WHAT IS FORM D440 USED FOR?

If you have lost your final order/decree absolute certificate, you can use form D440 to ask the central family court to search for it. Form D440 is only used if you cannot remember your case number or the court who granted your final order/decree absolute. 

Note – If you can remember the court that issued the original final order/decree absolute, you can contact the court itself to issue a new one. It will cost £11.00 if you can provide your divorce case number. If you can’t remember your case number, then the court will charge you £45.00.

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE FORM D440?

There are guidance notes on pages 2-4 of form D440 to help you make this application.

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND FORM D440 TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

The fee to send form D440 to the court is £65.00.

• You can pay by credit card or debit card (please tick the relevant box on page 1) and the court will call you to take payment.
• You can send a cheque, postal order, or bankers draft made payable to HM Courts & Tribunals Service, with your completed form D440.

HOW TO COMPLETE FORM D440 AND WHERE TO SEND IT.

• NOTE 1 – You can complete this form online and then print a hard copy. Alternatively you can download it, print it and then complete by black pen. 
• NOTE  2- If you find there is not enough space to complete your answers on your form then please use additional sheets of paper to continue on and attach them to your form. Please write your name, address, case number and question number on the top of your additional sheets of paper. 
• NOTE 3 – Please remember to keep a copy of your form for yourself outside of the copy you send to the court.
• Form D440 is 4 pages long.
• Please make sure all names and surnames are spelt correctly on the form.
• Part 1 of form D440 will ask you the full name of the applicant (the person who issued the divorce proceedings).
• Part 2 will ask you the full name of the respondent (the person who replied to the divorce proceedings).
• Part 3 will ask you the full name of any co-respondent or any other person named in the divorce.
• Part 4 will ask you the date of your marriage.
• Part 5 will ask you the date of your separation.
• Part 6 will ask you the date or year your divorce application was filed with the court.
• Part 7 will ask the name of the court where your divorce application was filed.
• Part 8 will ask your divorce case number.
• Part 9 will ask you the name of the court where your divorce was pronounced.
• Part 10 will ask you the date or year the decree nisi certificate was pronounced.
• Part 11 will ask the date or year the decree nisi was made absolute. 
• The next section will ask you to write down the years between which you would like the court to search for your decree absolute. There is a £65.00 fee for every 10 year period.  
• Then you will be asked if you would like to pay by credit/debit card. You will have to give your phone number so the court can call you for payment. Or you can tick the box that you will be sending a cheque/postal order. You must make this payable to ‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service’ and attach it to your form.
• You will then be asked for your name, address and contact number. If you have a solicitor acting for you then it is their details that must be written in the name, address and contact number boxes.
• The fee of £65.00 is to search a 10 year period. For every 10 year period the court searches for your decree absolute, there is a separate £65.00 fee.
• If the court finds your decree absolute, you will receive a certificate of the search within 10 working days once the payment/cheque clears.
• If there is anything wrong with your form D440, it will be returned to you with a letter stating the reason. This should happen within 10 working days.
• If the court cannot find your decree absolute, the court will issue a ‘no trace’ certificate.
• You must send your completed form D440 with payment to Central Family Court, First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6NP. You can contact them by email – cfc.decreeabsolute@justice.gov.uk

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM D440/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Please click on the link below to access form D440 from the government website. Complete and send by post (signed for recorded delivery).

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM D440

WHEN WAS FORM D440 FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

Form D440 was first published by the government (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) on 01-11-2014 and last updated on 21-07-2023.