How to Fill In Part 1 of Form E: The General Information Section, Field by Field (UK)

Part 1 of Form E looks deceptively simple. It is the first thing you fill in, it asks for facts you already know, and most of the boxes look small. But the answers here quietly frame everything that comes later — the date of separation, who counts as a child of the family, your job, any health issues, and where you actually live. Get Part 1 wrong, and every later section becomes harder to defend.

What Part 1 of Form E actually covers

Part 1 sits at the very start of Form E. In one or two pages, it asks you to set out the factual background of your life right now. The topics include:

• Your full name and date of birth — and your spouse's
• Your occupation
• The date and place of your marriage or civil partnership
• Whether you are still living together — and if not, the date of separation
• Whether you are in a new relationship or cohabiting
• The dates of any conditional order or final order, if the divorce has reached that stage
• Any other ongoing court proceedings between you
• Details of any children of the family
• Health issues that affect financial position
• Present and proposed future accommodation
• Anyone else who depends on you financially

The exact field numbering can vary slightly between Form E versions, but the topics are consistent. The official Form E Notes (01/23) walk through each one if you need the legal wording.

Why Part 1 matters more than it looks

It is tempting to fly through Part 1 because it feels like an admin form. Three reasons to slow down:

• It frames every financial section. The length of the marriage, the children you list, and your housing situation all shape how the court reads the figures later.
• It sets the tone of your credibility. If Part 1 looks careless — wrong dates, missing children, vague accommodation answers — the rest of Form E starts on a back foot.
• It is the easiest part to get right. Most of the answers exist on documents you already have. Spending an extra hour here saves disputes down the line.

The order I recommend filling it in

Top to bottom is not the calmest order. Here is one that works better in practice:

1. Start with the boxes you cannot get wrong — name, date of birth, place and date of marriage. These give you momentum.
2. Settle the date of separation next, because it influences how you read the rest of the form.
3. Move to children of the family and accommodation. These are factual but contain nuance.
4. Slow down for health, dependants, and other proceedings. The wording matters more here than the speed.
5. Finish with cohabitation and any free-text boxes. These are easier once everything else is in place.

Field-by-field walkthrough

Your name, date of birth, and your spouse's details

Plain and factual. Use the names that appear on the marriage certificate where they differ from the names you use day to day. If your spouse has changed name since the marriage, list both so the documents line up.

Your occupation

What you actually do for a living — not the most prestigious-sounding version of it. "Self-employed plumber" is fine. "Director of a small consultancy" is fine. If you have recently been made redundant or changed roles, put your most recent occupation and explain the change in the income section later. Do not invent a tidier-sounding title to look better on paper.

Date and place of marriage or civil partnership

From the marriage certificate. There is no room for interpretation here.

Date of separation

This is the most consequential box in Part 1 by some distance. Use the date you and your spouse genuinely stopped living together as a married couple — not the date the divorce was filed, and not always the date someone moved out. The date can be one you and your spouse disagree on, and that is fine: each of you fills in your own Form E with your own honest answer.

Because this single field can shape pension arguments, post-separation contributions, and how the court treats the length of the marriage, it is worth getting right. Divvio has a dedicated guide: Date of Separation on Form E — how to decide, prove it, and why it matters.

Are you in another relationship or cohabiting?

Be honest. If you are living with a new partner — or you plan to within the next six months — disclose it. This box affects budget assumptions later in Form E, because household costs may be partly shared and your future housing picture changes. Hiding it almost never holds up; bank statements, mortgage applications, and household bills usually tell their own story.

Date of conditional order and final order

Only if applicable. If the divorce has not yet reached the conditional order stage, leave the boxes blank or write "not applicable" so it is clear you have not forgotten them.

Are there other ongoing court proceedings?

This is asking whether there are any other family-court matters between you and your spouse — for example, Children Act applications, occupation orders, non-molestation orders, or any other ongoing case. List them briefly, with case numbers if you have them. The court needs to see the wider picture, not just the financial remedy proceedings.

Children of the family

This is wider than "biological children of both of you." It can include stepchildren, adopted children, or any child who has been treated as a child of the family — including a partner's child who has been part of the household for a long time. For each one, list the date of birth, current living arrangements, schooling, and any special educational or care needs.

Adult children who are still financially dependent — for example, a child in full-time university education — should usually still appear here. If in doubt, disclose and explain.

Health issues that affect financial position

The lens here is financial, not medical. If a health condition affects your earning capacity, your housing needs, your care costs, or the children's care, say so. If a condition has no financial impact, you do not need to share medical detail. Keep the language calm and factual: what the condition is, how it affects your ability to work or care for yourself, and what (if anything) it costs.

Present and proposed future accommodation

Where you live now, who pays the rent or mortgage, who else lives there, and what you expect to do next. Be realistic about future plans. "Looking for a two-bedroom flat in [area], budget around £X per month" is fine if that is what you are actually doing. Vague promises like "I will eventually find somewhere" tend to weaken the rest of your "needs" case later in Form E.

Dependants (other than children)

Anyone else who depends on you financially — typically a parent you support, an adult child who is still being supported, or any other family member. This is one of the most commonly missed boxes, and it can matter in the needs assessment later. If in doubt, disclose and explain.

Common mistakes in Part 1

Before you move on to Part 2

Run a short check before you leave Part 1:

• Have I used the same date of separation everywhere — Form E, statements, and correspondence?
• Have I listed every child the court might treat as a child of the family?
• Have I framed health issues in financial terms, not medical ones?
• Is my occupation accurate as of today — not what I would prefer it to be?
• Have I been honest about any new relationship or cohabitation?
• Have I mentioned every other ongoing court proceeding between us?
• Have I been realistic about my accommodation plans?

If all seven are clear, Part 1 is ready and you can move on to the financial sections with confidence.

Frequently asked questions

How long should Part 1 of Form E take?

For most people, between 30 minutes and two hours — but only after you have gathered the marriage certificate, separation evidence, and a clear view of your children and accommodation. The longest single box, by some distance, is the date of separation if it is contested.

Do I need to fill in Part 1 the same way as my spouse?

No. Each of you completes your own Form E with your own honest answers. The dates of separation can even differ — the court will look at the evidence if it matters.

What if I do not know my spouse's exact date of birth or occupation?

Put your best honest answer and note that it is approximate. You do not need to chase your spouse for trivia. The court is far more interested in your figures and your wider context.

Do stepchildren count as "children of the family" on Form E?

They can, especially if they have been treated as a child of the family — living with you, being supported by you, or being raised within the marriage. If in doubt, list them and explain the situation.

Do I have to disclose a new partner on Form E?

If you are living with a new partner, or plan to within the next six months, the honest answer is yes. The court will weigh the impact on your household costs and future housing in the financial sections.

What if my circumstances change after I file Form E?

You have an ongoing duty of full and frank disclosure. If something material changes — a new job, a new partner moving in, a child moving out — update the other party and the court rather than letting the change emerge by accident.

What to read next

Part 1 sets the scene. The financial sections that follow — assets, debts, income, and budget — are where the real numbers come together. The full Divvio guide to Form E walks through every part in the same calm order, with a checklist for the documents you will need before you start typing figures into the form.

If you are still deciding whether to do this without a solicitor, the article on completing Form E without a solicitor sets out where DIY is realistic and where targeted legal advice usually pays for itself.