Form E Orders Sought: What to Ask For and How to Word It Clearly
A practical guide to the orders sought part of Form E: property adjustment, lump sums, clean break, maintenance, pension sharing and document schedule checks.
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Reviewed for consistency with Divvio's Form E product guidance and England & Wales financial remedy process content.
Last updated
Updated 13 May 2026
Reviewed and refreshed when the article or guide is materially updated.
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- Divvio is built specifically for Form E and financial remedy workflows in England & Wales.
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The orders sought section is where Form E asks what outcome you are asking the court to consider. It can feel legal, but the first draft should still be clear, practical and connected to the facts you have disclosed.
This guide explains the orders sought and final document schedule part of Form E in England and Wales, last checked against HMCTS guidance on 13 May 2026. It is general information, not legal advice.
Quick answer
Use plain wording to identify the types of orders you may seek: property transfer or sale, lump sum, pension sharing, maintenance, clean break and any other relevant financial orders. If you are unsure, say the position is to be confirmed after disclosure rather than forcing precise legal wording too early.
What orders might appear here?
The right order depends on the case. This section is not a final consent order. It is a statement of the broad financial remedies you are seeking or may seek based on disclosure.
| Order type | What it can cover | Practical wording focus |
|---|---|---|
| Property adjustment | Transfer, sale or division of property proceeds. | Which property and broad outcome. |
| Lump sum | A capital payment from one party to the other. | Purpose, amount if known, or to be assessed. |
| Pension sharing | Sharing pension rights between parties. | Scheme and percentage if known. |
| Periodical payments | Maintenance for spouse or children where relevant. | Whether maintenance is sought, resisted or to be assessed. |
| Clean break | Ending future financial claims where appropriate. | Whether a clean break is sought now or later. |
Use the guide
Ready to work through this section inside Form E?
Start the guided Form E flow, save your progress, and use the section guide alongside the questions as you gather documents.
How precise should you be?
Be as clear as you honestly can, but do not invent certainty. If disclosure is incomplete, it is acceptable to say that orders are sought in principle and the detail will depend on full disclosure, valuations and advice.
If you are asking for a pension sharing order, make sure the pension section is properly completed. If property transfer or sale is central, make sure the property valuation evidence is clear.
The final document schedule
The end of Form E also pulls the supporting documents together. Use the Form E documents checklist before you sign. Missing documents can delay the process and create avoidable questionnaire questions after exchange.
Common mistakes
- Trying to draft like a solicitor without understanding the words. Clear plain English is better than wrong legal language.
- Ignoring pensions in the orders section. Pension sharing may need to be preserved for discussion.
- Forgetting the document schedule. The form and the attachments need to match.
- Locking into a position before disclosure is complete. Keep flexibility where facts are missing.
When to get help
Get legal advice before finalising order wording if there are pensions, business assets, disputed property, maintenance claims, international assets, trusts, hidden asset concerns or any proposed clean break where future needs are uncertain.
Make this easier
Prefer prompts instead of working from memory?
Start the guided Form E flow, save your progress, and use the section guide alongside the questions as you gather documents.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need exact legal wording in Form E?
No. Clear practical wording is usually better than legal phrases used incorrectly. Exact order drafting comes later.
Can I say the orders depend on disclosure?
Yes. If important information is missing, say the final position depends on full disclosure and valuations.
Is Form E the same as a consent order?
No. Form E is financial disclosure. A consent order is the legal document used to record an agreed settlement for court approval.
Official sources checked
- GOV.UK: Form E financial statement
- HMCTS Form E Notes for guidance (01.23)
- Family Procedure Rules Part 9
- Practice Direction 9A
Divvio is not a law firm and this guide is not legal advice.
Ready to move from section guidance to saved answers?
Use the article to understand the section, then start the guided Form E flow when you are ready to turn it into structured disclosure.