The Divorce Checklist

A Checklist of Documents and Forms Required for the Divorce Process

When preparing for a divorce in England and Wales (whether a sole or joint application), you will need to gather various documents. These fall into three categories: Divorce Application Documents, Financial Settlement Documents, and Child Arrangements Documents. Below is a detailed checklist for each category, including forms and supporting papers needed for mediation, consent orders, or court proceedings if required.

Below the Divorce Checklist, we provide a more detailed explanation of each of the divorce forms, as part of the preparation for divorce it’s worth familiarising yourself with some of the forms and key terminology you are likely to come across throughout the divorce process.

UK Divorce Process: Document Preparation Divorce Checklist

1. Divorce Application Documents

These are needed whether you apply jointly or alone (sole application):

• Marriage Certificate (original or certified copy) or Civil Partnership Certificate
• Personal Identification – Passport or driving licence, and proof of address (e.g. utility bill, bank statement)
• Form D8 – Divorce application (online or paper)
• Proof of name change (e.g. deed poll) if applicable
• Respondent’s address and email (sole application only)
• Form D10 – Acknowledgment of Service (sole application only, completed by respondent)
• Form EX160 – Help with Fees application (if you’re eligible for fee remission)
• Form C8 – Confidential Contact Details (optional, for address privacy)
• Form D84 – Application for Conditional Order (after 20-week reflection period)
• Form D36 – Application for Final Order (at least 6 weeks and 1 day after Conditional Order)

2. Financial Settlement Documents

These documents are required for financial disclosure, consent orders, or court proceedings:

• Form FM1 – MIAM Certificate (or exemption evidence)
• Form A – Notice of [intention to proceed with] a financial application
• Draft Consent Order (if both parties agree on finances)
• Form D81 – Statement of Information (summary of financial positions)
  Form E – Full Financial Disclosure Form
• 12 months of bank statements for all accounts
• 12 months of credit card statements and loan statements
• Most recent mortgage statement for each property
• Property valuation – estate agent appraisal or RICS Redbook valuation.
• Pension CETV (Cash Equivalent Transfer Value) for all pensions
• Pay slips (last 3 months) and most recent P60
• Self-employed: last 2 years of tax returns or accounts
• Evidence of savings, investments and valuable assets
  Evidence or debts and liabilities e.g. mortgage, loans, credits cards
• Budget or statement of monthly living expenses
• Business accounts and valuation documents (if self-employed or business owner)
• Form G, H/H1, Chronology, Statement of Issues, Questionnaire (for court hearings if needed)

3. Child Arrangements Documents

Prepare these if children are involved in your divorce:

• Form FM1 – MIAM Certificate (or exemption evidence)
• Form C100 – Application for a Child Arrangements Order (if agreement is not reached)
• Form C1A – Allegations of harm or domestic violence (if applicable)
• Form C8 – Confidential Contact Details (for address privacy)
• Parenting Plan or proposed contact schedule
• Child’s birth certificate
• School and medical records (optional, if relevant to disputes)
• Communication log or calendar (optional, useful for court)
• Copy of any previous court orders or agreements

4. Professional Contacts

The team at Tyrer Roxburgh will help with legal advice and introduce you to any other trusted professional you may require.

• Family law and divorce solicitors (Tyrer Roxburgh)
• Family Mediator
• Financial Advisor and / or Mortgage Advisor
• RICS Surveyor (Property Valuation)
• Pension Actuary
• Divorce Coach or Counsellor

The Divorce Checklist – the detail

1. Documents for the Divorce Application (Ending the Marriage)

• Divorce Application Form (Form D8) – This is the form to start a divorce. If applying online, you will fill in a digital D8; if applying by post, complete Form D8 on paper. It requires details of you and your spouse, your marriage date. In a joint application, both spouses complete and sign the form together. In a sole application, only the applicant signs, and the other spouse will be the respondent.
• Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate – You must provide your original marriage certificate or an official certified copy. This is required to prove the marriage when filing for divorce. If the certificate is not in English, include a certified translation (with a statement of truth from the translator). If you don’t have the certificate, you may need to obtain a copy from the registry or relevant authority before applying.
• Proof of Name Change (if applicable) – If your name is different from the name on your marriage certificate, include evidence explaining the change. For example, if you changed your name by deed poll or reverted to a maiden name, attach the deed poll document or other proof of name change. This helps the court match your identity to the names on the marriage certificate and application.
• Respondent’s Details (for Sole Applications) – For a sole divorce application, you will need to provide your spouse’s full name, address, and email (if known) so the court can serve them the papers. It’s best to use a personal email and current address for your spouse. If they have a solicitor, include the solicitor’s address as well. The court will send a copy of the application to your spouse along with an Acknowledgment of Service (Form D10), which is a form they must fill out to confirm they’ve received the divorce petition. (In a joint application, acknowledgment of service is not needed since both parties are applicants.)
• Application Fee Payment or Fee Exemption Form – The court fee for a divorce application is around £593 (this can be split in a joint application or paid by the sole applicant). Prepare to pay this online or by cheque/credit card if applying by post. If you have a low income or receive certain benefits, you can apply for a fee waiver using the Help with Fees form (Form EX160). (In a joint application, both parties must qualify for Help with Fees for the fee to be waived for both.
• Confidential Contact Details Form (Form C8) – Optional. If you fear harm or harassment and do not want your address or contact information disclosed to your spouse, you can submit Form C8 to keep your details confidential.On the divorce application, there is also an option to request that your address is not shared with the respondent. Use these safeguards if you have privacy or safety concerns (for example, in cases of domestic abuse).
• Conditional Order Application (Form D84) – After submitting the divorce application, there is a mandatory 20-week waiting period (the “reflection period”). Once this has passed, you (or both parties in a joint case) must apply for a Conditional Order (formerly called Decree Nisi) which is the interim divorce order. If you applied online, you’ll get instructions to apply for the Conditional Order through the online portal. For paper cases, you need to fill out Form D84 to request that the court reviews the case and pronounces a Conditional Order. (The Conditional Order confirms the court sees no reason you can’t divorce.
• Final Order Application (Form D36) – After the Conditional Order is granted, you must wait at least 6 weeks and 1 day before applying for the Final Order (formerly Decree Absolute) which legally ends the marriage. To do this, submit Form D36 (Notice of Application to Make Conditional Order Final) if you are using paper forms. This form is very brief and confirms that you want to finalise the divorce. (If using the online system, the application for the Final Order is done online after the waiting period.) Once the Final Order is issued, your divorce is complete.

Tip: Keep copies of all forms and documents you submit. In a joint application, both parties should retain a copy of the application and reference number. Also, ensure all information (dates, names, etc.) is accurate on the D8 form – mistakes (e.g., a wrong marriage date) can cause the court to reject your application.

2. Documents for Financial Settlement (Money and Property)

Financial matters are dealt with separately from the divorce itself. Whether you plan an amicable agreement or anticipate court involvement, you should prepare documentation about finances. This will be needed for mediation discussions, for drafting a consent order (an agreed financial order), or if you have to ask the court to decide through financial remedy proceedings. Key documents include:

• Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting Certificate (MIAM Certificate) – Before applying to court for a financial order, you are usually required to attend a MIAM – a preliminary meeting to see if mediation is suitable. If mediation is attempted or deemed inappropriate, the mediator will sign a certificate (often the Form FM1) to confirm you attended or are exempt. You will need to either include this certificate with any court application for finances or have the mediator sign the relevant section of the Form A (see below). Exceptions: If there’s evidence of domestic abuse or urgency, you may be exempt from the MIAM requirement, but you’ll need to provide evidence of the exemption (such as a police report or injunction).
• Financial Order Application (Form A) – This form is used to start financial remedy proceedings in court. If you cannot reach a financial agreement with your ex-partner, one of you will need to file Form A to ask the court to decide how assets and finances should be divided. Form A (also called “Notice of [intention to proceed with] a financial application”) is sent to the court after your divorce application is underway (you can file it once you’ve applied for divorce; most choose to do so around the time of the Conditional Order). When filing Form A, attach the MIAM certificate or indicate on the form why a MIAM isn’t required. There is a court fee for Form A (around £275–£300; check the current fee and include payment or an EX160 fee remission form if eligible). Once Form A is filed, the court will schedule the first hearing (First Appointment) in the financial case.
• Consent Order Application Documents (if you have an agreement) – If you and your spouse reach an agreement on finances (for example through negotiation or mediation) and want to make it legally binding, you will apply for a Consent Order instead of a contested court order. To do this, prepare the following:
  • Draft Consent Order – a written document (in legal format) detailing how you will divide your money, property, pensions, debts, and any maintenance arrangements. This is essentially the agreement itself. It should be typed in the proper legal wording (often a solicitor can draft it). Both parties must sign the draft order. You will typically need to provide 2 copies of the signed order in addition to the original when submitting to the court.
  • Statement of Information (Form D81) – a form summarising both parties’ financial positions, provided to help the judge assess whether your agreement is fair. On Form D81, each of you will disclose key financial information (net income, value of properties, savings, pensions, debts, etc., and what each of you will receive under the consent order). This form must be signed by both of you.
  • Notice of an Application for a Financial Order (Form A) – one party will also need to fill out a Form A (or a specific version for consent orders) to formally submit your agreement to the court. Even though you’ve agreed, the court treats it as an application for a financial remedy – the Form A is essentially a cover form that tells the court you are asking for a financial order by consent. (When using the online system, there is a facility to upload the draft consent order and D81 without a physical Form A, but the process serves the same function. The court fee for a consent order is £60 (at the time of publishing, for current rates please visit Gov.uk) sent to the court along with the above documents.

Once submitted, a judge will review the paperwork (usually without a hearing) and, if it appears fair, approve the consent order, making it legally binding. If the judge is not convinced it’s fair, they may ask for more information or changes.

• Financial Disclosure Form (Form E) – If you proceed with a court application (or even for thorough mediation), both spouses must complete full financial disclosure. Form E is a long form (roughly 25 pages) where you detail your current financial circumstances. This includes sections for: income, expenses, all assets (properties, cars, savings, investments), all debts, pension interests, and future needs. Form E must be completed honestly and exchanged between both parties (and filed at court) typically before the first court hearing (First Appointment). Even if you are negotiating out of court, exchanging a Form E or a simplified version of financial disclosure is highly recommended so that both sides know the full financial picture. Each party usually completes their own Form E. (There is also a shorter Form E1/E2 for certain cases like consent order or variation, but in a standard divorce financial settlement Form E is used.)
• Supporting Financial Documents – Form E will list at the end all the documents you need to attach to prove the figures you provide. You should start gathering these as early as possible, as it can take time to collect everything. Key documents to prepare include:
  • Income Proof: Copies of your last 3 months of pay slips and your most recent P60 (year-end tax summary) if employed. If you are self-employed or own a business, prepare at least the last 2 years of tax returns or accounts, and an accountant’s letter or latest tax assessment showing your income and tax liability.
  • Bank Statements: 12 months of bank statements for every bank or building society account you hold, whether sole or joint. This includes current accounts, savings accounts, ISA accounts, etc. These statements show your income deposits and spending, which will be scrutinised during financial proceedings.
  • Debts and Credit:* 12 months of credit card statements for each credit card or store card in your name and loan statements or agreements for any personal loans, car finance, etc., showing the outstanding balance. Also include the latest mortgage statement for any property you own, showing the remaining mortgage balance and monthly payment.
  • Property Valuations: If you own real estate (house, flat, land), you will need a valuation or estimate of its current market value. You can get a free appraisal from an estate agent for an idea. If the value is contested, a formal valuation by a RICS surveyor may be needed later, but initially an estate agent’s letter or online valuation estimate can suffice. Include any recent valuation reports if you have them, and the mortgage statement as mentioned above to show equity.
  • Pensions: Obtain an up-to-date Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) for each pension you or your spouse have. You may have to request this from your pension provider, and it can take several weeks to receive, so request early. If you have multiple pensions (workplace, personal), get a CETV for each. Pensions often form a significant part of the settlement, and Form E requires details of each pension.
  • Business Assets: If either of you owns a business or is self-employed, gather the last 2 years of business accounts, any recent business valuations (if applicable), and documents showing business assets or debts. If you draw dividends or director’s loans, have documentation for those as well.
  • Other Assets: Documentation for any other substantial assets, such as investment portfolios (recent investment account statements or share certificates), valuable personal belongings (appraisals for expensive jewellery, art, or vehicles – generally items worth over £500 should be listed, and savings or bonds (latest statements for Premium Bonds, savings certificates, etc.). If you own a car, note its make, model, and estimated value (you could print an estimate from a site like Parkers or Autotrader).
  • Expenses and Needs: Although not a formal document to attach, you should prepare a personal budget or list of monthly expenses. In Form E you will need to estimate your future living expenses. It’s useful to gather recent utility bills, rent statements, childcare cost receipts, etc., to ground these figures in reality. This will support any claims for maintenance or demonstrating your financial needs.
• Other Court Forms (during financial proceedings) – If your case goes to court, there are additional forms and documents that you may encounter or need to prepare at various stages:
  • Form G: A form filed before the First Appointment hearing, stating whether you’re ready to proceed to a Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearing or if you need that first hearing to be just a directions appointment. (If both parties have exchanged Form E and are ready to negotiate, the First Appointment can sometimes be used as an FDR. Form G simply notifies the court of your preference.)
  • Form H / H1: These are costs estimates forms. In financial remedy proceedings, each party must disclose their legal costs to date at each hearing. If you’re unrepresented, your “costs” might just be travel or time, but if you have a solicitor, Form H shows fees incurred. Form H is filed on the day of each hearing; Form H1 is a final detailed statement of costs filed before the final hearing (for cases where costs may be considered).
  • Chronology and Statement of Issues: The court may direct each party to produce a chronology (timeline of key events, e.g., dates of cohabitation, marriage, children’s births, separation) and a statement of issues (identifying which financial issues are agreed or disputed). These are usually brief documents prepared for the First Appointment or FDR to help the judge understand the case. If you’re representing yourself, the court might still expect these, so be prepared to outline the basic history and the points you disagree on.
  • Questionnaire: After reading the other side’s Form E, you will have the opportunity to raise questions or request further information/documents if something is missing or unclear. Each party can compile a questionnaire to ask for clarification or additional disclosure from the other side. This is usually submitted by the First Appointment for the judge to consider ordering answers.

(Note: The above court forms and documents (Form G, H, etc.) will be explained in the court’s directions once you apply. They are part of the process if a full court proceeding happens. If you settle earlier, you won’t need most of them. The primary ones to prepare in advance are the financial disclosure documents, since even mediation or a consent order will require full financial transparency.)

Tip: Organise your financial documents in folders (physical or electronic) by category (income, bank statements, housing, etc.). This makes it easier to assemble your Form E or provide information during mediation. It’s wise to begin gathering these early, as banks and pension providers might take time to send you historical statements or valuations. Comprehensive disclosure is crucial – hiding or omitting assets can invalidate agreements and is illegal when court proceedings are involved.

3. Documents for Child Arrangements (Children Matters)

If you have children, you’ll need to make arrangements for their care after separation (formally known as child custody or visitation arrangements). If both parents can agree amicably on arrangements (who the children live with, contact schedules, holidays, education decisions, etc.), you may not need any court documents – a Parenting Plan or informal agreement may suffice. However, if you cannot agree, you might try mediation, and if that fails, you may apply to the court for a Child Arrangements Order. Below is a checklist of documents relevant to child arrangements:

• Mediation MIAM Certificate – Similar to finances, before applying to court about children, you are expected to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) to see if mediation could resolve the issues. If mediation is attempted or deemed unsuitable, the mediator will provide a certificate. You will need to either attach this MIAM certificate to your court application (Form C100) or have the mediator’s details to fill into the C100 form to confirm you attended a MIAM. Exceptions apply if there are allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, or other urgent reasons – in those cases you can claim an exemption, but you may need to provide evidence (like a police report, social services letter, or injunction) to show why mediation was not appropriate.
• Child Arrangements Application (Form C100) – This is the form used to ask the court to make an order about your children’s living and contact arrangements (or other specific issues). If mediation does not result in agreement (or is exempt), one or both parents can apply using Form C100. On the form, you will specify what orders you are seeking – e.g., Child Arrangements Order (to decide with whom the child lives and how they spend time with the other parent), Prohibited Steps Order (to prevent the other parent from doing something, like taking the child abroad without consent), or Specific Issue Order (to have the court decide a particular question, like choice of school). The form will ask for details about the children (names, dates of birth), the applicant and respondent, the current arrangements, and the disputed matters. You must also complete a section about MIAM on the C100 (or note your exemption). If applying by paper, you need to send the original plus 3 copies of C100 to the court (one for the court, one for Cafcass, one for the respondent, one for yourself).
• Supplemental Information Form (Form C1A) – If your case involves allegations of domestic abuse or harm to the child, you should fill out Form C1A in addition to C100. Form C1A (“Allegations of harm and domestic violence”) is used to provide details of any abuse, violence, or safeguarding concerns that the court should know about. For example, if one parent alleges the other has been violent or the child has suffered or is at risk of harm, this form is crucial. It asks for brief details of incidents, involvement of police or social services, etc. Likewise, if you are the respondent and want to inform the court of abuse allegations or respond to allegations made against you, C1A is the form to do so. Attach any supporting evidence you have (like police incident logs, medical reports, etc.) or bring them to the court hearing. This form ensures the court and Cafcass are aware of any safety issues from the outset and can act to protect the child’s welfare.
• Confidential Contact Details (Form C8) – If you need to keep your address or the children’s address secret from the other parent (for example, in cases of risk of harassment or violence), file Form C8 along with your C100. Form C8 lets you provide your contact details to the court privately, so that only the court (and Cafcass) see them, and they are not revealed to the other party. This is important if disclosing your whereabouts could put you or the children at risk. (On the C100 form, you should simply state “confidential – see attached C8” in the address fields if you are using a C8.)
• Parenting Plan or Proposed Arrangements – Optional but recommended. If you are negotiating child arrangements (whether informally, in mediation, or even during court proceedings), it helps to prepare a Parenting Plan or at least a written outline of the proposed arrangements. A Parenting Plan is not a legally required document, but it is a useful tool: it’s essentially a worksheet where parents record agreements on residence, visitation schedules (e.g., who the child stays with on weekdays, weekends, holidays), education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and how future decisions will be made. The UK’s Cafcass service provides a template for a Parenting Plan, which separated parents can fill in themselves. Having a written plan ensures both parties are clear on the arrangements. If you reach a full agreement, you can choose to submit this plan to the court for a consent order (though for children, if parents agree, usually no court order is needed – the court typically doesn’t intervene if everyone is in agreement and the child is not at risk). In mediation, bringing a draft schedule or plan can focus discussions. Even if mediation fails, that draft can be a starting point for court or solicitor negotiations.
• Children’s Personal Documents – For reference and potential use. Although you do not routinely file things like birth certificates or school records with a C100 application, it is wise to have certain documents ready:
  • Child’s Birth Certificate: This proves the child’s birth details and can be used to show parental responsibility (PR). (Mothers automatically have PR; fathers have PR if married to the mother at the time of birth or if named on the birth certificate, or via a PR agreement/court order). If you are an unmarried father not on the birth certificate, you might at some stage need to show evidence of involvement or apply for PR. Having the birth certificate at hand is useful.
  • Any Existing Orders or Agreements: If there are prior court orders (for example, an old Child Arrangements Order, or an injunction like a Non-Molestation Order related to the family) or written agreements, have those available. The court will need to be aware of any existing legal arrangements.
  • School and Medical Records: You typically do not file these with the initial application, but in disputes over schooling or health, letters or reports can be helpful. For example, if the disagreement involves which school a child should attend, you might gather school reports or prospectuses. If there are health issues, a letter from a doctor might be relevant. Keep these on file if relevant to your case.
  • Communication Log: If the case involves disputes about how visits or communications have been going, it can be useful to keep a diary or log of contact (dates and notes of handovers, missed contacts, etc.), or any pertinent communications (texts/emails) with the other parent. Again, not something to file initially, but useful evidence if the case goes further.
• Consent Order (Children) – (Usually not needed). There isn’t a separate “consent order” form for child arrangements in the same way as for finances. If parents agree on arrangements, they normally just follow the agreement without court involvement. However, if you want the agreement to be made legally binding, you can ask the court to make an order by consent. This is done by submitting a C100 form indicating that an agreement has been reached and asking the court to order by consent, or by informing the court at a hearing that you have an agreement for the judge to approve. In such cases, you’d still use Form C100, and provide a draft of the order or a summary of the agreed terms for the judge. No extra forms are required beyond the C100 (and possibly a C1A if applicable). Keep in mind the court’s priority will be the child’s welfare; if the agreement is reasonable and both parents agree, the court can issue an order to reflect it. If you prefer not to involve the court at all, a signed parenting plan or memorandum of understanding from mediation can suffice for your own records (though it wouldn’t be enforceable by a court).

Tip: When dealing with child arrangements, always focus on the child’s best interests. Prepare a clear proposal for the schedule that you believe is best for the child, and be ready to explain why. If going to mediation or court, avoid solely focusing on what each parent “wants” and concentrate on practical plans for the child’s routine. Having documents like school schedules, your work rota (for availability), or a calendar of the child’s activities can help formulate a realistic plan. In court, Cafcass may get involved to do safeguarding checks – they will have access to police and social services records, so be honest about any issues. The more organised you are with documentation (forms completed fully, evidence attached where needed, copies made), the smoother the process will go.

Need Professional Support

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the thought of all this paperwork you are not alone. This is why so many people instruct a family law solicitor to guide them through the divorce process which can get complex.

Not only will a divorce solicitor guide you through the mounds of paperwork, they will also ensure your rights are protected and they have the skills and knowledge to negotiate a fair deal so you have the best chance of successfully moving on post-divorce. The family law team at Tyrer Roxburgh are here to help and a good place to start is a one-hour (discounted) consultation.