What is a First Appointment?

The First Appointment (also known as the First Directions Appointment or FDA) is the initial court hearing in financial remedy proceedings following a divorce or dissolution. Its main purposes are:

• Identifying Issues: The court will identify the key financial issues in dispute between you and your former partner.
• Case Management: The judge will ensure that both parties have provided full and frank financial disclosure (primarily through Form E) and will give directions to ensure the case progresses efficiently.
• Directions for Further Information: If further information or documents are needed (such as property valuations, business accounts, or expert reports), the judge will order these at this stage.
• Timetable: The court will set a timetable for the next steps, which may include further disclosure, expert evidence, or listing the next hearing (usually a Financial Dispute Resolution hearing, or FDR).
• Encouraging Settlement: While the First Appointment is not a settlement hearing, the judge may encourage the parties to consider negotiation or mediation to resolve issues early and avoid unnecessary litigation.

No final decisions about the division of assets are made at this stage unless both parties agree and the judge considers it appropriate.