Deadline for Submitting the Form E Divorce
The Form E divorce is a legal document which both parties must complete and exchange with one another before any financial arrangements can be agreed in court during a separation. It is often a vital document in cases where complex assets need to be divided such as businesses or significant equity stakes, substantial sums of debts need allocating or where one party’s financial interests need protecting. The Form E document is also a useful way of encouraging transparency and honesty during discussions with your former partner and can therefore be helpful in resolving disputes.
A Form E is a comprehensive questionnaire requiring each party to set out full details of their finances supported by clearly identified documents. It can be lengthy and complicated at first sight and it is advisable to seek the help of family lawyers or financial advisers in order to ensure that the form is completed accurately and that all relevant documents are provided. Failing to submit a Form E within the specified time period can result in various consequences including the court imposing costs orders and delays to your case.
There are a number of key points that need to be taken into consideration when completing a form e divorce, most notably the fact that it must be submitted at least 35 days before your hearing and that you must accompany it with certain supporting documents. These include 12 months of statements for all bank accounts, statement of savings/investments, mortgage statement and a recent estate agent’s valuation of any property. Each section of the form will usually have a grey box with a list of the type of documentation that is required for that section and it is recommended that these are all obtained in advance of starting on the form.
Is There a Deadline for Submitting the Form E Divorce?
Form E must be submitted in the event that your application for financial proceedings at court has been issued, otherwise it will not be valid and you could face a number of serious consequences including court costs orders and being found in contempt of court. It is always best to seek professional guidance to ensure that the form is completed properly and that all relevant documentation is provided in advance of the first hearing date.
It is normal practice to request your former partner completes their Form E in advance of financial proceedings being issued as this can assist with a quicker resolution. However, in more complex and contentious cases where there are issues such as business assets to divide or substantial amounts of debt to allocate, it is not always possible to reach an agreement outside of court and a court-ordered financial settlement may be necessary. In these circumstances, it is likely that your former partner will need to be served with a Form E or you will need to initiate court proceedings in order to make them comply and submit their Form E.
The financial disclosure process can happen either through voluntary disclosure or after the court has been involved. In most cases, the parties will exchange Form E voluntarily before they attend a court hearing, but in some instances, the court may require the completion of Form E if a dispute arises or if the parties cannot reach a settlement.
