Part 2 is the financial inventory in Form E. It is where you disclose what you own, what you owe, and what each item is worth. If Part 1 sets the context, Part 2 is the evidence-heavy centre of the form.
This guide explains Part 2 for people completing Form E in England and Wales. It is based on HMCTS Form E and the official Form E Notes, last checked on 13 May 2026. It is general information, not legal advice.
Quick answer
Part 2 asks for your assets and liabilities: property, bank accounts, investments, insurance policies, business interests, pensions, debts and other financial resources. The safest way to complete it is to work from documents, not memory, and to disclose small, sole-name, dormant and awkward items as well as obvious ones.
What Part 2 asks for
Part 2 is not asking you to argue for a settlement. It is asking for a complete financial picture. The court expects full and frank disclosure, which means you should list the relevant asset or debt even if you think it is small, embarrassing, disputed or unlikely to affect the final outcome.
| Part 2 area | What to disclose | Evidence to gather | Common risk |
|---|
| Property | Family home, other homes, land, buy-to-let and overseas property. | Valuations, mortgage statements, redemption figures, sale details. | Using a guess instead of current evidence. |
| Accounts | Current, savings, joint, sole-name, closed and low-balance accounts. | 12 months of statements for each relevant account. | Leaving out dormant or closed accounts. |
| Investments | ISAs, shares, funds, bonds, crypto and life policies with value. | Latest statements and surrender values. | Using old values after markets moved. |
| Businesses | Company shares, partnerships, sole-trader interests and director loans. | Accounts, tax records, dividend records, management figures. | Guessing at value without explaining the basis. |
| Pensions | Workplace, private, public sector and old pensions. | CETVs, annual statements and proof of requests. | Using annual fund values instead of CETVs. |
| Liabilities | Loans, credit cards, overdrafts, tax debts and informal debts. | Statements, agreements, demand letters and explanations. | Treating family money as a debt without evidence. |
How to complete Part 2 without losing track
Start with the documents you can download today, then request the slow documents. Do not wait for every pension or mortgage response before starting the rest of Part 2. Create one folder per category and name the files clearly.
- List every category first. Write down properties, accounts, pensions, investments, debts and businesses before entering numbers.
- Attach evidence for each important figure. A number without a document is easy to challenge.
- Use dates consistently. If a valuation or statement is as at a particular date, make that clear.
- Explain uncertainty. If a CETV, valuation or statement has been requested but not received, say so and keep proof.
- Do not leave awkward items out. Disclosure is usually safer than silence.
Where the deeper guides fit
Part 2 is broad, so use the dedicated guides where the detail matters: bank statements for Form E, the Form E pensions section, liabilities and debts on Form E, house valuation for divorce, and CETV for divorce.
Common mistakes in Part 2
- Only listing the assets you think are important. Small and dormant assets can still matter.
- Using memory instead of statements. That is how accounts, debts and pensions get missed.
- Ignoring jointly held assets. Joint accounts and joint debts still need to be disclosed.
- Valuing pensions incorrectly. Use a CETV or explain that it has been requested.
- Leaving out disputed debts. Disclose the alleged debt and explain why it is disputed.
When to get help
Get targeted legal or accountancy advice if Part 2 includes a business valuation, trusts, overseas assets, suspected hidden assets, large pension questions, insolvency, tax disputes, or a serious disagreement about whether money from family is a true debt.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to list accounts with tiny balances?
Yes, if they are relevant. A tiny balance does not make an account invisible. The account history may still explain transfers or income.
What if I do not know the value yet?
Use the best current figure you can support, explain the basis, and say what evidence has been requested. Update the figure when the document arrives if it is material.
Should I include debts I disagree with?
Usually, yes. Disclose the alleged debt, identify it as disputed, and explain the reason calmly.
Official sources checked
Divvio is not a law firm and this guide is not legal advice.