In practice it is the length of time which it takes to get a Court Welfare Officer to take on a case, to see all the parties and to prepare a report that causes most delay in children's cases. Although the time varies from court to court it is unusual for the report to be ready in less than three months from the date on which the report is ordered. Sometimes this delay is not a problem because the court can grant certain interim relief if the case is suitable for it. For instance, it might grant interim contact pending the final hearing. If no interim orders are available then the parties have to wait for the Court Welfare Officer's report.
Matters then proceed to the next stage.
If a dispute involving a child has got to the stage where an application has had to be made to the courts it is almost always sensible to seek legal advice.