Money · Guide

How to complete Form E and give financial disclosure

Form E is the financial statement each person fills in once a financial order application is made. It sets out income, assets, debts, pensions and future needs. It must be exchanged at least 35 days before the first appointment.

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How long it takes, and what it would cost

On your own: Several days
With Wren: A couple of hours
Solicitor for each long form: £1,480 to £2,4706 to 10 hours

Times and hours are Wren’s estimates for a typical case, not quotes. Solicitor costs are those hours at £247 an hour, the courts’ guideline rate for a solicitor with over four years’ experience, outside London (GOV.UK, Solicitors' guideline hourly rates (in effect from 1 January 2026)). The guideline runs from £200 to £295 an hour outside London depending on experience, firms set their own rates, and VAT is added on top.

Who fills in Form E

Each spouse or civil partner completes a separate Form E once a financial order application is made. The current pinned edition is 01.23.

Form E is also used for applications to capitalise maintenance. Other variation applications use Form E2. Applications for children under Schedule 1 use Form E1.

If you have already agreed everything, the Form E notes say there is no need to complete Form E. You can send the agreement to the court as a consent application instead.

The duty of full and honest disclosure

Disclosure must be full, honest and open. The duty continues until a final order is made. You must tell the other party about any material change after you have filled in Form E.

The Pre-application Protocol says agreements based on dishonest disclosure are very unlikely to be upheld. A court can set aside an order where there was material non-disclosure.

Form E ends with a statement of truth. You confirm it is a full, frank, clear and accurate disclosure.

Documents to gather

GOV.UK lists examples of documents you may need to collect. The Form E checklist sets out what to attach to each section.

Rental or mortgage agreements, and a value and mortgage balance for the family home.
Proof of income, such as a P60 or recent payslips.
Loan agreements and details of other debts.
Pension documents, including a valuation for each scheme.
Details of personal belongings worth more than £500, such as a car.

Attaching documents

Attach copies, not originals. Keep the originals, as they must be available for inspection. Each copy is treated as an exhibit to your statement.

Form E should be sent only with the documents it asks for, documents needed to explain it, and pension documents. If you cannot get a document in time, serve and file it as soon as you can. The rules say you add a written explanation.

Pensions

Give details of every pension in section 2.13, including any Pension Protection Fund entitlement. Attach the provider's valuation for each scheme, or the letter asking for it and any reply.

The Form E notes say the valuation must not be more than a year old at the date of the first appointment. They also say the state pension valuation is requested on form BR19 or BR20.

Under the rules, you must ask for pension valuations within 7 days of receiving notice of the first appointment.

Common pitfalls

The Form E notes give practical tips. Put an overdrawn account in section 2.3, not 2.9. List assets you cannot sell easily in section 2.14. Show income needs with weekly, monthly or annual costs. If you run out of space, continue on separate numbered sheets.

Missing the Form E deadline may lead to a costs order. At the first appointment, the court must pay particular attention to whether each person sent the documents Form E requires.

Sending Form E

You send Form E to the court and a copy to the other party at the same time as they send theirs. The GOV.UK Form E page says to post the completed form and supporting documents to HMCTS Financial Remedy, PO Box 12746, Harlow, CM20 9QZ.

After exchange, each party may ask further questions through the questionnaire, filed at least 14 days before the first appointment. Replies are verified by a statement of truth and are usually served, not filed.

Key dates

Within 7 days of notice of the first appointmentAsk each pension arrangement for a valuation.Source: r 9.30(1),(2),(4) (external source, opens in a new tab)
At least 35 days before the first appointmentExchange Form E with the other party and file it with the court at the same time.Source: r 9.14(1) (external source, opens in a new tab)
At least 14 days before the first appointmentFile and serve a questionnaire, or a statement that none is needed.Source: r 9.14(5)(c) (external source, opens in a new tab)
Express pilot cases: within 28 days of issueExchange and file Form E.Source: r 9.21D(1),(2) as inserted (external source, opens in a new tab)
Fast-track cases: within 21 days of issueExchange and file Form E1, E2 or E as applicable.Source: r 9.19(1)-(4) (external source, opens in a new tab)

Get organised with Wren Family

You still run your own case, with help at every step. Wren Family turns long official forms into short, plain-English questions, guides you through each hearing, helps you write statements in your own words, and keeps your dates, papers and orders in one place. Nothing is sent to the court for you.

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Common questions

When is Form E due?

In the standard procedure, at least 35 days before the first appointment. The first appointment date is on the notice the court sends. Express pilot and fast-track cases have different deadlines.

What happens if I do not complete Form E?

The Form E notes say missing the deadline may lead to a costs order. A court can also set aside an order later if there was material non-disclosure.

Do I need to send original documents with Form E?

No. Send copies and keep the originals available for inspection. If you cannot attach a copy, add a short note explaining why.

Do I still need Form E if we have agreed everything?

The Form E notes say no. You can apply for a consent order instead, which uses Form D81 to give the court financial information.

Can I ask the other side for more documents before the first appointment?

Only through the questionnaire process. The rules say no other disclosure can be requested or given between filing the application and the first appointment.

Where these facts come from

These are the official rules and pages this page is based on. They are listed so you can check a detail for yourself; you do not need them to use Wren. They are outside Wren and open in a new tab.

Last checked against its sources on 7 October 2026. How we check our pages.