Form D10

WHAT IS FORM D10 USED FOR?

Form D10 is called the ‘acknowledgement of service’ form. It is used to respond to the court when your ex-partner has started divorce proceedings by submitting a SOLE divorce application form D8.

You will now be known as the respondent. Your ex-partner will be known as the applicant.

Once the court has received your ex-partners sole divorce application form D8 they will process it and send you the following documents  – 

Notice of divorce proceedings form (formerly known as the D9H form) – The notice of divorce proceedings form is a sheet of paper that informs you that your ex-partner has made a sole application to start divorce proceedings. This form will also have your court case/unique reference number on it and the date your divorce proceedings were issued. It will also explain what you need to do next and by which date.

Form D8 – You will receive a court stamped copy of your ex-partners sole divorce application form D8;

Form D10 – This is the acknowledgement of service form for you to complete and return to the court. This is your reply form.

How you receive the above documents, whether by by email or post, will depend upon which of these methods your ex-partner used to submit their sole divorce application form D8.

How you return your completed form D10 to the court will also depend upon how your ex-partner submitted their sole divorce application form D8 or if you have/or intend to hire a solicitor. 

• If your ex-partner submitted the sole divorce application form D8 online – Your notice of proceedings form D9H will have an online access code. You need to return your completed form D10 online. You will need to create an account, and reply. This must be done within 14 days. Once you have submitted your form D10, your ex-partner will be sent a link so they can view your form D10. 
• If you have a solicitor – They will return your completed form D10 for you by post within the required 14 days. 
• If your ex-partner submitted the sole divorce application form D8 by post – Your notice of proceedings form D9H WILL NOT have an online access code. In this case you must return your completed form D10 by post. Again within 14 days. Once the court has received and processed your form D10, they will send your ex-partner a court stamped copy.

APPLICATION FORM D10 IS NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE. THE COURT WILL SEND IT TO YOU.

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE FORM D10?

There is a write up on the government website that may help you.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT GUIDE TO ‘RESPOND TO A DIVORCE APPLICATION‘ 

You can also read our own L.I.P Help Guide. 

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR ‘THE PROCESS OF RESPONDING TO THE COURT IF YOUR EX-PARTNER HAS STARTED DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS BY SUBMITTING A SOLE DIVORCE APPLICATION FORM D8’

You can also call 0300 303 0642  – 08.00am – 06.00pm Monday to Friday and 08.00am – 02.00pm Saturday

You can email – divorcecase@justice.gov.uk

You can write to HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution service, PO Box 13226, Harlow, CM20 9UG

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND FORM D10 TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

There is no fee to send this form to the court.

HOW TO COMPLETE FORM D10 AND WHERE TO SEND IT.

The details below are when you receive form D10 by post and are returning it by post.

• NOTE 1 – As stated above, as your ex-partner has submitted a sole divorce application form D8, you will now be known as the respondent. Your ex-partner will be known as the applicant or petitioner.
• NOTE 2 – If you find there is not enough space on the form to complete your answers, please continue on extra sheets of paper and attach them to your form D10. Please remember to write your full name, date of birth, case number and question number on the top of your sheet of paper.
• NOTE 3 – You will need to send 3 copies of the form and all attachments to the court so they can distribute accordingly. They will keep one, they will send one court stamped copy back to you and send one court stamped copy to your ex-partner. Please make sure you send enough copies.
• NOTE 4 – Please keep a copy of your completed application form and all attachments for yourself outside of the ones you send to the court.
• NOTE 5 – You must return your form D10 within 14 days.
• NOTE 6 – To complete this form you will need to refer to the court stamped copy of your ex-partners divorce application form D8 that the court sent to you with your form D10. 
• Form D10 is 7 pages long.
• On the top right hand corner of page 1 you will be asked to write your case number in the box provided. You can find this on your notice of divorce proceedings form the court has sent to you.
• Part 1 on page 1 will ask if the application is for a divorce, dissolution or separation. Please tick the relevant box.
• Part 2 on page 1 will ask if you have read your ex-partners form D8 (or form D8S if the application is for a separation). Please tick the relevant box.
• Part 3 on page 1 will ask you to write the date when you received the application. 
• Part 4 on page 2 will ask you if you dispute the divorce/dissolution or separation. Please tick the relevant box. If you do dispute the divorce then you will need to submit form D8B to the court within 21 days from the last date you should have submitted your form D10 (14 days from when you received the divorce application).

LINK TO OUR L.I,P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM D8B

Please note – If you DO NOT dispute the divorce then your divorce is called an undefended divorce. If you DO then your divorce is a defended or disputed divorce. There is a fee to send form D8B to the court. You must have a legal reason to dispute the divorce. There will be a court hearing which both you and your ex-partner will attend and come to an agreement.

• Part 5 on page 3 will ask you if the courts in England and Wales have jurisdiction to deal with your case. Please tick the relevant box. For the court to have jurisdiction to deal with your case either you and/or your ex-partner must live (be habitually resident) in England or Wales OR if you live abroad, your permanent home must be (you are domiciled) in England or Wales.
• • • Habitually resident in the UK means – This is where yours and/or your ex-partners life is based, your work and your children go to school in the UK. You are settled and your main family life is in the UK. 
    • Domiciled means – This is where your permanent home is where you live or intend to come back to.
• Part 6 on page 3 will ask you to write down the country where your life is mainly based. 
• Part 7 on page 4 will ask you if you intend to ask the court to delay the divorce or dissolution until the court is satisfied with your financial position because you are the respondent. If you tick the ‘yes’ box then you will need to complete form B and send it to the court. The court will need to read your form B first before any final order is granted. Form B is called the notice of an application to consider the financial position of the respondent after the divorce.

• Part 8 on page 4 will ask you if there are any existing or previous court proceedings in the UK or overseas relating to your marriage or affecting its validity. Please tick the relevant box and give details if required.
• On page 5 you will be required to sign a statement of truth. 
• On page 6 you will be asked to write your contact details so the court can send (serve) you court documents. If you want to keep your contact details confidential from your ex-partner please DO NOT write your details here. Please complete form C8 and submit it with your form D10.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR FORM C8

• On page 7 is the address where you need to send your completed form D10, all attachments and other forms. The address is  to HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution service, PO Box 13226, Harlow, CM20 9UG. 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM D10/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Form D10 will be sent to you by the court. You can also call, email or write to the court and ask for a copy.

WHEN WAS FORM D10 FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

The latest copy of form D10 was published in 2023.