Case Study: Financial Remedy Proceedings
Case Study: How Crossroads21 Supported Their Client Through Financial Remedy Proceedings Calmly, Clearly, and at a Fraction of the Cost
When Sarah (name changed) first contacted Crossroads21, she was feeling overwhelmed and anxious. She was in the middle of a divorce, working and caring for young children who lived primarily with her, and struggling to reach a financial agreement with her husband. With no capital assets to divide and both parties renting, the case centred on spousal maintenance and pension sharing but the process still felt daunting.
She had already issued an application for financial remedy proceedings and was facing the next stage alone. The court timetable, the Form E, the documentary disclosure, the hearings, it all felt like a maze. She wasn’t sure what to do next or how to prepare.
She couldn’t afford a solicitor, but she needed help and expert guidance. That’s exactly why she was recommended to Crossroads21.
What We Worked Through Together
Over a series of focused sessions, I helped Sarah:
· Understand the financial remedy process and what each hearing involved
· Complete her Form E accurately and gather the right documentary evidence
· Prepare key documents required for the First Appointment, including:
the case summary
the joint schedule of assets
· Review her husband’s Form E and disclosure
· Identify missing documents and unclear transactions
· Draft a clear, structured questionnaire for her husband to reply to
· Understand the likely range of outcomes a Judge might consider at a final hearing
· Build confidence in representing herself throughout the process
The central issue in this case was the income disparity between the parties.
Spousal maintenance cases can be notoriously tricky when it comes to how much should be paid each month and for how long. Sarah needed clarity, reassurance, and someone to help her make informed decisions about the offer she wanted to put forward to her husband without the cost of full solicitor representation.
Crossroads21’s Involvement: A Clear, Cost-Effective Path to Settlement
From the moment Sarah reached out to me to the day her case settled at the first hearing, the entire process took just over six weeks.
During that time, she had three structured sessions with me:
Session 1: Understanding the Process & Completing Form E
· I explained the financial remedy process and what each hearing involved
· Educated her on the law and options around spousal maintenance and pensions
· Helped her complete her Form E
· Set out exactly what documents she needed to gather to support her disclosure
Session 2: Reviewing Husband’s Disclosure & Preparing Court Documents
· Reviewed her husband’s Form E and documentary evidence
· Identified missing documents and unclear transactions
· Drafted a detailed questionnaire for her to send to him and the court
· Advised her on the next procedural steps
Session 3: Preparing for the First Hearing and Conference with Counsel
· Prepared the case summary and joint schedule of assets for her to send to her husband and to the court
· Put her in touch with a mortgage adviser for a mortgage capacity report
· Introduced and helped her instruct a recommended and trusted barrister for legal advice about her case overall, advice on the likely outcome at court and advice on the offer to send to her husband to settle the case. The barrister also helped Sarah with the draft offer letter so she could send it directly to her husband.
In between sessions, Sarah sent quick 30-second messages whenever she needed reassurance or clarification on something and I didn’t charge her for those. It meant she stayed supported without worrying about cost.
Total spent with Crossroads21: £500
This covered all three sessions, all document preparation, all disclosure review, and ongoing ad-hoc support.
Strategic Use of Her Budget: Barrister Conference
To maximise the limited financial assistance she had, I recommended investing in a conference with a specialist recommended family law barrister, a targeted, high-value step that would give her the legal clarity she needed without the cost of full solicitor representation. This was a barrister I had used throughout my career as a family solicitor and so I knew she could be trusted and would work well with Sarah.
I helped her:
· Choose and instruct the barrister
· Contact the clerk
· Provide the right documents
· Prepare for the conference
The conference was held remotely, allowing her to join from home with a supportive family member present to take notes.
Cost of barrister conference: £750 + VAT (£900 in total)
(including preparation time and the conference itself)
Afterwards she messaged me:
“Everything went brilliant. I am happy to do what she (the barrister) advised me to do. I’m feeling better, more confident and I’m very happy with the outcome, as it was what I was hoping for. I am going to go ahead with the offer.”
The barrister drafted her settlement offer, which aligned perfectly with what she had been hoping for.
Opening Negotiations and a Breakthrough
With her offer letter ready, Sarah opened negotiations with her husband. Just four days before the next hearing, she messaged me with the good news I was hoping for:
She had reached an agreement.
She thanked me for all my help and said she didn’t need me to attend court with her. She and her husband went together, presented their agreement, and the Judge approved it, even offering them additional practical advice, including making sure they both prepared Wills to protect their children’s future inheritance.
After the hearing, Sarah messaged me sounding really relieved:
“Court went really well.”
I sent her a congratulatory message and even details of a local recommended Will writer as well as practical advice to make sure she thought about changing the beneficiaries in relation to her pension, to her children.
Why Crossroads21 Was the Right Fit for Her
Sarah’s case is a perfect example of how financial remedy proceedings don’t always require full solicitor representation but they do require clarity, confidence, and expert guidance.
Crossroads21 provided:
· Specialist support from a former family solicitor
· Clear explanations without legal jargon
· Hands-on help with Form E, disclosure, and court documents
· Strategic advice on how to use her limited budget effectively
· Confidence to negotiate and represent herself
· A calmer, more affordable route to a fair settlement
Total cost of her entire journey using Crossroads21 & a barrister: £500 + £900 (barrister fee including VAT) = £1,400
Likely solicitor & barrister cost for the same outcome: £7,000+ (including VAT)
She achieved a strong, sensible agreement, avoided unnecessary conflict, and navigated the process with far more confidence than when she first reached out.
The fact they were able to have a calm, constructive discussion once negotiations opened meant they reached an agreement together before the first hearing. This helped them preserve an amicable relationship moving forward, which benefits both their wellbeing and their children’s.
A Final Thought
Financial remedy proceedings can feel intimidating, especially for parents juggling childcare, work, and the emotional weight of separation. This can feel even more stressful for those who can’t afford to instruct a solicitor and feel like they have to face these issues alone. But with the right affordable guidance, the process becomes manageable, structured, and far less stressful.
Crossroads21 exists to provide exactly that: expert support, personal reassurance, and practical help at a fraction of traditional legal costs.