Divorce and separation
Mortgage capacity reports for divorce and separation
If you're divorcing or separating and need to show how much you could borrow, I can write a mortgage capacity report for you and your solicitor. It sets out a realistic borrowing figure based on how lenders assess applications today, an example monthly cost, and every assumption I've used. It's a report, not a mortgage offer, and it doesn't decide what the court will do.
It's £295 per person with no VAT, and I aim to send it within 2 working days of receiving everything I need. I'm Craig Shilling, a CeMAP-qualified mortgage adviser based in Fareham. I work with people anywhere in the UK by phone and video, and meet in person around Fareham and Hampshire.
What is a mortgage capacity report?
It's a written assessment of how much you could realistically borrow on a mortgage once your finances are separated. Where each person will live is often one of the biggest questions in a separation. The report answers it with figures based on how lenders currently assess applications, rather than an online calculator or a guess.
You may see it called something else. These all describe the same kind of report:
- mortgage capacity assessment
- borrowing capacity report
- mortgage raising capacity report
- mortgage capacity letter
- mortgage report for court
Who needs one?
You might need a report if:
- you're going through divorce, dissolution or separation and housing is part of the financial settlement
- you want to keep the family home, or buy out your partner and take the mortgage into your sole name
- you both need to buy separate homes and want to know what's realistic
- your solicitor, mediator or the court has asked for evidence of your borrowing capacity
- you've been asked to file borrowing evidence before the First Appointment, the first court hearing about money
- you're in mediation, where there's no court deadline but you need clear figures before you can agree anything
- you're representing yourself and need clear figures to put forward
You may not need one if you plan to rent, or if you'll receive a home with no mortgage on it. Your solicitor can tell you what your case needs.
At a glance
- £295 per person, no VAT£295 each if both of you need figures.
- Usually within 2 working daysOf receiving everything I need.
- One report per personEach assessed on its own.
- Declaration if neededSigned, with a statement of truth.
Why it matters in court: Form E, First Appointment and FDR
If your case goes to the Financial Remedies Court, there are a few terms you'll hear.
- Form E is the financial disclosure form each of you completes, setting out income, assets and debts. My report isn't part of Form E, but it supports what you say about your housing needs. If you've already completed yours, it helps me too.
- First Appointment is the first court hearing about money. Current Financial Remedies Court guidance asks for brief borrowing capacity evidence for both of you, ideally obtained jointly, to be filed at least 14 days before it. If that can't be done jointly, each of you can obtain your own.
- FDR (Financial Dispute Resolution) is the hearing where a judge helps you both try to reach a settlement. If your circumstances or lender criteria have changed since your report, you may want it updated before then.
- Final hearing: if your case doesn't settle, an update may be needed.
I can't give you legal advice about your case. Your solicitor will confirm what your case needs and when.
What's in your report
Every report is based on your own circumstances. A typical report reads in this order:
- Who the report is for, who instructed it, and the date
- What I was asked to answer, taken from your solicitor's letter or questions
- Your circumstances as you've given them to me: income, employment, maintenance paid or received, dependants, debts and commitments, deposit or share of equity, and your age and the mortgage term
- The main borrowing figure, and how I reached it using current lender criteria
- An example monthly cost on a repayment basis, with the term and assumptions used
- Other scenarios if you've asked for them, for example with certain debts repaid, with different maintenance figures, or with changed working hours
- Anything that could limit your borrowing, or a clear statement if borrowing isn't currently possible, with the reasons
- Assumptions and limits: it's not a mortgage offer, I haven't run a credit check, and the figures reflect lender criteria on the date of the report
- My qualifications and, if your solicitor or the court needs it, a signed declaration and statement of truth
If borrowing isn't possible right now, I'll say so plainly. People sometimes search for this as a nil mortgage capacity report. That evidence can matter as much as a borrowing figure.
I don't name lenders or quote rates as offers, and the report isn't a recommendation to take out any particular mortgage.
What a report looks like
It's a short written report, usually a few pages, laid out in the order above. It's written in plain English so you, your solicitor, the other side and the court can all follow it.
I don't offer a downloadable template, because a template can't show how the figure was reached for you.
Reports for one or both of you
I prepare one report per person. Each person's borrowing is assessed separately, using their own income, outgoings and circumstances. If both of you need figures, that's two reports at £295 each.
Your solicitors can instruct me for one of you or for both, and I'll keep each person's information confidential. If your solicitor or the court needs it, I can include a signed declaration and statement of truth.
Why my reports cost £295
Here's what the fee pays for:
- I write every report myself. The person who speaks to you is the person who signs it.
- It's built around your case. I start with a short call about what the report needs to answer and by when.
- The assumptions are shown in full, so the other side, the solicitors and the court can follow how I reached the figure.
- Scenarios for the questions that decide settlements, such as maintenance, debts repaid or working hours. These are priced and confirmed with you before I start.
- A signed declaration and statement of truth if your solicitor or the court needs it.
- It's deadline-aware. Tell me your hearing date and I'll plan around it.
- There's a route into a mortgage afterwards if you want one, as a separate service. You don't have to use me for a mortgage because I wrote your report.
What it costs
My fee is £295 per person, and there's no VAT to add. If both of you need figures, that's £295 each. Extra scenarios and updates are charged separately, and I'll confirm those costs with you before I start. I invoice you (the client), and the fee is payable before work starts. I don't run a credit check.
How long it takes
I aim to send your report within 2 working days of receiving everything I need. Please tell me your hearing date when you first get in touch.
What I need from you
To start, I'll have a short call with you to understand what the report needs to answer and by when. Then I'll ask for:
- the letter or questions from your solicitor, or the court order, if there is one
- a copy of your Form E, if you have one
- proof of income, such as recent payslips, your P60, or tax calculations and accounts if you're self-employed
- details of any maintenance you pay or will receive, and child benefit or other income
- a list of your debts and regular commitments, such as loans, credit cards, car finance and childcare
- your share of the equity or savings you could use as a deposit
- the scenarios you'd like me to look at, if any
I'll explain anything that isn't clear. You don't need to have everything perfect before we talk.
Where I work
I work remotely with people anywhere in the UK by phone and video, so you don't need to be local. I'm based in Fareham and meet people in person around Fareham and Hampshire, including Fareham, Gosport, Lee-on-the-Solent, Stubbington, Hill Head, Titchfield, Whiteley, Park Gate, Locks Heath, Portchester, Hedge End, Portsmouth and Hayling Island. See all the areas I cover.
For solicitors and mediators
You can instruct me directly by email at craig.shilling@octofp.com or by phone on 07751 367776. Please send:
- your letter of instruction or the questions you want answered
- your client's Form E, if available
- the hearing date or deadline
One instruction can cover both parties, as two separate reports. Turnaround and declarations are as above. I don't pay or receive referral fees.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a mortgage capacity report for my divorce?
Not always. In court cases, current guidance asks for brief borrowing capacity evidence before the first hearing about money, ideally obtained jointly. If you're renting afterwards, or receiving a home without a mortgage, you may not need one. Your solicitor will tell you.
Is a mortgage capacity report the same as a mortgage offer?
No. It shows what you could realistically borrow, based on the information you give me and lenders' criteria at the time. A lender will still make its own checks if you apply later, and criteria and rates can change.
Will the report decide what I get in the settlement?
No. The report is one piece of evidence. It doesn't guarantee any outcome. The settlement is agreed between you or decided by the judge, taking everything into account.
Do we each need our own report?
Yes. Each person's borrowing is assessed separately. If both of you need figures, that's two reports at £295 each. Your solicitors can instruct me for one of you or for both.
What happens if I can't borrow anything?
I'll say so clearly in the report and explain why, for example because of income, existing debts or age. That evidence can matter as much as a borrowing figure.
How much does a report cost?
My fee is £295 per person, and there's no VAT to add. If both of you need figures, that's £295 each. Extra scenarios and updates are charged separately, and I'll confirm those costs before I start. I invoice you, and the fee is payable before work starts.
What does a mortgage capacity report look like?
A short written report, usually a few pages. It sets out your circumstances, the borrowing figure, an example monthly cost, any scenarios you've asked for, and the assumptions I've used.
Who can provide a mortgage capacity report?
Usually a qualified mortgage adviser. I'm CeMAP-qualified and I write and sign every report myself. Your solicitor may have a view on who to use.
Is a mortgage raising capacity report the same thing?
Yes. Mortgage capacity report, mortgage raising capacity report, borrowing capacity report and mortgage capacity assessment are all names for the same kind of report.
How long does it take?
I aim to send your report within 2 working days of receiving everything I need. Tell me your hearing date when you first get in touch.
Do I need a new report for my FDR or final hearing?
Possibly, if your income, debts, maintenance or lender criteria have changed. Updates are charged separately, and I'll confirm the cost before I start.
Will you run a credit check?
No. I don't run a credit check for the report. A lender will make its own checks if you apply later.
Can my solicitor instruct you directly?
Yes. Your solicitor can send the letter of instruction and deadline, for one of you or for both. Each person still gets their own report.
Do you work outside Hampshire?
Yes. I work remotely with people anywhere in the UK by phone and video.
Get in touch
If you need a mortgage capacity report, call me on 07751 367776, email craig.shilling@octofp.com, or use the contact page. Tell me your hearing date and what your solicitor has asked for, and I'll let you know how I can help.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.