Going through the emotional trauma of a divorce can be difficult to manage, and this is often compounded with the stress associated with the number of emails, letters, forms, and paperwork involved. For many the most stressful is the Form E.
Form E is a large document which most solicitors ask their clients to complete after their initial meeting. It is a record of a person’s financial position, assets and income… in essence the equivalent of a company’s balance sheet and profit & loss. It is a legal document that the client must confirm ‘is a full, frank clear and accurate disclosure of my financial and other relevant circumstances’. It is important there are no false statements in the document.
Many of my clients are filled with an intense feeling of trepidation when asked to complete Form E. Quire often they will put off completing the form as they are unsure what information is required, how to obtain it, where to put it on the form. This is particularly the case with those with a limited understanding of their financial situation…or just hate filling in forms.
With over 30 years’ experience in financial services and having completed Form E myself, during my own divorce, to me the document is straightforward and relatively straightforward to complete.
I recently visited a client who was apprehensive about completing his Form E and was under pressure from his solicitor to complete it in a timely manner. We sat opposite each other over a large desk, and I completed the Form E with him, together with the supporting documentation; bank statements, salary slips, P60, tax returns, mortgage statements etc. He was absolutely elated as a massive weight had been lifted from his shoulders and he gave me the warmest of handshakes.
If this fear of Form E resonates with you, please contact me for a free 30-minute confidential telephone consultation and I will explain how I can help you complete this often most onerous of tasks.
Image kindly provided by Kelly Sikkema, Unsplash