After submitting your Financial Application, you will need to prepare various documents before your first hearing.
Previously, a Statement of Issues Document was required, which included a Case Summary (i.e., relevant background information). However, since January 2023, the information from the Statement of Issues document has been condensed into a checkbox on the ES1 Composite Case Summary Form, which must be completed.
It has been noted that the opposing Barrister or Solicitor will still draft a Position Statement, including a written Case Summary and Statement of Issues, as before. This concise and relevant information aids the Judge (with a bias towards the other side's case). Therefore, it is advisable to include a concise and appropriately worded case summary and statement of issues in your Position Statement as well.
While there are numerous templates available for drafting a Position Statement, most are geared towards Children cases and may not be suitable for Financial Cases, which require a different approach. It is crucial to bear in mind that both your Position Statement and Statement of Issues are pertinent to each hearing and may evolve.
Whether preparing the Statement of Issues or Position Statement, it is essential to understand the relevant issues in your case and what points are agreed upon or in dispute. This process can be complex as some issues may seem straightforward but are often overlooked. For instance, Housing can be a contentious issue in various aspects, such as whether the family home should be sold.
Seeking assistance to identify the key issues and areas of dispute can be beneficial. I provide free templates and often at a low cost (donation-based) to support me in updating and offering these template documents to assist you.
Feel free to provide feedback so that I can provide you with the necessary documents to assist you.
Updated October 2024