Once an Application has been made to the Court to deal with the family’s finances, a strict timetable is put in place.
The Court gives directions as to what financial information is required and will also set a date for a First Appointment to ensure adequate disclosure of both party’s financial situation has been or will be made.
A date will then usually be scheduled for a Financial Dispute Resolution Appointment (FDA) when consideration is given as to whether the financial issues can be settled without the need for a full blown trial. Alternatively, if settlement cannot be reached, then a date is set for a full Hearing of the financial claims.
At any point during this process, the couple can reach agreement between themselves (obviously with the benefit of legal advice) and bypass the steps in the process that do not apply to their particular circumstances.
It is not possible to provide an exact time scale for how long it will take to deal with the financial issues as each client has a unique set of circumstances. At Crisp & Co, we endeavour to provide our clients with realistic time estimates from the very outset and keep our clients fully updated as matters progress.