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Money and property when a relationship ends
4. Apply for a financial order
You can ask a court to make a ‘financial order’ if you can’t reach an agreement. This used to be called an ‘ancillary relief order’.
You can apply for a financial order if you want, for example:
- a lump sum payment
- ownership of a property
- regular maintenance payments to help with children or living expenses
- a share of your partner’s pension payments
Applying for a financial order costs £255.
The process is separate from the divorce, and usually takes longer - often 6 to 12 months.
You may have to attend a court appointment and go to a number of court hearings.
To apply for a financial order, fill in a financial order application form.
Send 2 copies of the form to the court dealing with your case. Keep your own copies. You may have to visit the court, so try to find a court that’s easy to get to.
Mediation
You’ll need to prove you’ve considered mediation when you apply for a financial order - this doesn’t apply in some cases, eg if there’s been domestic abuse.
You can do this by filling in a Family Mediation Information and Assessment form.