Yes, you can take a divorce financial case through court without a solicitor or barrister. Most cases have three hearings: a first appointment to sort out what information is needed, a financial dispute resolution appointment (FDR) where a judge helps you try to settle, and a final hearing where a judge decides if you can't agree. Each stage has deadlines for documents, and keeping to them is the biggest thing you can do to help your case.
Going to court on your own, especially when your ex has a solicitor, can feel frightening. It's also very common. This guide takes you through each hearing, what the court expects from you and when, so you can plan ahead rather than react to letters as they arrive. It covers the court process for money and property. If you've already agreed, you don't need any of this: our guide to consent orders and clean break orders explains how to make an agreement legally binding.
Can you represent yourself in a financial case?
Yes. You don't need a lawyer to apply for a financial order, to respond to your ex's application or to speak at any hearing. The courts call you a litigant in person. Judges are used to people representing themselves, and should explain the process and make sure you can put your case, but they can't give you legal advice or argue your side for you.
Representing yourself works best when you keep to the deadlines, give full information about your finances, and stay focused on the money rather than on what went wrong in the marriage. Behaviour in the marriage very rarely affects the outcome. The court's job is to divide things fairly, looking first at the needs of any children, then at both your incomes, assets, needs, ages, the length of the marriage and what each of you contributed (Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 25). Our guide to how money and property are split explains those factors.
It's worth getting legal advice, even just once, if your case involves a business, trusts, property or pensions abroad, hidden assets, or a large pension that needs a specialist report.
What is the timeline for a financial case?
The court sets the dates, but the Family Procedure Rules fix most of the deadlines in relation to each hearing. This is the standard route. Your court's notice (Form C) and any court order will give the exact dates for your case, and they take priority over this table.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Mediation information meeting (MIAM), unless you're exempt | Before applying |
| Apply on Form A (£321) | Start of the case |
| Court sends Form C with the first appointment date | Hearing set 12 to 16 weeks after you apply |
| Form E filed with the court and exchanged with your ex | 35 days before the first appointment |
| Statement of issues, chronology, questionnaire and Form G | 14 days before the first appointment |
| Form FM5, your position on mediation and other ways to settle | Usually 7 days before the first appointment |
| Costs estimate (Form H) | 1 day before every hearing |
| Details of all offers filed by the applicant | 7 days before the FDR |
| Open proposals for settlement, if the FDR doesn't settle the case | 21 days after the FDR, unless the court says otherwise |
| Full statement of costs (Form H1) | 14 days before the final hearing |
Deadlines from the Family Procedure Rules, Part 9 and Form FM5, checked 5 November 2026. GOV.UK says there can be several months between each appointment (GOV.UK), so a case that goes all the way to a final hearing often takes a year or more.
What do you need to do before applying?
You usually have to attend a mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM) before you can apply. It's a single meeting with an accredited mediator about whether mediation or another way of settling could work for you. There are exemptions, including where there is evidence of domestic abuse (GOV.UK). The government's family mediation voucher can pay up to £500 towards mediation.
Then you apply on Form A. Tick every type of order that might be relevant: lump sum, property adjustment, periodical payments (maintenance) and pension orders. The final order will only include the ones that fit the outcome. If you ask for a pension order, a copy of Form A also has to go to the pension provider.
Start gathering your financial documents now, even before you apply. Pension valuations in particular can take weeks to arrive. Our documents checklist lists what you'll need.
What happens at the first appointment?
The first appointment, often called the FDA, is a short hearing to work out what you disagree about and what information is still missing. It doesn't decide who gets what. The rules say it must be run "with the objective of defining the issues and saving costs" (rule 9.15).
What to file before it
- Form E, 35 days before. Your full financial statement with documents attached, filed with the court and exchanged with your ex at the same time. Our Form E guide goes through it section by section.
- A concise statement of issues, 14 days before. A short list of what you disagree about, for example the value of the house, whether a pension should be shared, or how much maintenance is needed.
- A chronology, 14 days before. Key dates in date order: when you met, lived together, married, separated, bought property, and when the divorce started.
- A questionnaire, 14 days before. Your questions about your ex's Form E and the documents you want them to provide. Keep it short and focused on what's missing. If you think money is being hidden, our guide to hidden assets in divorce explains what to ask for. Many courts expect questionnaires to be no more than four pages (Financial Remedies Court efficiency statement).
- Form G, 14 days before. Says whether you think the first appointment could be used as an FDR, which is only realistic if you both already have the information you need.
- Form FM5, usually 7 days before. Your position on mediation and other ways of settling outside court.
- Form H, the day before. An estimate of your legal costs so far and up to the FDR. If you have no lawyer, this may be small, but you still need to file it.
In many Financial Remedies Court areas the applicant also prepares a short case summary (form ES1) and a schedule of both sides' assets and income (form ES2), and the court may ask for property details and evidence of how much each of you could borrow. Your Form C will list exactly what your court wants.
On the day
You must attend in person unless the court says otherwise (rule 9.15). The judge goes through the questionnaires and decides which questions have to be answered, whether you need valuations of the house or a pension report, and sets a timetable. Then the judge normally sends the case on to an FDR, unless the first appointment has already been used as one.
The first appointment doesn't decide who gets what. It decides what information the judge will need to help you settle.
What happens at the FDR?
The financial dispute resolution appointment is a hearing designed to help you settle. You and your ex, and any lawyers, spend most of the day negotiating, often in separate rooms. At some point the judge hears a short summary of each side's position and gives a view of what a judge would be likely to order at a final hearing. This is called an indication.
- Offers. Seven days before the FDR, the applicant files details of every offer and response made so far (rule 9.17). Make a sensible written offer before the FDR. It shows the judge you're trying to settle.
- It's confidential. What's said and offered at the FDR is "without prejudice", so it can't be used at the final hearing. The FDR judge can't hear the final hearing either (rule 9.17).
- Attend in person, and allow the whole day. Both of you must attend unless the court says otherwise. Negotiations often go on into the afternoon.
- If you agree, the terms can be written up and approved by the judge as a consent order the same day, or shortly afterwards.
The indication isn't binding. A different judge at a final hearing could reach a different answer. But judges' indications are usually well founded, and a final hearing costs more time, money and stress, so many people settle on or close to it.
Some couples pay for a private FDR instead, where an experienced family barrister or retired judge acts as the FDR judge. It costs more, but you can choose the date and usually get more of the judge's time.
What happens if the FDR doesn't settle the case?
The judge sets a timetable to a final hearing. Within 21 days of the FDR, unless the court sets another date, each of you must file an open proposal for settlement (rule 9.27A). Unlike FDR offers, open proposals can be seen by the final hearing judge, and they can count when the judge decides about costs. Make yours realistic.
The court may also direct:
- Witness statements setting out your case in your own words, often called section 25 statements.
- Updated disclosure, such as recent bank statements, if time has passed since Form E.
- Expert reports, for example a valuation or a pension report, if they weren't done earlier.
- A court bundle. The applicant normally prepares it. If the applicant is representing themselves and the other side has a lawyer, the represented side must prepare it. An electronic bundle is limited to 350 pages without the court's permission (Practice Direction 27A).
- A position statement, a short document saying what you're asking for and why, usually filed shortly before the hearing.
You can keep negotiating right up to the final hearing. Many cases settle in the weeks before it.
What happens at the final hearing?
At the final hearing a judge decides how your finances will be divided, and makes an order you both have to follow. It's usually listed for one to three days, depending on how complex the case is.
Each of you gives evidence, usually by confirming your statements are true and then answering questions from the other side and the judge. If your ex has a barrister, they'll ask you questions. When it's your turn, you can ask your ex questions too. Keep them short, about the facts in dispute, and not about the history of the relationship. The judge can help you put questions if you're struggling, and in cases involving domestic abuse the court must consider measures such as screens or video links, and can stop an alleged abuser questioning you directly.
At the end, each side sums up what they're asking for. The judge then gives a judgment, either the same day or later in writing, explaining the decision against the factors in section 25. One of the parties, usually the represented one, then draws up the final order for the judge to approve.
If you think the judge got the law wrong, you need permission to appeal, and the deadline is usually 21 days from the decision. Get advice quickly if you're considering it.
What is the express financial remedy pilot?
In some courts, cases where your combined net assets are under £250,000 go through a shorter process with a maximum of two hearings instead of three. The first hearing is an FDR, held 16 to 20 weeks after Form A is accepted, and you should allow a full day. You then exchange proposals within 7 days, and if you don't settle, a final hearing follows 26 to 30 weeks after Form A. Pensions, mortgages and debts are left out when working out the £250,000 (GOV.UK).
The pilot covers Form A applications made between 7 April 2025 and 2 April 2027 at courts in Cheshire and Merseyside; Cleveland, Newcastle and Durham; Greater Manchester (Manchester, Wigan and Stockport); Lancashire and Cumbria; North and West Yorkshire; and Birmingham. Cases go in automatically if they're eligible. If you think your case is too complicated, you can ask to leave the pilot on form D11 (GOV.UK).
Will you have to pay the other side's costs?
Not normally. In financial cases, the general rule is that the court doesn't order one person to pay the other's legal costs. It can make a costs order because of how someone behaved in the case (Family Procedure Rules, rule 28.3). The court looks at things like:
- failing without good reason to attend a MIAM or try mediation or another way of settling
- breaking the rules, a court order or a deadline
- any open offer to settle
- whether it was reasonable to raise or fight a particular issue
- how each person conducted the case
So keep to deadlines, answer questions fully, and make reasonable open offers. If your ex runs up large legal bills, those costs are part of their own finances. The court can take into account how much each of you has paid in legal fees when it looks at what's left to divide.
Where can you get help that costs less than full representation?
You don't have to choose between paying a solicitor for everything and doing it all alone. These options can be combined.
- A solicitor for one-off advice. Many family solicitors offer fixed-fee or hourly advice on specific steps, such as checking your Form E, preparing questions or advising before the FDR. This is sometimes called unbundled help. Our guide Do I need a solicitor for divorce? covers what it costs.
- A direct access barrister. You can instruct some barristers without a solicitor, for example just for the FDR or the final hearing. Look for barristers who are registered for public access with the Bar Council, and ask for a fixed fee in writing.
- A McKenzie friend. Someone who comes to court with you to take notes, help with papers and quietly advise you. They usually can't speak for you in court without the judge's permission. Some are volunteers and some charge, and they aren't regulated like solicitors, so ask about experience, insurance and fees (Judiciary, McKenzie friends guidance).
- Support Through Court. A charity with trained volunteers who help people without a lawyer at some court buildings and by phone. They can't give legal advice but can help you prepare and understand forms (Support Through Court).
- Free guides for people without lawyers. Advicenow publishes detailed free guides to financial cases, and Citizens Advice can help with forms and next steps.
- Legal aid. Legal aid for financial cases is usually only available if you have evidence of domestic abuse, and you must also qualify on income and capital. Money you keep or recover in the case may have to pay back some of the legal aid, which is known as the statutory charge (GOV.UK).
- Free help from a barrister. The charity Advocate finds free barristers for people who can't afford one and can't get legal aid, usually through an advice agency or solicitor referral.
Our free legal information directory lists more organisations that help people without lawyers.
How do you prepare for a hearing on the day?
- Arrive early. Allow time for security and to find your courtroom. For a remote hearing, test the link the day before.
- Bring copies of everything. Your own bundle or the papers you've filed, a pen and a notepad, and any documents the court has asked for.
- Prepare a one-page note. What you're asking for, the key figures and two or three points you most want the judge to understand.
- Call the judge "Judge", or "Sir" or "Madam". Most financial hearings are in front of a district judge, where either is fine. If your judge is a circuit judge, it's "Your Honour", and the usher can tell you. Stand when the judge comes in and leaves, unless the hearing is by video.
- Ask if you don't understand. You're allowed to ask the judge to explain a word or a step, or for a short break to read something.
- Talk to the other side's lawyer carefully. They'll often want to negotiate outside court. You can listen and talk, but you don't have to agree to anything on the spot, and you can ask to see any proposal in writing.
- Take notes of what the judge orders, especially dates and what each of you has to do next.
If you've experienced domestic abuse, tell the court before the hearing if you need separate waiting rooms, a screen or a video link. If you're in danger, call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) and the Men's Advice Line (0808 801 0327) can help you plan. If you're struggling, Samaritans are there day and night on 116 123.
You don't need a lawyer for the whole case, but an hour of advice before the FDR or a barrister for the final hearing can make a real difference. Get matched and we'll introduce you to two or three family solicitors or mediators who offer fixed-fee help.
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Get matchedCommon questions
Can I represent myself in financial proceedings?
Yes. You don't need a solicitor or barrister to apply for a financial order or to go to any of the hearings. People who do this are called litigants in person. Many get help with parts of the case, such as advice before a hearing or a barrister for the final hearing, without paying for full representation.
How many hearings are there in a financial case?
Usually three: the first appointment, the financial dispute resolution appointment (FDR) and, if you haven't settled, the final hearing. Most cases settle before the final hearing. In the express pilot courts, cases with combined net assets under £250,000 have a maximum of two hearings.
Can a first appointment settle everything?
Sometimes. If you both have all the information you need, you can each tell the court on Form G that you're ready to use the first appointment as an FDR. If you then reach agreement, the judge can approve it as a consent order. Most cases need more information first, so the judge sets a timetable to a separate FDR.
Do I have to follow what the judge says at the FDR?
No. The judge's view at the FDR is an indication, not a decision. It's meant to help you both settle. A different judge hears the final hearing and isn't told what was said at the FDR, and can reach a different result. Many people still settle on or near the indication, because a final hearing is costly and uncertain.
Who prepares the court bundle if I'm representing myself?
Normally the applicant prepares the bundle. But if the applicant is representing themselves and the other side has a lawyer, the represented side must prepare it, unless the court directs otherwise. An electronic bundle is limited to 350 pages unless the court gives permission for more.
Will I have to pay my ex's legal costs if I lose?
Not normally. In financial cases the general rule is that each person pays their own legal costs. The court can order one person to pay some of the other's costs because of how they behaved in the case, for example breaking court orders, refusing to give information or unreasonably refusing to try mediation.
Sources
- Ministry of Justice, Family Procedure Rules Part 9 (financial remedies), rules 9.12 to 9.17, 9.27 and 9.27A
- Ministry of Justice, Family Procedure Rules Part 28 (costs), rule 28.3
- Ministry of Justice, Practice Direction 27A (court bundles)
- GOV.UK, Money and property when you divorce: get the court to decide
- GOV.UK, What to expect if you are in the express financial remedy pilot (updated 6 May 2026)
- GOV.UK, Statement of position on non-court dispute resolution: Form FM5
- GOV.UK, Family court fees (EX50), updated 13 July 2026
- Financial Remedies Court, Statement on the efficient conduct of financial remedy proceedings (11 January 2022)
- legislation.gov.uk, Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 25
- Judiciary of England and Wales, Practice guidance: McKenzie friends
- GOV.UK, Legal aid: domestic abuse or violence
Keep reading
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws, fees and figures change, so check the sources above and speak to a qualified professional about your situation. Facts checked 5 November 2026.