I AM L.I.P

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

Form H

Estimate of costs for a financial settlement hearing

 

WHAT IS FORM H USED FOR?

Form H is sent to the court and to your ex-partner or their solicitor before every court hearing in your financial settlement case. Form H will inform the judge about your legal costs so far, including legal costs from before and after form A was submitted and an estimate of your future legal costs. 

Form A is the form sent to the family court to start court proceedings for division of your marital assets, finances and pensions/financial settlement.  

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE FORM H?

There are no specific government guides for this form at present.

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND FORM H TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

This form is free to send to the court.

HOW TO COMPLETE FORM H AND WHERE TO SEND IT.

  • NOTE 1 – The ex-partner who initially completed and submitted form A to start the court process of dividing your marital assets, finances and pensions is known as the petitioner or applicant. The other ex-partner is known as the respondent.
  • NOTE 2 – You can complete this form online and then print a hard copy. Alternatively you can download it, print it and then complete by black pen. 
  • NOTE  3 – This form is about your legal costs with regards to your court proceedings for division of your marital assets, finances and pensions therefore you must not include your legal costs for child arrangements, injunctions, and other aspects of your divorce case.
  • NOTE 4 – Please send a copy of your form H to the court and a copy to your ex-partner or their solicitor.
  • NOTE 5 – Please keep a copy of your form H for yourself outside of the ones you send to the family court.
  • Form H is 4 pages long.
  • You will be asked to write your full name down at the top of page 1 and tick the relevant box stating whether you are the applicant, respondent or another party in the court proceedings.
  • On page 1 you will be asked the date of the next/coming up court hearing where your estimate of costs will be considered. You must write this date.
  • The box on page 1 is a summary of your legal costs in section A (on page 2) and section B (on page 2). You must detail how much of these costs are attributed to legal aid and how much of it are private costs. You must also write down how much of these costs have been paid to date.
  • Please remember the word ‘counsel’ usually refers to your barrister costs in court and the costs incurred when seeking advice from a barrister or a legal adviser conducting your case.
  • Please remember the word ‘disbursements’ refers to the costs your solicitor has had to pay on your behalf, such as land registry fees, bank transfer fees, or search fees to name a few. Disbursements may include court fees.
  • Section A on page 2 will ask you to detail your legal costs prior to issue of form A. This section must be completed before every court hearing.
  • Section B on page 2 will ask you to details your legal costs after issue of form A. This section must be completed before every court hearing.
  • Section C on page 3 will ask you to detail an estimate of costs that will be incurred after the first appointment (also called a FDA hearing) up to and including the date of the FDR appointment if your case does not settle at the FDA appointment. This section must be completed before the first appointment (also called a FDA hearing). 
  • Please click on the link below to understand the different steps involved in a financial settlement case.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR A STEP BY STEP ACCOUNT OF THE WHOLE COURT PROCESS OF DIVIDING MARITAL ASSETS INCLUDING MAKING THE INITIAL APPLICATION TO START COURT PROCEEDINGS

  • Section D on page 3 will ask you to detail an estimate of costs that will be incurred after the FDR appointment up to and including the date of the final hearing if the case does not settle at the FDR. This section must be completed before the FDR appointment. 
  • You will be asked to sign a statement of truth on page 4 if you are a litigant in person – a person involved on court proceedings and is not represented by a solicitor or barrister.
  • If you are legally represented your solicitor will sign the other statement of truth on page 4. 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM H/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Please click on the link below to download form H from the government website. Complete and send by post (signed for recorded delivery) to the court.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM H

WHEN WAS FORM H FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

Form H was first published by the government (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) on 01-04-2011 and last updated 06-07-2020