- My ex has made an application, what do I need to do?
- How many hearings will there be?
- What is the process and what do I need to do?
- Do I need a Solicitor?
- Do I need to tell my ex everything even though he already knows my situation?
- My ex says I will have to pay their costs, is that true?
- It all looks very confusing to me
- How long does it all take?
- I know my ex will hide assets so whats the point?
- My exes family will hide his money, what can I do to stop that happening
- My ex will never agree to settle unless he gets everything and I am left penniless, can that happen?
The courts use a process of two hearings at which point the majority of people will settle. They have the option of carrying on to a third hearing but most do not. The court will accept an application and then issue a letter giving you dates by which time certain information is exchanged between the parties. The purpose initially, is to see just how much money is available from the marriage. So they will be looking at house values, savings, pensions, and anything of value. The court know that parties will never agree about anything, and so they take both sides information and in the first hearing look at how to get agreement on what wealth has been accumulated.
The system has been in place for many years, and the Judge presiding over the hearing will understand all too well that often the person with the most to ‘lose’ will hide money and the person with the most to ‘gain’ will exagerate the wealth. The Judge will have represented people themselves before they became a Judge and they know exactly how these things work.
The documentsthat need to be provided give both sides the opportunity to delve into the truth and try to provide the court with the full picture. It will be your responsibility to find issues with the other sides disclosure which they will also do to you, so it is usually important to get advice and support in this process.
Download
Download our fact sheet to see how the system works and see where you may need help. Each part of the process is available as a seprate supported package or as a whole service. If you purchase the managed package on this page you will not need need to purchase any other individual packages to get you through the first hearing stage.
- Step-by-Step Guide: The financial process to the FDA hearing
- Guide to the hearing and what usually happens in court
- 30-Minute Conference Call
Course
Master the First Financial Hearing (FDA) and gain clarity with my video guide, which explains the documents required and how they work. Download samples of each document with associated guidelines and a template for each. Also learn many other tips and help along the way. Get a deeper knowledge with my 60-minute video guide.
- The First Financial Hearing
- Fact Sheet: How the FDA process works
- Form E Checking Service
- 30-Minute Conference Call
- 60-minute Video Guide
Managed
A comprehensive support package to help you avoid the common mistakes when going through all of the documents required for the First Financial Hearing. Includes your application, Form E, Questionnaire, Statement of Issues, Form G and Chronology, as well as advice and support to get you to the first hearing and fully prepared.
- Assistance with your Application
- Help completing your Form E
- Your Questionnaire prepared for you
- Your Statement of Issues written for you
- Chronology and Form G provided
- 30-Minute Conference Call
- 60-minute Video Guide
- Court Hearing Coaching and Preparation
Simon Walland
I am Simon Walland and I am offering these services to show and explain how you can represent yourself in the family courts with confidence. Understand the procedure and what is expected of you to get the solution you are seeking I have been a McKenzie Friend since 2003 and have been in thousands of hearings at all levels of court. I have a Law Degree and was Called to the Bar as a Barrister in 2010. My experience includes teaching Law Students, McKenzie Friends and anybody representing themselves in the Courts since 2012. I have also provided specialist training courses to Domestic Abuse charities, Universities and various Support Groups and have been able to help several thousand people in that time.