A section-by-section walkthrough of how to complete Form E for financial remedy proceedings in England and Wales, written for people without a solicitor.
Form E is completed online through MyHMCTS or using the PDF version available from HMCTS. Both versions cover the same content. You'll need to gather a significant amount of financial documentation before you can complete it accurately. Starting the document before you have the relevant documents ready tends to lead to incomplete first drafts and last-minute scrambling. Gather the documents first.
Before you open Form E, collect:
Complete your full legal name, address, date of birth, and details of the marriage. This section is straightforward, but accuracy matters, particularly the date of marriage, since it's used in calculating relevant financial contributions.
List every property you own or have a beneficial interest in, even if you don't consider it "yours" in a practical sense. For each:
If you own a property abroad, it still needs to be included here with values converted to pounds sterling.
List every bank account in your name or held jointly. For each account, enter the bank name, account type, account number (last four digits), and the current balance. Attach three months of statements for each account. If you have a large number of small dormant accounts, include them all, the obligation to disclose is comprehensive.
Include stocks, bonds, unit trusts, investment ISAs, premium bonds, and similar holdings. For each, provide the current value and the name of the investment or provider. If you have a financial adviser, they can usually provide a current valuation statement.
Include any life insurance policy that has a cash surrender value, such as endowment policies or whole-of-life policies. Term insurance policies with no surrender value don't need to be separately valued but should still be mentioned.
If you own or have a share in a business, this section requires more work. The business needs to be described and valued. For most small businesses, the standard approach is net asset value from the most recent set of accounts. In contested cases, a formal business valuation may be ordered. Include a copy of the last two years of accounts.
This is often the most technically complex section. Each pension arrangement needs to be listed separately with its Cash Equivalent Transfer Value. The CETV is a specific figure you must request from your pension provider in writing, it represents the current transfer value of your accumulated pension rights. Do not estimate or guess this figure. Many pension providers take 3 to 6 weeks to provide a CETV, and some charge for the calculation. Request CETVs as early as possible, they can delay your ability to complete this section.
For defined benefit or final salary pensions, the CETV is particularly important and may need to be verified by an actuary if there's a question about its accuracy.
Complete your gross and net annual income from all sources, including:
List all debts in your name or jointly held, including credit cards, personal loans, car finance, and any other outstanding obligations. Include the current balance outstanding and the approximate monthly payment.
These sections require written descriptions rather than figures. Section 10 asks for a brief factual description of the standard of living during the marriage, for example whether the family owned one home or several, whether holidays abroad were a regular feature, and so on. Keep this factual and straightforward.
Section 11 asks about contributions, both financial and non-financial. Non-financial contributions such as being the primary carer for children or giving up career opportunities are relevant and should be included.
Section 12 on conduct is rarely relevant in practice. Unless you are specifically advised that conduct is in issue in your case, this section can be left minimal. Courts consider conduct only where it would be inequitable to disregard it, which is a high threshold.
This section asks about your monthly living expenses. Work through every regular monthly outgoing: housing costs, utilities, food, transport, clothing, insurance, phone, childcare, and so on. Be thorough, this section helps the court understand what you need going forward, not just what you had during the marriage.
At the end of Form E you must sign a statement of truth confirming the contents are accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief. This is not a formality. Signing a document you know to be inaccurate or incomplete can have serious legal consequences. If you're uncertain about any section, explain the uncertainty rather than leaving it blank.
Going through Form E without a solicitor is difficult, particularly the pension and business sections. Access to Justice is built for people in exactly this position, it walks you through each section in plain English and helps you understand what each question is actually asking. Try it free.
How long does it take to complete Form E?
For most people, gathering the documents takes significantly longer than filling in the form itself. Allow at least four to six weeks for pension CETVs and business valuations. The form itself can take several hours to complete carefully once all documents are to hand.
What if I can't get a CETV before my deadline?
Contact the court or the other party and explain that a CETV is outstanding, noting when it was requested. It's generally preferable to flag the delay than to submit Form E with pension figures missing entirely. In some cases, a provisional or estimated figure can be used, with the CETV provided as soon as it arrives.
Can I submit Form E electronically?
If proceedings are on MyHMCTS, the expectation is that Form E will be completed and exchanged through that system. If the case is being managed on paper, the PDF version is used. Check which route applies to your proceedings from the directions you've received.
What if my spouse refuses to exchange Form E?
If your spouse fails to provide their Form E on time, you can apply to the court for an order requiring them to do so. Repeated failure to comply with disclosure obligations can lead to costs penalties or, in serious cases, the court drawing adverse inferences about what the missing disclosure would have shown.
Do I have to attach supporting documents to Form E?
Yes. For most sections there are specified attachments, particularly three months of bank statements for each account, payslips or tax returns for income, mortgage statements for property, and pension CETVs. Check the guidance notes that accompany Form E for the full list of required attachments.
What if my financial position changes after I've submitted Form E?
You have a continuing duty to update your disclosure if your circumstances materially change before the case concludes. This is done by filing a short updating statement. The duty doesn't end when Form E is exchanged — and the statement of truth you sign on Form E, confirming its contents are accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief, is not a formality.
This article provides legal information about the financial remedy process in England and Wales. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a qualified solicitor.
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