Guidance

MyHMCTS: How to apply for a family public law order

Guides for local authorities or their solicitors using MyHMCTS to make a family public law order application.

Documents

Details

Use these guides to help with a family public law application using the MyHMCTS online service. You can you this service to apply for:

  • care orders and interim care orders
  • supervision orders and interim supervision orders
  • emergency protection orders
  • other orders under Part 4 of the Children Act 1989

If you a respondent’s legal representative, read our guidance on how to respond to a family public law order application.

Before you start

Before you start, you might want to read the following MyHMCTS guidance:

Get help and support

For help with registration and managing your organisation, email MyHMCTSsupport@justice.gov.uk. We aim to respond within 5 working days.

For help with technical issues using MyHMCTS to manage a family public law case, email FamilyPublicLawServiceTeam@justice.gov.uk.

For support or guidance on a case, email the court and tribunal contact centre at contactfpl@justice.gov.uk.

If you need to arrange for special measures at the hearing, you should contact the CTSC as soon as possible.

Published 18 November 2022
Last updated 2025 AprilMay 2023 + show all updates
  1. Added new subsection in additional and placement applications guide for replacing or adding documents after submission

  2. New guidance and screens following updates to the service

  3. Several updates to guides to make instructions clearer and improve signposting following feedback

  4. First published.