FDR Hearing

Please can somebody tell me exactly what documents I need to present to the Court at the FDR Hearing.

Ex is the Applicant and has solicitors.
What documents do I need to send to them?

Hi Berr

You dont need to send them anything unless they ask for it, unless you intend to use any documentary evidence in court.

It is in your interest to provide a summary of your case for the judge to read before he goes into court though. Prepare this and give it to the clerk as soon as you get to court and then give a copy to the ex's solicitor so they have chance to read beforehand.

The court do not appreciate surprises and anthing should be seen by both parties before going into court. The same applies to her solicitors. If they spring anything on you in court then say that you have not seen it beforehand and you want time to determine its use and relevance.

Knowing little of your case makes it a bit difficult to advise you further, so if you need anything else let us know.

Good Luck

Thanks for that.

I have received various documents from my ex husband's sols - chronology, statement of issues, summary background and orders they are seeking.

I have sent them my input to these documents and details of the orders I am seeking.

I thought I would do a skeleton argument and hand it in when I get to Court. Does that seem OK?

I am stuck on whether my ex husband's business should be included in with the assets. It is 18 months old and the first set of accounts are due in May. It is a building business and a lot of the assets etc were acquired during the marriage. Any idea?

Hi Berr

If there is money it then go for it. The more you apply for the better your negotiation position. You can always come down but it is very difficult to come up.

Skeleton argument, good but what you really need is a list of what you want.

My hearing went like this.

Judge: to him - What do you want?
Him:BLAH, BLAH, BLAH
Judge: to her - What do you want
Her: BLAH, BLAH, BLAH

Judge: to him - Do you have somewhere to live?
Him: Blah
Judge - To her - Do you have somewhere to live
Her: Blah

and so on. Decide what you want, ask for more and then negotiate

Don't know your position re kids and home etc... so difficult to comment

Let me know if you need more

Gershie

Hi Berr,

Just been through this and I posted this thread and all my questions were answered about the forms that needed to be filed etc.

Not much happens at the FDH but you still need to be prepared and file the right documents and bundle.

If you need clarification feel free to pm me

http://www.wikivorce.com/divorce/Divorce-Advice/Self-Represen tation/184360-HELP-First- Appointment.html

Thanks.

I have forwarded all my paperwork (chronology, summary background, statement of issues etc) to ex husband's solicitors. They say that they will not include them in the bundle of docs for the FDR as they think they are biased.

They have not sent an index of the correspondence that will be included in the bundle, although I have asked for it.

At the first appt the judge asked for a joint agreed statement of issues.

Shall I just submit my own documents separately to the Court?

Hi

Take a look at these links

http://www.deanscourt.co.uk/standards-for-ancillary-relief- work.aspx

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/937.htm

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/files/practice_direc tion_court_bundles.pdf

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/939.htm

Gershie