Statement of Arrangements

When a petition for divorce is filed, if there are any children of the marriage (or treated as a 'child of the family') who are under 16 or in full-time education then a Statement of Arrangements for their future must be filed with the divorce petition.

This is done on a standard form D8A. Fill in the names of the court, the petitioner and the respondent at the top of the form and complete the ten simple sections.

1. Children of both parties
Fill in the full name and date of birth of any children born to you and the respondent or adopted by you both.

2. Other children of the family
Fill in the full name, date of birth and relationship to each spouse of any children treated by both of you as a child of the family.

3. Other children who are not children of the family
Fill in the full name and date of birth of any children born to you or the respondent who have not been treated as a child of the family or adopted by you both.

4. Home details
Fill in the address(es) at which the children now live, giving details of the number of living rooms and bedrooms. State whether the property is owned or rented (and by whom) and whether the rent or mortgage is being paid regularly. Give the names of all persons living with the children and their relationship to them. State whether any change to these arrangements is expected, giving details.

5. Education and training details
Fill in the full name of the school, college or training facility attended by each child. State whether the children have any special educational needs (giving details). State whether the educational or training establishment is fee-paying (giving details) and whether fees are paid regularly. State whether any change to these arrangements is expected, giving details.

6. Childcare details
State which parent is the primary carer (if care is shared give details). State whether the primary carer goes out to work and the number of hours worked. Give details of any third party childcare arrangements and state who looks after the children during school holidays. State whether any change to these arrangements is expected, giving details.

7. Maintenance
State whether the other spouse (or any other person) pays towards the upkeep of the children, giving details of any court order, CSA assessment or agreement between the parties. State whether you will be applying for a court order or CSA assessment.

8. Details for contact with the children
State whether the children are seeing the other spouse or having staying contact, giving details. State whether any change to these arrangements is expected, giving details. Give details of your proposals for future contact and residence arrangements.

9. Details of health
State whether the children are in good health and whether they have any special medical needs, giving details.

10. Details of Care and any other court proceedings
State whether the children are in local authority care, subject to any supervision or probation order, or on the Child Protection Register, giving details. State whether there have ever been any court proceedings (e.g. contact, residence, wardship, adoption, care, maintenance) involving the children, giving details.

Declaration
The final part of the form asks whether both parties are in agreement over the arrangements and, if not, whether the petitioner would agree to discuss the matter with a Conciliator. The form should then be signed and dated by the petitioner and (where both spouses are agreed) the respondent.

The form is available from the Court Service website.

Updated 4 May, 2005