How Long Will It Take to Fill In the Form?

If you have everything to hand: 30 minutes to 1 hour

If you already have up-to-date figures for your property, mortgage, savings, pensions, income, and debts - either in your head or in a folder - most people complete the form in around 30 minutes to 1 hour. The questions are grouped into seven short steps, and none of them require lengthy written answers.

If you need to gather information first: 1–3 hours (or more)

For most people, the main time cost is sourcing the numbers rather than filling in the form itself. Common things that take time to find or obtain include:

• Pension Cash Equivalent Values (CEVs) - these must be requested formally from your pension provider or scheme administrator, and can take several weeks, or up to three months for some public sector schemes, to arrive. You can estimate for now and update later, but for an accurate report you will eventually need the real figure.
• Property valuations - online estimates from Rightmove or Zoopla are acceptable for a first assessment, but a formal valuation may be needed before any settlement is agreed.
• Mortgage balances - usually available via your lender’s online portal or a recent statement.
• Investment and savings account balances - online banking usually shows these instantly, but if you have multiple accounts across different providers it may take time to compile.
• Business interests - if you or your spouse own a business, an accurate valuation is complex and likely requires an accountant.

The Before You Start page inside the app lists everything you might need and where to find it - it is worth reviewing this before you begin.

Figuring out your monthly income needs can take time. We provide guidelines on how to use AI to help you find the answers quicker when you get to the relevant part of the form. If you don’t have precise figures from your partner we recommend using estimates.

You don't have to do it all at once

SmartJudge saves your progress automatically as you go. You can stop at any point, come back later - on any device - and pick up exactly where you left off. There is no time limit and no pressure to complete it in a single session.

This matters because gathering some figures (especially pension CEVs) can take weeks. You can start the form with the information you have, note where figures are estimates, and return to update them once you have more accurate numbers.

What we've done to make it as easy as possible

We have designed the form with the following in mind:

• Optional personal details - you do not need to provide your name or address to generate a report. You can use figures and descriptions only.
• Question mark help icons - every field has a tooltip explaining what the question means, why it matters, and how to find the answer.
• The SmartJudge chatbot - if you are unsure about any question while filling in the form, the chatbot (bottom-right of the screen) can explain it in plain English.
• Estimates are accepted - where a precise figure is not available, you can enter a reasonable estimate. The report will reflect the quality of the data you provide, but an estimated figure is better than a blank.
• Auto-save - changes are saved as you type, so nothing is lost if you close the browser unexpectedly.