Form E question

[gracehedley]

We exchanged Form E financial information and answered questionnaires relating to each of our information back in March (I think it was March). We have a first court hearing scheduled for the end of September where my husband is asking for a lump sum, a pension share, and a property adjustment order (not sure what that is). He says we will have to update our Form Es - not had time to talk to my solicitor yet - would that be right? Thanks in advance.

[gracehedley]

Sorry, forgot to say, if not obvious, this is a divorce case - we already have decree nisi and can't agree over finances.

[Collaborate]

What you have coming up is the FDR. You negotiate and the judge can put their oar in too, but unless you agree, no order can be imposed.

Unless the court has ordered you to update things like bank statements, payslips etc the rules say you shouldn't give any further disclosure, but there is always an obligation on you both to report any change in circumstances, and it's quite common where there is a significant gap between Form Es and the FDR for such updating to be done even in the absence of a court direction.

[gracehedley]

thank you Collaborate. Is it normal for solicitors to take advice from a barrister before this FDR hearing?

[Collaborate]

Quite normal. I usually get a barrister to conduct the hearing, even if I don't need to go to one for advice. An FDR usually requires a specialist advocate.

In more complicated cases I will get a second opinion before the FDR.