Form D81 Explained: How to Fill It In Field by Field (2026 Guide)

Form D81 looks like just another piece of government paperwork. It's not. It's the single most important document in your consent order application — because it's the document the judge actually reads.

Your Draft Consent Order tells the court what you've agreed. Form D81 tells the court why the agreement is fair. The judge uses it to assess both parties' financial positions, check that needs are being met, verify that pensions have been considered, and decide whether to approve the order without a hearing.

Get it right, and your consent order sails through in 8–12 weeks. Get it wrong — leave fields blank, omit pension values, skip the justification section — and you'll receive a Letter of Requisition asking for more information, adding 4–8 weeks to the process. In some cases, a poorly completed D81 is the reason a consent order is rejected outright.

This guide walks you through every section of the form, explains what the judge is looking for, and flags the mistakes that cause the most delays.

Before You Start: What You'll Need

Gather everything before you sit down to fill in the form. Having the documents to hand makes completion much faster and reduces the risk of errors.

Document	Why You Need It	Where to Get It
Recent payslips (last 3 months)	Income figures for Section 2	Your employer or payroll system
Tax returns (if self-employed)	Self-employment income for Section 2	HMRC online account or your accountant
Pension CETV statements	Pension values for Section 5	Request free from each pension provider — allow 3–6 weeks
Mortgage statement	Outstanding balance for Section 3	Your mortgage lender (online or by post)
Property valuation estimate	Current market value for Section 3	Estate agent appraisal (free) or Zoopla/Rightmove online estimate
Bank statements (all accounts)	Savings and current account balances for Section 4	Your bank (online banking)
Debt statements	Outstanding balances for Section 6	Each lender (credit cards, loans, hire purchase)
Benefits statements (if applicable)	Benefits income for Section 2	DWP or your Universal Credit journal

Start CETV requests immediately. Pension providers can take up to 6 weeks to respond, and your Form D81 cannot be completed without them. CETVs are free to request and valid for 12 months — there's no reason to wait.

Section by Section: How to Complete Form D81

Section 1: Personal Details

Straightforward — full names, dates of birth, and addresses for both the applicant and respondent. Make sure names match the divorce petition and the Draft Consent Order exactly. Any discrepancy can trigger a query.

Common mistake: Using a nickname or shortened name instead of the legal name on file. If the divorce petition says "Katherine," don't write "Kate" on the D81.

Section 2: Income

Both parties must declare their gross and net income from all sources: employment, self-employment, benefits, rental income, dividends, and any other regular income.

What to include:

• Employment income (gross and net — use your most recent payslip)
• Self-employment income (net profit — use your latest tax return)
• Benefits (Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Tax Credits, PIP, ESA)
• Rental income (net of mortgage and management costs)
• Investment income (dividends, interest)
• Any other regular income

If you have no income: Write "Nil" or "£0" — never leave the field blank.

Common mistake: Forgetting to include Child Benefit or other benefits. The judge wants the complete income picture for both parties.

Section 3: Property

List every property either party owns or has an interest in — the family home, buy-to-let properties, land, or properties owned abroad.

For each property, you'll need:

• Address
• Estimated current market value
• Outstanding mortgage balance
• Net equity (value minus mortgage)
• Ownership type (sole or joint)
• What happens to it under the proposed consent order (sale, transfer, or retained)

If you don't own any property: Write "Nil" or "£0" — don't leave blank. Don't write "N/A."

Property valuation: For properties with modest equity, an online estimate from Zoopla or Rightmove may be acceptable — provided both parties agree with the figure. For higher-value properties or where equity is significant, it's better to obtain written market appraisals from 2–3 local estate agents (these are typically free). A formal RICS valuation is rarely needed for a consent order unless values are disputed. Whatever method you use, state the basis of your valuation (e.g., "Average of 3 estate agent appraisals, June 2026").

Common mistake: Giving the original purchase price instead of the current market value. The judge needs to see what the property is worth now, not what you paid for it.

Section 4: Capital — Savings, Investments and Other Assets

List all capital assets for both parties:

• Bank accounts (current and savings — include approximate balances)
• ISAs
• Premium Bonds
• Shares and investments
• Crypto assets
• Business interests (including company valuations if applicable)
• Valuable personal property (vehicles, jewellery, art — only if significant value)
• Life insurance policies with surrender value

If you have minimal savings: "Approximately £500 in current account" is perfectly fine. The judge isn't looking for exact pennies — they want an honest picture.

If you have no savings or investments: Write "Nil" or "£0."

Common mistake: Forgetting about Premium Bonds, old ISAs, or crypto holdings. List everything — even small amounts. Omitting assets could be treated as non-disclosure, which can invalidate the consent order later.

Section 5: Pensions

This is the section that causes the most problems — and the most delays.

For each pension either party holds, you need:

• Pension provider name
• Pension type (defined contribution / defined benefit / state pension)
• Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV)
• Date of the CETV

You must include CETVs. The judge cannot assess whether the proposed settlement is fair without knowing the value of both parties' pensions. Consent orders are regularly returned because CETVs are missing.

Small pensions still count. Even a workplace pension worth £3,000 should be listed with its CETV. The judge may accept that it's too small to share — but they need to see it to make that assessment.

State Pension: You don't need a CETV for the State Pension (it doesn't have one). But you should note whether each party has a full State Pension entitlement or a reduced one, if known.

What happens next depends on your agreement:

• If pensions are being shared → your consent order needs a Pension Sharing Annex
• If pensions are being offset → explain the offsetting arrangement in Section 10
• If pension claims are being dismissed → the consent order must explicitly dismiss them

For a full guide to pension options, see: Pension Sharing in Divorce: What the 2026 Reform Means for Your Settlement

Common mistake: Listing pensions in the D81 but not addressing them in the consent order. The judge will spot this immediately — if pensions exist, the order must deal with them.

Section 6: Debts and Liabilities

List every debt for both parties:

• Mortgage (already covered in Section 3, but may cross-reference here)
• Personal loans
• Credit cards
• Overdrafts
• Hire purchase / car finance
• Student loans
• Tax liabilities
• Any other financial obligations

For each debt, include the lender name, approximate outstanding balance, and who is responsible (applicant, respondent, or joint).

If you have no debts: Write "Nil" or "£0."

For more on how debts are handled in a consent order, see: How to Divide Debt in a Divorce: Who Pays What?

Common mistake: Omitting small debts like credit card balances or overdrafts. Include everything — the judge wants a complete picture, and undisclosed debts can undermine the order later.

Section 7: Housing Needs

This section asks about each party's housing situation after the consent order is implemented. The judge needs to satisfy themselves that both parties (and any children) will have adequate housing.

Include:

• Where each party will live after the order is made
• Whether they own, rent, or will need to find accommodation
• If children are involved, where the children will primarily live
• Any housing costs (rent, mortgage payments)

Common mistake: Leaving this vague. "Will find somewhere to live" is too imprecise. "Will rent a 2-bedroom property in [area], estimated cost £800/month" gives the judge confidence that both parties' housing needs are considered.

Section 8: Children

If there are children of the family under 18, this section asks about their living arrangements, schooling, and financial needs. Remember: under Section 25(1), the welfare of any child under 18 is the court's first consideration.

You should also address child maintenance — whether it is being arranged privately between the parties, through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), or not at all. The judge will want to understand how children's ongoing financial needs are being met. Note that a consent order cannot override CMS calculations — but it can record a private maintenance arrangement if both parties prefer that route.

If there are no children, write "N/A" or "No children of the family."

Section 9: The Financial Effect of the Order

This is a critical section that many people rush through. It asks you to show each party's financial position after the consent order is implemented — the net effect.

The judge uses this to compare the "before" picture (Sections 2–6) with the "after" picture (Section 9). If one party starts with £300,000 in assets and ends with £50,000 while the other retains £250,000, the judge needs to understand why.

Be specific: List what each party will have after the order — property, savings, pension, income — and what they'll owe. The numbers should be consistent with everything you've declared in earlier sections.

Common mistake: Inconsistency between earlier sections and Section 9. If Section 3 shows a property worth £350,000 and the consent order transfers it to one party, Section 9 must show that party with the property (and mortgage) and the other without. Any mismatch raises a red flag.

Section 10: Justification — Why the Proposed Order Is Appropriate

This is the most important section on the entire form — and the one most people leave blank or fill in with a single sentence.

Section 10 asks you to explain why the proposed financial settlement is fair. The judge reads this section to understand the reasoning behind the agreement. Without it, they have no context — just numbers and a proposed split.

What to include:

• Why the proposed division of assets is appropriate in the circumstances
• How both parties' needs (housing, income, pensions) are being met
• If the split is unequal, why that's justified (e.g., one party is keeping the house and taking on the mortgage; the other is receiving a lump sum to compensate)
• How pensions have been addressed (shared, offset, or dismissed — and why)
• Why a clean break is appropriate (if applicable)
• Any other relevant circumstances the judge should know about

Example for a straightforward case:

Example for a no-asset case:

Common mistake: Writing "Both parties agree" or "By mutual consent" and nothing else. This tells the judge that you agreed but not why the agreement is fair. The judge needs reasoning, not just confirmation.

For more on what the judge assesses, see: How Courts Decide If Your Consent Order Is Fair (Section 25 Explained)

Section 11: Statement of Truth

Both parties must sign the Statement of Truth, confirming that the information in the Form D81 is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge. This is a legal declaration — providing false information is a contempt of court.

Both signatures are required. If either party refuses to sign, the application cannot proceed.

For a full walkthrough of what happens after you submit — including court processing times and what to do if the judge raises queries — see our guide: How Long Does a Consent Order Take?

The 5 Mistakes That Get Form D81 Sent Back

Based on the most commonly cited reasons for court queries and rejections:

Mistake	What Happens	How to Avoid It
Blank fields	Judge queries every blank — assumes information is missing	Use "Nil" or "£0" for every field with no value. Never leave blank.
Missing CETVs	Order returned — judge cannot assess fairness without pension values	Request CETVs from all pension providers on day one. Allow 3–6 weeks.
Empty Section 10	Judge has no context for why the split is fair — queries or rejects	Write 4–8 sentences explaining the reasoning. Use the examples above as a template.
Inconsistency with the consent order	Numbers in D81 don't match the order — raises fraud/error concerns	Cross-check every figure. Property values, pension CETVs, and lump sums must match exactly.
Using the old form version	Application returned automatically	Use version 04.25 (April 2025). Download from GOV.UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I complete Form D81 myself?

Yes. There's no requirement to use a solicitor to complete Form D81. Many couples fill it in themselves, particularly when finances are straightforward. Automated platforms can also generate a completed D81 from your financial data, reducing the risk of errors. The key is accuracy and completeness — the court doesn't care who filled it in, only that the information is correct.

Do both parties fill in the same form?

Yes — Form D81 is a single document with columns for both the applicant and the respondent. Both parties provide their financial information on the same form, and both sign the Statement of Truth at the end.

What if I don't have exact figures?

Reasonable estimates are acceptable for most items — property values, savings balances, and debt amounts can be approximate. However, pension CETVs should be exact (as provided by your pension scheme). If using an estimate, note the basis (e.g., "Zoopla estimate, July 2026" for a property valuation).

Is Form D81 the same as Form E?

No. Form D81 is a summary financial disclosure used for consent order applications (agreed settlements). Form E is a comprehensive financial disclosure used for contested financial remedy proceedings — it's much longer (30+ pages), requires extensive documentation (12 months of bank statements, tax returns, etc.), and takes far more time to prepare. If you've reached agreement, you need D81, not Form E.

What version of Form D81 should I use?

The current version is 04.25 (April 2025). The form was substantially rewritten in 2022 and has been updated since. Always download the latest version from GOV.UK. Using an outdated version will result in your application being returned.

Do I need to attach supporting documents?

No — Form D81 is a self-contained disclosure. You don't need to attach bank statements, payslips, or pension documents (unlike Form E, which requires extensive evidence). However, the information you provide must be accurate and truthful, as both parties sign a Statement of Truth.

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This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. ConsentReady is an automated legal document generation platform, not a regulated law firm. The current Form D81 version is 04.25 (April 2025), verified against GOV.UK in August 2026. Court fees are correct as of 13 July 2026. For advice specific to your situation, consider consulting a family solicitor.