First Steps in Making a Financial Application - Making a Financial Application (part 1/5)

Jo Spain, family law solicitor

At the same time as your divorce is being finalised you will need to deal with financial matters.  If this can be agreed between you then this agreement can simply be set out in a Consent Order which is sent into Court and, once approved, sealed by the Judge.

But what if you can’t agree?  If you have tried talking to each other, attending meditation or negotiating through your Solicitors without success then you may have to apply to the Court.

To make a financial application you complete a Form A which is filed with a Court fee (currently £210).  The Court will list this for a First Directions Appointment approximately 8-10 weeks later.  The Court will also send you and the other person a list of directions to be complied with before the Court date.

First of all you will have to prepare a sworn financial statement (a Form E) which is filed at Court and served on the other party approximately 4 weeks before the hearing.  You then prepare a Questionnaire, a Chronology and a Statement of Issues.  These are also all filed at Court and served on the other person.

You also complete a Form G which confirms whether you think the first hearing can be treated as a Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing and finally you should complete a Statement of Costs (Form H).