If you're going through a divorce or dissolution in England & Wales and need to divide your finances, you'll almost certainly need to complete Form E — the detailed financial statement required by family courts.

But here's the problem: Form E is one of the most complex, intimidating legal documents you'll ever encounter. It's 28 pages long, asks hundreds of questions, requires extensive supporting evidence, and getting it wrong can cost you thousands in legal fees or even result in your financial settlement being set aside years later.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about Form E: what it is, when you need it, how to complete it accurately, and how to avoid the costly mistakes that trip up thousands of divorcing couples every year.

What is Form E?

Form E is the official financial statement that each party must complete when applying for a financial order during divorce or civil partnership dissolution proceedings in England and Wales.

Think of it as a complete financial X-ray of your life. The court uses Form E to understand:

What assets you own (property, pensions, investments, savings, business interests)
What you owe (mortgages, loans, debts)
What you earn (employment, self-employment, investments, benefits)
What you spend (living costs and future needs)
Your overall financial circumstances

The form is designed to ensure full and frank disclosure — meaning both parties must reveal everything about their finances, with nothing hidden. This transparency is the foundation of fair financial settlements in UK family law.

When Do You Need Form E?

You'll need to complete Form E if:

✅ You're applying for a financial order (also called a financial remedy) during divorce, dissolution, annulment, or judicial separation
✅ The court has issued a Notice of First Appointment (Form C) — this triggers a strict deadline
✅ You're seeking court involvement in dividing assets, pensions, or determining spousal maintenance

Critical Deadline

Once the court issues the Notice of First Appointment, you have 35 days before that hearing date to file your Form E with the court and serve a copy on your ex-partner.

Missing this deadline can result in:

Cost penalties (the court may order you to pay your ex's legal fees)
Delays in your case
A negative impression on the judge

When You Might NOT Need Form E

Consent orders: If you've already agreed on how to divide finances, you typically submit a shorter Form D81 instead
No court involvement: If you're settling everything privately (though full disclosure is still strongly recommended)

Pro tip: Even in amicable separations, many mediators and solicitors use Form E as a framework to ensure nothing is overlooked. If negotiations break down and you end up in court, you'll be glad you already have this work done.

The True Cost of Form E

Traditional Route: £1,500–£3,000+

If you hire a solicitor to help you complete Form E, expect to pay:

£1,500–£2,000 for basic assistance (if your finances are straightforward)
£2,500–£3,500+ for complex cases (businesses, multiple properties, international assets)
Additional hourly fees for follow-up questions, amendments, and negotiations

This is just for the administrative work of completing the form — not the actual legal advice on settlement or representation in court.

The Divvio Way: £79

Divvio transforms the 28-page PDF into a guided 38-step questionnaire that:

✅ Breaks complexity into digestible chunks
✅ Auto-calculates all totals (assets, liabilities, income, expenses)
✅ Validates your entries to prevent errors
✅ Provides contextual help at every step
✅ Generates a court-ready PDF that meets the official Form E (01/23) template

Couple Bundle: £119 for both partners (£40 savings)

Start Your Form E →

Understanding Form E's Structure: The 5 Main Sections

Form E is organized into five main parts. Here's what each one covers:

Section 1: General Information (Steps 0-8)

This section establishes the basics:

Personal details: Your name, date of birth, address, occupation
Marriage/partnership details: Marriage date, separation date, decree status
Children: Names, ages, living arrangements, education plans
Health: Any significant health issues affecting you or the children
New relationships: Are you living with or planning to marry a new partner?
Other proceedings: Any other court cases involving you and your ex

Common mistake: Leaving out "minor" details like a child's school fees or a health condition that affects earning capacity. Everything relevant should be disclosed.

Section 2: Financial Details — The Heart of Form E

This is the longest and most detailed section, broken into subsections covering every aspect of your finances:

Part 1: Real Property and Personal Assets

Properties: Family home and any other properties (with valuations and mortgage balances)
Bank accounts: ALL accounts held in the last 12 months — even closed ones
Investments: Shares, ISAs, bonds, cryptocurrency, etc.
Life insurance: Policies with surrender values
Personal belongings: Items worth over £500 (cars, jewelry, art, etc.)
Cash holdings: Any cash over £500

Required documents:

Last 12 months of bank statements for every account
Recent property valuations or estimates
Latest investment statements
Current mortgage statements

Part 2: Liabilities

Credit cards, loans, overdrafts
Hire purchase agreements
Tax owed to HMRC
Family debts or informal loans

Pro tip: Even informal debts (like money owed to parents) must be disclosed. If you can't substantiate it with a loan agreement or correspondence, the court may disregard it.

Part 3: Business Assets

If you're self-employed or own a business:

Business name and type
Your ownership share
Estimated current value
Last two years of business accounts

Required documents:

Business accounts for last two financial years
Any available valuation (accountant's letter, formal valuation)

Part 4: Pensions

ALL pension arrangements (state, workplace, personal)
Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) for each pension

Critical timeline: Pension valuations can take 6-12 weeks to obtain. Request these immediately when you know you'll need Form E.

Required documents:

CETV statements from pension providers
Or proof you've requested them (if not yet received)

Part 5: Other Assets

Catch-all for anything not covered above:

Trust interests
Expected inheritances
Share options or business expansion schemes
Assets held abroad or by third parties

Part 6-10: Income

Employment income: Salary, bonuses, benefits (with P60 and last 3 payslips)
Self-employment: Net profit, drawings, tax assessments
Investment income: Dividends, rental income, interest
State benefits: Child benefit, Universal Credit, disability benefits
Other income: Pensions in payment, maintenance received

Section 3: Financial Requirements (Future Needs)

Now you shift from "what I have" to "what I'll need":

Income needs: Detailed monthly budget covering:

Housing costs (rent/mortgage)
Utilities and council tax
Food and household items
Transport and car expenses
Childcare and school costs
Insurance, clothing, personal care
Recreation and holidays

Capital needs: One-off future expenses:

"I'll need £250,000 to purchase a three-bedroom house"
"I'll need £8,000 for a replacement car"
"I'll need £15,000 for children's university costs"

Common mistake: Drastically understating your needs to appear "low-maintenance." Be realistic — this isn't about winning sympathy points, it's about ensuring you can actually live after divorce.

Section 4: Other Information

This narrative section covers:

Standard of living during the marriage
Contributions to the marriage (financial and non-financial)
Conduct (only if extremely serious — ordinary infidelity doesn't count)
Anticipated changes (new job, inheritance, cohabitation plans)

Important: Courts value homemaking and childcare equally with financial contributions. If you gave up a career to raise children, say so.

Section 5: Details of the Order Sought

Your opening position — what you're asking the court for:

Property transfer or sale
Lump sum payment
Pension sharing orders
Spousal maintenance (amount and duration)
Clean break (dismissal of all future claims)

Note: This isn't legally binding — it's your starting position for negotiations. You can (and likely will) adjust this as discussions progress.

The Duty of Full and Frank Disclosure: Why Honesty is Non-Negotiable

When you sign Form E, you're making a Statement of Truth — essentially giving evidence under oath. This carries serious legal weight:

What "Full and Frank Disclosure" Means

✅ Disclose everything: All assets, income, and financial resources — even if you think they're "trivial" or "mine alone"
✅ Be accurate: Use statements and valuations; don't guess wildly
✅ Be truthful: False information can amount to perjury or fraud

Consequences of Non-Disclosure

Criminal prosecution: Knowingly providing false information can lead to fraud charges under the Fraud Act 2006.

Contempt of court: Making false statements in a document verified by a Statement of Truth is contempt — punishable by fines or imprisonment.

Order set aside: If hidden assets are discovered later (even years after divorce), your ex can apply to set aside the financial order and reopen the settlement. The Supreme Court confirmed this in landmark cases like Sharland v Sharland (2015) and Gohil v Gohil (2015).

Cost penalties: Even if not fraudulent, incomplete disclosure that drags out proceedings can result in the court ordering you to pay the other side's legal costs.

Real Example

In Sharland v Sharland, a husband failed to disclose the true value of his company shares during divorce proceedings. Years later, when the wife discovered the truth, the Supreme Court set aside the original settlement entirely. The husband's dishonesty cost him far more than if he'd been honest initially.

Bottom line: Hiding assets is never worth it. The legal system has powerful remedies, and the risk of discovery (through bank statements, tax returns, or even social media) is high.

7 Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands

1. Starting Too Late

Form E takes 60-90 minutes to complete with Divvio's guided questionnaire — but that assumes you have all your documents ready.

The reality:

Pension CETV statements can take 6-12 weeks to arrive
Gathering 12 months of bank statements takes time
Property valuations need to be arranged
Business accounts may need updating

Solution: Start the process as soon as you know court proceedings are likely. Request pension valuations immediately.

2. Missing Bank Accounts

Common scenario: "I have three bank accounts... wait, four... actually five if you count that old ISA I haven't touched in years."

The rule: Disclose every account you've held in the last 12 months — including:

Zero-balance accounts
Overdrawn accounts
Closed accounts
Joint accounts
Accounts in trust for children

Why it matters: Your ex's solicitor will comb through your statements. If they spot a transfer to an account you didn't disclose, it raises red flags about hidden assets.

3. Using Outdated Valuations

Don't use:

Property values from three years ago
Pension statements from 2019
Investment balances from last year

Do use:

Current market valuations (within last 6 months for property)
Recent statements (within last month where possible)
Up-to-date pension CETVs (within last 12 months)

4. Forgetting to Attach Required Documents

Form E without supporting evidence is like a CV without references — technically submitted, but effectively incomplete.

Critical attachments:

✅ Last 12 months bank statements (every account)
✅ Last 3 payslips + P60 (employment income)
✅ Last tax return + HMRC assessment (self-employment)
✅ Pension CETV statements
✅ Mortgage statements showing current balances
✅ Last 2 years business accounts (if applicable)

5. Leaving Sections Blank

Wrong: [blank space]
Right: "N/A" or "None"

Empty fields look like you skipped them accidentally. Even if a section doesn't apply, write "Not applicable" to show you've considered it.

6. Underestimating or Exaggerating Your Budget

Too low: "I can live on £800/month" (when your bank statements show £1,800 spending)
Too high: "I need £5,000/month" (when you've always lived on £2,000)

Solution: Base your budget on actual spending from bank statements. If future needs will differ significantly (new rent, childcare costs), explain why in your narrative.

7. Not Keeping a Copy

Scenario: You submit Form E, the court misplaces part of it, and you don't have a backup. Now you're scrambling to recreate 28 pages of detailed financial information.

Solution: Always keep a complete copy of your submitted Form E and all attachments. Divvio stores your Form E securely and allows unlimited re-downloads for 12 months.

How Long Does Form E Really Take?

Traditional Route (Solicitor)

Initial meeting: 1-2 hours
Gathering documents: 2-4 weeks
Solicitor preparation: 5-10 hours (your cost: £1,500–£3,000)
Review and revisions: Multiple email exchanges
Total timeline: 4-8 weeks

Divvio Route

Guided questionnaire: 60-90 minutes (can pause and resume anytime)
Gathering documents: 2-4 weeks (same timeline — can't rush pension providers)
Upload and review: 15-30 minutes
Total timeline: 2-4 weeks (limited only by document gathering)

The difference: Divvio's smart questionnaire does in 60 minutes what used to take a solicitor 5-10 billable hours. You save £1,400+ and maintain complete control.

What Happens After You Submit Form E?

1. Simultaneous Exchange

Both parties exchange Form E on the same date (usually via solicitors). Neither gets to see the other's form in advance.

2. Review Period

Each side reviews the other's Form E to:

Check for completeness
Identify inconsistencies
Spot missing documents
Note questions or concerns

3. Questionnaires (If Needed)

If anything is unclear or missing, each party can send a questionnaire requesting:

Additional documents
Clarification on values
Explanation of unusual transactions

If your Form E is thorough and well-documented, you'll face fewer questions — speeding up the process.

4. First Directions Appointment (FDA)

The first court hearing where the judge:

Confirms all disclosure is complete
Gives directions for any missing items
Sets timetable for next steps
Possibly orders expert valuations if needed

5. Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR)

A without-prejudice settlement meeting where:

The judge gives a preliminary indication of likely outcome
Parties negotiate based on the judge's steer
Many cases settle at this stage

6. Final Hearing (If No Settlement)

If FDR doesn't result in agreement, the case proceeds to a Final Hearing where the judge makes binding orders.

Note: About 85-90% of financial remedy cases settle before Final Hearing — often at or shortly after FDR.

Form E FAQ

Do I need a solicitor to complete Form E?

No. Form E is a disclosure document, not a legal argument. Thousands of people complete it without solicitor assistance.

However, you may want legal advice on:

What kind of financial settlement is fair in your case
Whether to accept an offer from your ex
Strategy for negotiations or court hearings

Divvio's approach: Handle the £1,500–£3,000 administrative work yourself with smart software. Use those savings to pay for a solicitor's advice on the things that actually require legal expertise (settlement strategy, court representation).

What if my ex lies on their Form E?

If you suspect dishonesty:

Questionnaire: Ask pointed questions about inconsistencies
Court orders: Apply for orders compelling disclosure or third-party disclosure
Forensic investigation: In high-value cases, hire a forensic accountant (expensive but sometimes necessary)
Adverse inferences: The court can assume hidden assets and adjust the settlement accordingly

Can I update Form E after submission?

Yes — and you must. You have an ongoing duty to update disclosure if circumstances change materially:

New job or salary increase
Inheritance received
Property sold
Business valuation changes

Divvio gives you unlimited re-exports for 12 months so you can easily update and resubmit as needed.

What if I don't have all my documents by the deadline?

Best approach:

Submit Form E on time with what you have
Clearly mark missing items as "To follow"
Attach proof you've requested them (e.g., letter to pension provider)
Provide the documents as soon as they arrive

Don't miss the deadline entirely — this looks bad and can result in cost penalties.

What about assets I owned before marriage?

Disclose everything — including pre-marital assets, gifts, and inheritances. Whether these are treated differently in the settlement is a separate question (and depends on factors like length of marriage, needs, etc.). But the disclosure duty covers all assets, regardless of source.

Do I need formal valuations for everything?

Not necessarily:

Property: Estate agent estimates are usually fine at Form E stage (formal valuations can come later if you can't agree)
Personal items: Reasonable estimates for cars, jewelry, etc.
Pensions: Must have official CETV statements
Business: Accounts are required; formal valuation often comes later if needed

Why Divvio is Different

The Old Way: £1,500–£3,000 + Weeks of Stress

Problems with traditional Form E completion: ❌ Intimidating 28-page PDF with no guidance
❌ Easy to miss sections or make errors
❌ Manual calculations prone to mistakes
❌ No validation of your entries
❌ Expensive solicitor time for administrative work
❌ Weeks of back-and-forth email exchanges

The Divvio Way: £79 + 60 Minutes

How Divvio transforms Form E: ✅ 38-step guided wizard — complexity broken into digestible chunks
✅ Contextual help — explanations at every step in plain English
✅ Auto-calculations — all totals computed automatically
✅ Smart validation — catches errors before you submit
✅ Document checklist — know exactly what to upload
✅ Court-ready PDF — compliant with official Form E (01/23) template
✅ Auto-save — resume anytime from any device
✅ Unlimited updates — 12 months of re-exports as your finances change

Real User Testimonials

"I dreaded Form E after looking at the blank PDF. Divvio made it actually manageable. The step-by-step approach meant I could tackle it in chunks over a week. Saved me over £2,000 compared to solicitor quotes." — Sarah M., London

"As someone self-employed with multiple bank accounts and a small business, I thought I'd definitely need a solicitor. Divvio's validation caught errors I would have missed, and the auto-calculations saved hours. Worth every penny of the £79." — David P., Manchester

"My ex and I both used Divvio (couple bundle) and submitted identical supporting documents. The court was impressed with how complete and organized everything was. We settled at FDR." — Jennifer K., Bristol

Get Started with Divvio Today

Here's What You'll Get:

✅ 38-Step Guided Questionnaire
Transform the intimidating 28-page Form E into a manageable, step-by-step process with contextual help at every stage.

✅ Auto-Calculations & Validation
No more manual math or second-guessing. Divvio automatically calculates totals and validates your entries.

✅ Court-Ready PDF
Generate an official Form E (01/23) compliant PDF that meets all court requirements.

✅ Document Checklist
Know exactly which supporting documents you need and upload them securely.

✅ Couple Bundle Option
Both partners can complete Form E together with shared documents for maximum consistency (£119 — save £40).

✅ 12 Months of Updates
Unlimited re-exports as your financial circumstances change.

✅ Save £1,400–£2,900
Complete what solicitors charge £1,500–£3,000 for — at a fraction of the cost.

Pricing

Solo: £79
Couple Bundle: £119 (save £40)

Start Your Form E Now →

Final Thoughts: Knowledge is Power

Form E might seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. With the right approach and tools, you can complete it accurately, save thousands in legal fees, and maintain control over your own financial disclosure.

Remember the golden rule: Full and frank disclosure. Be honest, be thorough, and be organized. The effort you invest in getting Form E right will pay dividends throughout your financial remedy proceedings — and could save you from costly mistakes down the road.

Whether you choose to use Divvio or complete Form E another way, the most important thing is to start early, stay organized, and never hide assets.

Your financial future after divorce depends on getting this right.

Ready to get started?

Complete Your Form E with Divvio →

Related Resources

Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about Form E and financial disclosure in divorce proceedings. It is not legal advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, consult a qualified family law solicitor.