Fact checked by Jess Knauf, Co-founder Family Law Service, 22nd January 2026
Key Takeaways
- Form A is required when applying to court for a financial order – including when you’ve already agreed everything
- When you apply by consent (with an agreement), you don’t attend court and the process takes 6-10 weeks
- Form A is included in our £499 clean break consent order service – we draft it for you
- The court fee is £62, payable when you submit Form A with your consent order
- If you don’t have an agreement, Form A starts a contested court process that can cost £20,000+ and takes 12+ months
Understanding the Financial Order Application
If you’re getting a consent order to finalise your divorce finances, you’ll need to complete Form A as part of your application to court. But don’t worry, when you’ve already agreed your financial settlement, Form A is simply an administrative form that tells the court you’re applying for a financial order by consent. You won’t need to attend court, and the whole process typically takes 6-10 weeks.
In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what is a Form A in divorce, why you need it for your consent order, how to complete it, and what happens after you submit it. We’ll also explain how our £499 consent order service includes Form A drafting, so you don’t have to worry about completing it yourself.
What is a Form A in Divorce? Definition and Purpose
Form A, officially called a “Notice of intention to proceed with a financial application“, is the form you need to complete when applying to the family court for a financial order. Think of it as the official application form that starts the court process.
There are two main ways Form A is used:
1. Applying for a Consent Order (By Agreement) ✓
This is the most relevant use for people reading this guide. When you and your ex-partner have already agreed how to divide your finances, you submit Form A along with your consent order and Form D81. The court will:
- Review your agreement to ensure it’s fair
- Appoint a date and time for the judge to consider it
- Seal (approve) your consent order if everything is in order
- Send you the sealed order – you don’t attend court
Timeline: 6-10 weeks | Cost: £499 for our service + £62 court fee (since July 2026) | Attendance: No court hearings required
2. Applying for a Contested Financial Order (No Agreement)
If you cannot agree on your finances, Form A starts a contested court process where a judge will decide for you. This involves:
- Three court hearings (First Appointment, FDR, Final Hearing)
- Full financial disclosure using Form E
- Legal representation throughout
- The judge makes the final decision
Timeline: 12-18 months | Cost: £20,000+ per person | Attendance: Multiple court hearings required
“When we draft consent orders for our clients, Form A is always included as part of our £499 service. We complete it for you based on the information you provide in your questionnaire. Most people don’t realise that Form A for a consent order application is straightforward – it’s just telling the court ‘we’ve agreed, please approve our consent order.’ You don’t need expensive solicitors or court appearances when you’re applying by consent.”
— Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK
Do You Need Form A for a Consent Order?
Yes, Form A is always required when applying for a financial order, even when you’ve agreed everything with your ex-partner. Without Form A, the court won’t process your consent order application.
The good news is that when you’re applying for a consent order (by agreement), Form A is much simpler than when it’s used for contested proceedings. You’re essentially just notifying the court that you’ve reached an agreement and would like them to approve it.
What’s Included in a Consent Order Application?
When you apply for a consent order, you submit three documents together:
- Form A – The application form telling the court you want a financial order
- Consent Order – The agreement detailing how you’ll divide your finances
- Form D81 (Statement of Information) – Your financial disclosure for the court
Our £499 clean break consent order service includes professional drafting of all three documents. You simply complete our secure online questionnaire, and we prepare everything you need for court.
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How to Complete Form A for a Consent Order
When you’re applying for a consent order (by agreement), completing Form A is straightforward. Here’s what you need to know:
Key Information Needed for Form A
- Full names and dates of birth for both parties
- Your divorce case number
- Property addresses
- Contact details (or solicitor’s details if represented)
- Confirmation of MIAM attendance or exemption
- Which financial orders you’re applying for (checked boxes)
Do You Need to Attend a MIAM for a Consent Order?
The MIAM requirement applies to all financial order applications where you cannot agree. However, when you’re applying for a consent order (meaning you’ve already agreed), courts do not need you attend a MIAM.
That said, if you reached your agreement through mediation, you’ll already have attended a MIAM. If you negotiated directly with each other, you can indicate on Form A that you’ve reached agreement and the court will accept this.
We Draft Form A For You
When you purchase our £499 clean break consent order service, we complete Form A for you. You don’t need to:
- Download or print Form A yourself
- Work out which boxes to tick
- Worry about making errors
- Pay a solicitor £200+ per hour to complete it
We gather all the necessary information through our secure questionnaire and draft Form A alongside your consent order and Form D81. Everything is prepared ready for you to sign and submit to court.
“We’ve drafted over 5,000 consent orders, so we know exactly how to complete Form A correctly for a consent order application. Our clients tell us that having Form A included in the package removes a huge amount of stress – they don’t have to work out what to put or worry about making mistakes that could delay their case.”
— Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK
What Happens After You Submit Form A with Your Consent Order?
Once you’ve submitted Form A along with your consent order and Form D81, here’s the process:
Step-by-Step: The Consent Order Court Process
Step 1: Court Receives Your Application
The court receives your Form A, consent order, and Form D81 along with the £62 court fee. They process your application and create a case file.
Step 2: Court Allocates a Date
The court appoints a specific date and time for a judge to review your consent order. This typically happens within 4-6 weeks of submission. You do not attend – this is a paperwork review.
Step 3: Judge Reviews Your Agreement
On the allocated date, a judge reviews your consent order and Form D81 to ensure the agreement is fair to both parties. They check that all necessary information has been provided and that neither party is being disadvantaged.
Step 4: Court Seals Your Order (or Requests Changes)
If the judge is satisfied, they’ll seal (approve) your consent order, making it legally binding. If they have concerns, they may ask for additional information or amendments before approving.
Step 5: You Receive Your Sealed Order
Once sealed, the court sends you a copy of your approved consent order. This is the legally binding document that protects both of you from future financial claims. The whole process typically takes 6-10 weeks from submission.
Important: You Don’t Attend Court
When you’re applying for a consent order (by agreement), you never need to attend court. The judge reviews your agreement on paper only. You’ll receive your sealed order by post. This is completely different from contested proceedings where you’d usually need to attend multiple hearings.
How Long Does Form A Take to Process?
For consent order applications, the timeline is typically:
- 2 weeks: We draft all your documents after receiving your completed questionnaire
- 4-6 weeks: Court processes your application and allocates a review date
- 1-2 weeks: You receive your sealed order after the judge approves it
Total time from purchase to sealed order: 6-10 weeks (though court processing times can vary significantly)
Form A Costs and Fees
Understanding the costs involved with Form A helps you budget for your consent order:
If you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you may qualify for help with the £62 court fee. Complete Form EX160A to apply for a fee exemption or reduction.
Common Questions About Form A for Consent Orders
Can I Complete Form A Myself?
Yes, Form A is a public document available to download from GOV.UK, and you can complete it yourself. However, many people find it confusing to know which boxes to tick and what information to include. Errors or omissions can delay your consent order being approved.
That’s why our service includes Form A drafting – we make sure it’s completed correctly based on your circumstances, reducing the risk of delays or rejection.
What If We Haven’t Agreed Everything Yet?
If you haven’t reached a full agreement with your ex-partner, don’t file Form A yet. Instead, try:
- Family mediation – Mediate UK help 90% of couples reach agreement
- Legal advice – understand what a fair settlement looks like
- Direct negotiation – with legal support to ensure fairness
Filing Form A for contested proceedings starts a potentially expensive and lengthy court process. It’s always worth trying to reach an agreement first.
Where Do I Send Form A?
You send Form A (along with your consent order and Form D81) to the same divorce centre that processed your divorce or dissolution. This information is on your divorce paperwork. You’ll need to send:
- 3 copies of Form A
- 2 copies of your consent order
- 2 copies of Form D81
- Payment for the £62 court fee (cheque or online payment)
When you use our service, we provide detailed instructions on exactly where to send everything and how to pay the court fee.
Summary
Form A is required when applying to court for a financial order, including when you’ve already agreed your finances and are applying for a consent order. When you apply by consent, Form A is simply an administrative form – you don’t attend court, and the process takes 6-10 weeks.
Our £499 clean break consent order service includes Form A drafting alongside your consent order and Form D81. We handle all the paperwork, you just need to sign and submit to court. For more information about Form A and the financial remedy process, visit our comprehensive guide at Mediate UK’s Form A Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Form A if we’ve already agreed everything?
Yes, Form A is required even when you’ve agreed your finances. It’s the application form that accompanies your consent order to court. Without Form A, the court won’t process your consent order application. The good news is that when you’ve agreed, Form A is simple and we complete it for you as part of our £499 service.
Do I have to attend court when filing Form A for a consent order?
No, you never attend court when applying for a consent order. The judge reviews your agreement on paper only. The court appoints a date and time for the review, but this is just when the judge looks at your documents – you’re not required to be there. You’ll receive your sealed order by post once it’s approved.
What’s included in your £499 consent order service?
Our £499 service includes professional drafting of all three documents you need for court: the consent order, Form A, and Form D81. We also provide clear instructions on how to submit everything to court and what happens next. The only additional cost is the £62 court fee which you pay directly to the court. Our service has a money-back guarantee if your order is rejected due to our drafting error.
How long does it take to get a consent order approved?
From purchase to receiving your sealed consent order typically takes 6-10 weeks. This breaks down as: 2 weeks for us to draft your documents, 4-6 weeks for the court to process and review, and 1-2 weeks for you to receive the sealed order. Court processing times can vary depending on how busy your local divorce centre is.
What if the court rejects our consent order?
Courts can reject consent orders if they consider the agreement unfair or if information is missing. If rejection is due to how we drafted your documents, our money-back guarantee applies – we’ll provide a full refund and draft a new order at no cost. If rejection is due to the fairness of your agreement itself, we can help you revise the terms or you may need legal advice on what changes the court requires.
Can I use your service if we used mediation?
Absolutely! Many of our clients reached their agreement through mediation. If you have a memorandum of understanding or financial statement from mediation, simply send us that along with your questionnaire. We’ll turn your mediation agreement into the legal documents (consent order, Form A, and Form D81) that the court needs. This is one of the most common situations we help with.
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