Form E Documents Checklist: What to Attach to Form E

If you are completing Form E, the document bundle is not an afterthought. It is the evidence behind your financial disclosure. Weak paperwork creates avoidable questions. Good paperwork makes the form easier to complete, easier to check, and harder to challenge.

This guide explains what to attach to Form E in England and Wales, using the official HMCTS Schedule of Documents as the starting point and translating it into plain English. It is designed to help you gather the right papers without wasting time on the wrong ones.

As of 21 March 2026, the GOV.UK Form E page still links to the January 2023 Form E PDF and January 2023 Notes for guidance. This article is based on that published checklist.

Three categories usually slow people down most: pension cash equivalent statements, 12 months of bank statements for every relevant account, and up-to-date property paperwork.

What documents do I need for Form E?

The short answer is that Form E has a defined schedule of supporting documents. Not every line applies to every case, but the core checklist covers:

• any order you are asking the court to vary;
• property valuations and recent mortgage statements;
• 12 months of statements for each bank, building society, and National Savings account you have held or had an interest in during the last year;
• investment and life insurance evidence;
• business accounts and any evidence supporting business value;
• pension cash equivalent or PPF valuation evidence;
• employment income documents such as P60s, payslips, and P11Ds; and
• self-employment tax evidence and management accounts where needed.

Just as important, the HMCTS notes say you should attach copies, not originals. If a document is not available when you file Form E, add a short note explaining why.

If you want the full form walkthrough before you start gathering papers, use the main guide to filling in Form E.

The official Form E documents checklist, explained

1. Orders you are asking the court to vary

Document	When it applies	Practical point
Copy of the relevant existing order	If your application asks the court to vary an earlier order	Use the sealed order if you have it. If you do not, request a copy from your file or solicitor as early as possible.

2. Property documents

Document	When it applies	What to look for
Matrimonial home valuation	If you own or part-own the family home	Use a valuation obtained within the last six months.
Recent mortgage statement for each mortgage on the matrimonial home	If the family home is mortgaged	The statement should confirm the amount outstanding.
Valuation for every other property disclosed	If you own any other property in the UK or abroad	Again, aim for a valuation obtained within the last six months.
Recent mortgage statement for each mortgage on each other property	If any other disclosed property is mortgaged	Make sure each lender statement shows the balance outstanding.

In practice, people often start with written market appraisals for ordinary residential property. If value is likely to be disputed or the asset is unusual, that is when more formal valuation advice can become important. If this is a key issue, the house valuation guide is the next read.

3. Bank, building society, and National Savings accounts

Document	When it applies	What people miss
Copies of statements for the last 12 months for each account held in the last 12 months	For every personal bank, building society, and National Savings account in your name, joint names, or any account in which you have had an interest	This includes joint accounts, closed accounts, rarely used accounts, and accounts with small balances.

This is one of the most common problem areas. The point is not simply to show what exists today. It is to show the recent pattern of your finances. Before you file, check the date coverage carefully and make sure the statements together cover a full 12-month period.

4. Investments and life insurance

Document	When it applies	Practical point
Latest statement or dividend counterfoil for each investment	If you hold shares, funds, bonds, ISAs, or other investments disclosed in the form	Use the most recent provider statement you can get. If dividend paperwork is easier to access, include that where relevant.
Surrender valuation for each life insurance or endowment policy with a surrender value	If the policy has a cash-in value	Do not assume the monthly premium or death benefit tells the court what it needs to know. Ask the provider for the surrender figure.

Not every policy has a surrender value. If it does not, explain that briefly rather than forcing the document into the wrong category.

5. Business interests

Document	When it applies	Practical point
Business accounts for the last two financial years	If you have disclosed a business interest	This usually means formal accounts for each business interest, not a rough summary you prepared yourself.
Any documents available to support the current business value estimate	If you have given an estimate of business value	An accountant's letter may be enough at this stage; a formal valuation is stronger if one already exists.

Business evidence tends to expand quickly once there is disagreement about value or income. If the business is central to the case, targeted professional advice early can save time later.

6. Pensions and PPF compensation

Document	When it applies	What the court expects
Recent cash equivalent statement for each pension arrangement, or valuation for each PPF entitlement disclosed	If you have workplace, private, or other pension rights, or Pension Protection Fund compensation rights	Use the cash equivalent figure provided by the scheme trustees, managers, or PPF Board. If it is not yet available, attach a copy of the request you sent asking for it.

Pensions are where many otherwise careful Form E drafts go wrong. An annual pension statement is not always the same thing as the cash equivalent figure the form is asking for. If you have not requested the correct statement yet, do that first. The CETV guide explains what to ask for and why it matters.

If you have more than one pension, repeat the process for each one. Do not assume one provider's letter covers another scheme.

7. Employment income

Document	When it applies	Practical point
P60 for the last financial year for each employment	If you are employed	Use the most recent P60 issued after 5 April for each employment you had.
Your last three payslips for each employment	If you are currently employed	Make sure they are the latest three, not just any three from the year.
Your last P11D, if you have been issued with one	If you receive benefits in kind and a P11D has been issued	If you have not been issued one, it is normally not applicable rather than missing.

8. Self-employment or partnership income

Document	When it applies	Practical point
Your last tax assessment, or a letter from your accountant confirming tax liability if the assessment is not available	If you are self-employed or in partnership	Use the formal tax record wherever possible. If you rely on your accountant, ask for a clear letter rather than a casual email.
Management accounts for the period since your last accounts	If last year's net income and your expected next 12 months income differ significantly	This is there to explain change, not just to add paperwork.

What is not automatically on the mandatory checklist?

This is the part many people miss. Form E does not require a separate attachment for every box you complete. For example, the schedule does not automatically demand a supporting document for every personal asset, debt, or item of spending. The official notes say you may attach extra documents where they are needed to explain or clarify what you have written.

That means the smart approach is not "attach everything you own." The smart approach is "attach everything specifically required, then add extra documents only where they genuinely improve clarity."

How to gather your Form E documents efficiently

1. Request pension cash equivalent statements first. They are often the slowest item to arrive.
2. Download bank, building society, and National Savings statements next, because you need a full 12-month set for every relevant account.
3. Line up property valuations and recent mortgage statements together so the figures are consistent.
4. Gather income documents in one batch: P60, last three payslips, P11D if issued, or your latest tax assessment if self-employed.
5. Review the checklist against the actual Form E schedule before you file, not after.

If you are working to court timetables, remember the HMCTS notes say Form E must usually be filed and exchanged no later than 35 days before the first appointment.

Common mistakes that delay Form E

• Using the wrong pension figure. If the form asks for cash equivalent evidence, do not swap in a different pension number and hope it is close enough.
• Forgetting closed or joint accounts. If you held or had an interest in the account during the last 12 months, check whether it belongs in the bundle.
• Using stale property evidence. The schedule points to valuations obtained within the last six months.
• Attaching originals. The guidance says attach copies and keep the originals available.
• Leaving missing documents unexplained. If something is not available yet, say why rather than staying silent.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need original documents for Form E?

No. The HMCTS notes say you should attach copies and keep the originals available for inspection by the court or the other party.

Can I use downloaded PDF statements?

Usually, yes. Downloaded statements are the practical way most people produce copies for Form E. The important point is that the document is readable, complete, and clearly identifies the account and dates covered.

Do I need documents for joint accounts?

Yes. If the account has been held during the last 12 months and you have or had an interest in it, it belongs in your review. That is one reason joint accounts are often missed.

What if a document has been requested but has not arrived yet?

Explain that in a short note when you file the form and attach proof of the request where the checklist specifically calls for it, such as pension valuation requests.

Do I need to attach extra documents for every debt or household bill?

Not automatically. The schedule lists the documents that are specifically required. You can add more material if it is needed to explain or clarify the information in your Form E.

Next step

The most useful next move is usually simple: start the document chase before you try to perfect the wording of the form. Once the paperwork is in motion, Form E becomes a sequence of concrete tasks instead of one large, vague problem.

If you want a calmer way to work through the disclosure, you can start Form E step by step with Divvio. If you are still deciding whether a do-it-yourself route is realistic, read Can I Complete Form E Myself Without a Solicitor?.

This article is general information about Form E in England and Wales and is not legal advice.