When Do I Need to Complete a Form A1 vs Form A?

When Do I Complete a Form A1 Instead of Form A?

Fact checked by Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy, 03.03.2026

If you are going through a divorce or separation and need the court to help sort out your finances, you will probably have come across Form A and Form A1. Both are used to start financial remedy proceedings, but they apply in different situations and follow different court procedures. Choosing the wrong one can cause delays, extra costs, and unnecessary stress.

In this guide, we explain the difference between Form A1 vs Form A, when each one applies, and what you need to do before filing either form. Whether you are dealing with a straightforward divorce settlement or a more specific financial claim, this article will help you work out which form is right for your situation.

What Is Form A?

Form A is the standard application form used to begin financial remedy proceedings in England and Wales. It is formally known as the “Notice of [intention to proceed with] a financial application to which the standard procedure applies.”

You would use Form A if you are applying for a financial order as part of your divorce, dissolution of a civil partnership, judicial separation, or nullity proceedings. This covers the most common types of financial claims, including:

• Lump sum orders
• Property adjustment orders (such as transferring the family home)
• Pension sharing orders or pension compensation sharing orders
• A combination of periodical payments with other financial orders
• Maintenance pending suit (interim maintenance while proceedings are ongoing)
• Sale of property orders

In simple terms, if you are asking the court to divide your assets, pensions, property, or finances as part of your divorce, Form A is almost certainly the form you need.

Once you file Form A, your case follows what is called the standard procedure. This involves several stages: exchanging detailed financial disclosure through Form E, attending a First Directions Appointment (FDA), then a Financial Dispute Resolution hearing (FDR), and potentially a Final Hearing if agreement cannot be reached.

What Is Form A1?

Form A1 is a different application form used for financial remedy applications that follow the fast-track procedure. It is formally called the “Notice of [intention to proceed with] a financial application to which the fast-track procedure applies.”

You would use Form A1 in more specific circumstances, including:

• An application for a periodical payments order only (maintenance payments without any capital claims), whether under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 or the Civil Partnership Act 2004
• Financial provision under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 (financial claims for children where the parents were not married)
• Financial provision under Part 1 of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 or Schedule 6 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004
• An application to vary or discharge a periodical payments order, unless you are seeking to replace it with a lump sum, property adjustment order, pension sharing order, or pension compensation sharing order (in which case, you would use Form A instead)

The key difference is that Form A1 applications tend to be more limited in scope. They deal with ongoing maintenance or specific types of financial provision, rather than the full division of assets that Form A covers.

“We often find that people are unsure which form to use, especially when they are representing themselves. The simplest way to think about it is that Form A covers the full range of financial orders in a divorce, while Form A1 is for more targeted claims, like standalone maintenance or varying an existing order. If you are in any doubt, we would always recommend getting some advice before filing.”

— Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK

Form A vs Form A1: A Quick Comparison

What Is the Fast-Track Procedure?

The fast-track (or shortened) financial remedy procedure is a streamlined version of the standard court process. It applies to the types of applications made on Form A1 and is designed to deal with more straightforward financial claims more quickly.

Under the fast-track procedure, the disclosure requirements are less extensive. Instead of completing a full Form E (which is a very detailed financial statement), you would complete a Form E1, which is a shorter version. The court process itself also tends to involve fewer hearings and a tighter timetable.

This can be a real advantage if your claim is relatively simple, for example, if you just need to sort out child maintenance through the court or vary an existing maintenance order.

Do I Need to Attend a MIAM Before Filing Either Form?

Yes. Before you can file either Form A or Form A1, you are required by law to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM), unless an exemption applies.

At a MIAM, an authorised family mediator will explain the mediation process and other forms of non-court dispute resolution, such as arbitration, collaborative law, and private FDR hearings. Since April 2024, mediators are required to discuss all forms of non-court dispute resolution, not just mediation.

You may be exempt from attending a MIAM in certain situations, such as where there has been domestic abuse, where the matter is urgent, or where you have already attended a MIAM within the past four months for the same or a similar dispute.

Common Scenarios: Which Form Should I Use?

Scenario 1: You are divorcing and want to divide property, pensions, and savings

Use Form A. This is the most common situation. You are applying for a range of financial orders as part of your divorce, and the standard procedure applies.

Scenario 2: You only need a maintenance (periodical payments) order

Use Form A1. If you are only seeking ongoing maintenance payments and nothing else, such as property or lump sum orders, Form A1 and the fast-track procedure apply.

Scenario 3: You were never married but need financial provision for your child

Use Form A1. Claims under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 are made using Form A1. These claims can include lump sums, property transfers, and periodical payments for children of unmarried parents.

Scenario 4: You want to vary or change an existing maintenance order

Use Form A1, unless you want to replace the maintenance order with a lump sum, property adjustment, or pension sharing order, in which case, use Form A.

Scenario 5: You want a pension sharing order as part of your divorce

Use Form A. Pension sharing orders are financial orders that can only be applied for through the standard procedure.

“We see a lot of people who come to mediation because they are not sure where to start with the court forms. Even if you do end up needing to go to court, attending a MIAM first is a legal requirement, and it can also help you understand your options. We have helped many couples reach agreement on finances without ever needing to file a Form A or Form A1.”

— Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK

What About the New Express Financial Remedy Procedure?

It is also worth knowing about the Express Financial Remedy Procedure, a pilot scheme that launched in April 2025 in selected family courts across the North of England and West Midlands. This scheme applies to cases where net assets (excluding pensions) are valued at less than £250,000.

The express procedure uses a modified Form A and is designed to resolve cases within six months or less. It front-loads much of the preparation work and aims to use the first court hearing as an FDR, where the judge gives early guidance on settlement. If the pilot is successful, it could be rolled out across England and Wales.

This is separate from the Form A1 fast-track procedure, which has been in place for much longer and applies to specific types of claims as outlined above.

Practical Tips Before You File

Here are some practical steps to help you prepare before filing either form:

Step 1: Attend your MIAM. This is a legal requirement. A mediator will help you understand whether mediation or another form of non-court dispute resolution could work for you. Book a MIAM with Mediate UK.

Step 2: Work out which form you need. Use the comparison table and scenarios above. If you are applying for a range of financial orders in a divorce, it will be Form A. If it is a standalone maintenance claim or a variation of an existing order, it is likely to be Form A1.

Step 3: Gather your financial information. You will need to complete either a Form E (for Form A applications) or a Form E1 (for Form A1 applications). Start pulling together details of your income, property, pensions, savings, and debts.

Step 4: Check the court fee. The current fee for a financial remedy application is £321 (from July 2026). You may be eligible for help with fees through the Help with Fees scheme.

Step 5: Consider getting legal advice. If you are unsure about which form to use or what to include, speaking to a family law solicitor or mediator can save you time and money in the long run.