Children listening. Parents wanting to know what to expect at the first dispute resolution appointment

What to Expect at the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA) in Children Proceedings

24th September 2025

For separating parents: if you’ve made or received a court application about your child, here’s what to expect at the very first hearing — the FHDRA.

If you have applied for a standard Child Arrangements Order (CAO) — and there are no allegations of domestic abuse or safeguarding concerns — the court will list a short first hearing called a First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA). This typically takes place 4–6 weeks after your application is processed by the court. Both parents must attend, along with any legal representatives, and typically, a Cafcass officer (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service).

Before the hearing: safeguarding checks

Even in standard cases, Cafcass will carry out safeguarding checks before the FHDRA. These include:

A short phone call with each parent;
Checks with the police and local authority;
Asking both parties whether they have any concerns about the child’s welfare.

These checks are summarised in a safeguarding letter sent to the court and both parents before the hearing.

What happens at the FHDRA hearing

The FHDRA typically lasts around 1 hour. Its purpose is to help the court understand the issues in dispute, any safeguarding concerns, and to see whether agreement can be reached — either in full or in part — without the need for further litigation.

At the FHDRA:

The judge and Cafcass officer will identify the issues and encourage discussion;
If an agreement cannot be reached, the court will give directions to prepare the case for the next stage.

These directions usually include:

Preparing and exchanging witness statements;
Asking Cafcass to prepare a more detailed section 7 report;
Setting a timetable for the next hearing, usually a Dispute Resolution Appointment (DRA) or, in some cases, a Final Hearing.

This guidance assumes that your case does not involve safeguarding or domestic abuse allegations. Where there are concerns about these matters, the court may instead list a Fact-Finding Hearing before deciding how best to proceed.

Need help navigating life as a separated parent? You’re not alone — explore our list of separated parenting programmes.

Written by: Yasmin Kahn-Gunns, Family Lawyer