28Sections in Form E covering every aspect of your financial situation
42%of self-filed Form E submissions contain errors that delay proceedings
12+supporting documents typically required to complete Form E accurately
Form E (formally called the Financial Statement) is the standard form used in England and Wales for providing detailed financial disclosure during divorce and financial remedy proceedings. Both parties are required to complete one, disclosing all their assets, income, debts and financial needs. They are exchanged simultaneously before negotiations or court hearings begin.
Form E is the foundation of any contested financial settlement. The statement of truth you sign makes it a legal document. Providing false or incomplete information can result in contempt of court proceedings, adverse costs orders, and in the most serious cases the unravelling of a financial settlement years after it was agreed.
💡 Do you actually need Form E?
If your finances are already agreed with your ex-partner, you almost certainly do not need Form E. A simpler document, Form D81 (the Statement of Information), is sufficient for a consent order application. Form E is for contested cases where financial remedy proceedings have been issued. Your free Clarity Plan will tell you which applies to your situation.
What Form E covers: section by section
Form E covers six main areas. Each party completes their own form:
Section 1
Personal details
Names, addresses, employment, details of any dependent children and future plans including remarriage or cohabitation intentions.
Section 2
Financial details
The core financial disclosure: property, bank accounts, savings, investments, business interests, pensions and any other assets. Also liabilities and debts.
Section 3
Income needs
Your current and anticipated future income needs, both for yourself and any dependent children. This section requires careful thought about realistic living costs.
Section 4
Other information
Contributions to the marriage, any relevant conduct, and other information the court should know. Handle conduct allegations carefully, there is a high legal threshold.
Section 5
Order sought
What financial orders you are asking the court to make. This section sets out your position at the start of proceedings.
Section 6
Statement of truth
Your signed confirmation that everything disclosed is a full, frank, clear and accurate disclosure of your financial circumstances. This has legal weight.
Documents you need to gather
Form E requires supporting documents to be attached. Start gathering these as early as possible, some take weeks to obtain. You will need things like bank statements, mortgage statements, a property valuation, and pension CETVs from every provider. The full scope covers all assets, income, debts and liabilities for both parties.
⚠ Start gathering documents immediately
Pension CETVs (Cash Equivalent Transfer Values) can take up to 3 months to arrive from pension providers. Request them the moment financial remedy proceedings are issued, or ideally before. Missing the court deadline for Form E exchange because you are waiting for pension figures is a common and avoidable problem.
The most common mistakes on Form E
❌ Incomplete disclosure of assets
Some people mistakenly think that not declaring certain assets will benefit them. The court takes a dim view of incomplete disclosure. It is easy to overlook a dormant bank account, a small inherited property, or a pension from a previous job. The court is less concerned with the value than with your honesty.
Double-check that you have included all bank accounts, savings, investments, pensions and property interests, including those held jointly or overseas.
❌ Missing the exchange deadline
The court sets strict timelines for exchanging Form E documents. Missing deadlines causes unnecessary delays, frustrates the judge and your ex-partner, and increases costs for everyone.
Start compiling your financial documents immediately. Aim to finish well before the court-set deadline, not on the day.
❌ Guessing figures rather than using actual values
Estimating property values, pension figures or bank balances rather than using accurate, current figures undermines the credibility of your disclosure and may lead to a questionnaire challenging your figures, adding cost and delay.
Use actual bank statements, obtain a formal property valuation, and request pension CETVs in writing from each provider.
❌ Not updating Form E if circumstances change
Disclosure is ongoing. You must update your Form E if material circumstances change after submission, a new job, a property sale, a significant change in savings. Leaving the document unchanged after significant changes creates serious problems.
File an updated page with a cover letter explaining any changes as soon as you become aware of them. Prompt honesty is viewed more favourably than late discovery.
❌ Using the conduct section to vent grievances
The conduct section (Section 4.4) has a high legal threshold, it is not an opportunity to list complaints about your ex-partner's behaviour. Using it for general grievances damages your credibility and inflames proceedings.
Only include conduct if it meets the legal test: it would be inequitable for the court to disregard it. Get legal advice before including anything in this section.
❌ Arithmetic errors in the summary section
Section 2.20 is a summary table that totals everything from the previous sections. Common errors include forgetting to add a property value or miscalculating debt totals. These errors attract immediate scrutiny.
Double-check every figure in the summary table against the sections it references. Have someone else check the arithmetic before you sign.
Consequences of getting Form E wrong
The risks of incomplete or inaccurate Form E disclosure are real and serious. Courts can make adverse costs orders; this means paying the other party's legal costs if your lack of disclosure causes unnecessary expense. In extreme cases, deliberate concealment can lead to contempt of court and criminal proceedings.
The Supreme Court in Sharland v Sharland (2015) made clear that an undisclosed asset can reopen a financial settlement even a decade later. The risk is long-lasting, not just during proceedings.
Can I complete Form E myself?
Yes. Thousands of people complete Form E themselves every year without a solicitor, known as Litigants in Person. It requires organisation and accuracy but is achievable with the right guidance.
For straightforward financial situations: employed, one property, standard pension arrangements. self-completion is a genuine option. For complex situations involving multiple businesses, overseas assets, trusts or significant pension complexity, at least some professional advice before submitting is strongly recommended. at least some professional advice before submitting is strongly recommended.
💡 Complete Form E online with DivorceCompanion
The DivorceCompanion Form E Builder guides you through all 28 sections in plain English with AI assistance at every field. It includes a document checklist so you know exactly what to gather before you start, step-by-step preparation guidance for each section, error checking as you go, and an export-ready document when you are done. Visit divorcecompanion.co.uk to get started.
General information only. This guide provides general information about Form E in England and Wales. It is not legal advice. DivorceCompanion is not a law firm. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified family law solicitor at
solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk.