished example

This is a made-up example. The people and the case are not real. It shows what a finished position statement can look like for a first hearing where domestic abuse has been raised.

IN THE FAMILY COURT SITTING AT BRISTOL

Case number: AB26P00000

Sarah Jones Applicant

and

Mark Davies Respondent

The child: Lily (6)

POSITION STATEMENT OF SARAH JONES, APPLICANT

Prepared on: 30 November 2026 For the hearing on: 2 December 2026 at 10am

Type of hearing: First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment

Introduction

1.I am the mother of Lily, aged 6. I am the applicant. I am representing myself.

2.Lily lives with me. At the moment, Lily has no contact with the respondent. He has not seen her since he left the family home in June 2026.

This hearing

3.This hearing is a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment. The order of 14 October 2026 directed a safeguarding letter (bundle page C1).

4.The issues for the court at this hearing are whether Lily should spend time with the respondent, whether that time should be supervised, and whether a fact-finding hearing is needed about the domestic abuse I have raised.

Domestic abuse and safety

5.I have raised domestic abuse by the respondent in this case. This is set out in my form C1A (bundle pages B12 to B20).

6.In summary:

(a)On 3 May 2026 the respondent pushed me against a wall in front of Lily. The police were called (bundle page B15).

(b)On 20 June 2026 the respondent took my phone and bank card and would not give them back (bundle page B16).

(c)Between July and September 2026 the respondent sent me more than 40 abusive messages (bundle page B18).

7.The safeguarding letter (bundle page C1) recommends a report about Lily’s welfare. I agree. Paragraph 12 says there are no police records, but the police were called on 3 May 2026 (bundle page B15).

What I am asking the court to order

8.I ask the court to:

(a)decide whether a fact-finding hearing is needed about the domestic abuse I have raised

(b)order that any time Lily spends with the respondent is supervised until then

(c)direct a report about Lily’s welfare

Why

9.Lily saw the incident on 3 May 2026 (bundle page B15). Until the court has decided what happened, supervised time is the safest option for her.

10.A fact-finding hearing would let the court decide what happened before it decides what arrangements are safe for Lily.

Non-court dispute resolution

11.I do not think mediation is suitable. It would not be safe for me to negotiate with the respondent because of the domestic abuse set out above.

Taking part safely

12.Because I have raised domestic abuse, I ask the court to consider participation directions so that I can take part and give my best evidence. I ask for a screen so I do not see the respondent, and separate waiting areas.

Sarah Jones
Applicant, 30 November 2026

1About the case

Name of the court Case number

Applicant’s full name

Respondent’s full name

Are you the applicant or the respondent?

Applicant Respondent

Note: Copy the court name, case number and party names exactly as they appear on your court papers.

The children

First names and ages only.

Date prepared

Date of the hearing

Time of the hearing

Type of hearing

Note: The date prepared and the hearing date must be on the front page, just below the heading. The template puts them there for you.

2Introduction

Your relationship to the child or children

Mother Father Other

I am representing myself

Who do the children live with now? What are the arrangements at the moment?

Briefly describe how things are now. One or two sentences is enough.

3This hearing

Was there an earlier order? (optional)

If there was an earlier order, say what it asked to happen before today, with the bundle page.

What are the issues for the court at this hearing?

List only what is disagreed and needs deciding today.

4Domestic abuse and safety

Have you raised domestic abuse in this case?

Yes No

If you choose no, this section and section 8 are left out.

Who is the domestic abuse by?

Which document sets it out?

Bundle page

Note: Keep it short, and only point to evidence that has already been filed. A position statement must not introduce new evidence.

In summary: two or three short, dated examples

One line each, for example: On 3 May 2025 the respondent … Police reference … (bundle page …).

Safeguarding letter: bundle page (optional) Do you agree with it?

5What I am asking the court to order

One order or direction per line. The examples are only examples. Ask for what your case needs.

6Why

Note: Keep each reason to one or two sentences. Focus on what is best and safest for the child, not on criticising the other parent.

7Non-court dispute resolution

Do you think mediation or another way of resolving this outside court is suitable?

Note: The court must consider at every stage whether non-court dispute resolution is appropriate, and the rules ask position statements to include your views on it where applicable. Saying it is not safe, and why, is a view the court can take into account.

8Taking part safely

This section appears if you answer yes to domestic abuse in section 4.

What would help you take part and give your best evidence?

A screen so I do not see the other party Joining by video link Separate waiting areas Separate arrival and leaving times

Anything else (optional)

Note: Where a party is, or is at risk of being, a victim of domestic abuse by another party, the court must consider making participation directions (Family Procedure Rules, rule 3A.2A, from section 63 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021). Ask for what you need. The court decides what it will put in place.

9Signing off

Your name

Filled in from section 1. Change it if you need to.

Your position statement

This builds as you type. Anything still in [brackets] needs filling in or deleting. Read it through before you send it.

Before you send it

It is no more than 3 pages (aim for 2), unless the court has directed a different limit.
The date prepared and the hearing date are at the top.
Every paragraph is numbered.
It says clearly what you want the court to order.
It is written for this hearing only, and does not refer back to an old position statement.
It points to evidence already filed, with bundle page numbers where you have them.
It adds no new evidence and attaches nothing.
It uses at least 12 point text with 1.5 or double spacing.
It does not include a confidential address.
Nothing is left in [brackets].
You have checked your court order for anything different, such as a different deadline or page limit.
It goes to the court and the other parties by 11am on the working day before the hearing, unless your order says otherwise.

Go deeper

What Is a Position Statement in the Family Court?

What to include, tone, and common mistakes.

The Family Court Line

Where a position statement fits at each stop of a children case.

Remember

This is an example structure only. It is not legal advice and it is not guaranteed to suit your case. Your court’s orders and directions come first. The law described applies in England and Wales.

Checked against the rules in force on 13 November 2026.