Financial Orders Form E Flashcards
Procedure: Pre-Issue
-If possible, try to resolve matters on a voluntary basis first.
* Not always appropriate – issue straight away if apparent that other side:
- might try to hide assets; and/or - will not engage in negotiations.
Procedure: Pre-issue
- Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR)
- 3A PD – non-court dispute resolution:
- Requires parties to attend a MIAM before issuing application for financial orders.
- If mediator decides case not suitable for mediation, must sign the Form A.
Procedure: Issue
- Divorce petition must be issued before
application for FOs can be made. - To commence FO proceedings, applicant files: - Form A
- Fee
- Court issues, fixes First Appt and serves on R: - Form A
- Form C (Notice of First Appointment)
Procedure: Post -Issue
- Form E:
- Main financial disclosure document.
- File and exchange 35 days before First Appointment.
- First Appointment documents:
- Questionnaire, Chronology, Statement of Issues, notice as to whether FA can be treated as FDR.
- File and exchange 14 days before First Appointment.
- Form H (costs estimate):
- Prepare just before First Appointment.
Procedure: First Appointment
- Purpose: to narrow the issues and get
directions from judge to take case forward. - Typical directions at First Appointment:
- Both parties reply to other’s Questionnaire.
- Valuations of assets where values in dispute. - FDR hearing listed.
Procedure: Between FA and FDR
- If possible, both parties should make
offers to settle before the FDR - Applicant must file copies of all offers at least 7 days before FDR
- Both prepare Form H before FDR
Procedure: FDR
- Negotiation hearing.
- Without prejudice.
- Judge gives non-binding indication as to how he or she would decide the case.
- FDR judge will have no further involvement with case.
- Judge fixes a date for Final Hearing/makes directions.
Procedure: Final Hearing
- Very few cases run to Final Hearing.
- Offers:
- A must file open offer 14 days before FH. - R must file open offer 7 days before FH.
- Form H1: file and serve 14 days before FH.
- Judge will determine the case if parties not able to settle.
Procedure: Financial Disclosure
- Parties owe each other absolute duty
of full and frank financial disclosure - You need to explain this duty to your client and ensure they understand what it entails
- Duty continues until court makes a final order in the proceedings
- Disclosure takes place by completion of Form E
Procedure: Financial Disclosure
-Disclosure and the problem of ‘self help’
- Imerman v Tchenguiz & Others – Risk of committing criminal offences – Breaching confidentiality
Procedure: Financial Disclosure
Failure to provide full and frank disclosure:
– Risk that financial settlements could be set aside
-Sharland v Sharland
-Gohil v Gohil
Procedure: Costs
- General rule: each party pays their own – FPR
28.3(5). - Court may make a different order: factors to consider listed in FPR 28.3(7), e.g. conduct.
What is the purpose of the Form E?
TO fulfil the duty of full and frank disclosure
Filed at least 35 days before the First Appointment
Form E Layout
Section 1 – General information
Section 2 – Assets
Section 3 – Needs
Section 4 – Other information e.g. contributions, conduct. Section 5 – Order sought
Schedule of documentation attached
Form E section 1- general information
Section 1.8 and 1.9
Cohabitation – affects the needs of the party.
Section 1.10 – details of the children of the family and with whom they live.
Section 1.11- the health of the party and their children.