Part of: Divorce Specialists
The D11 form is the court’s general application notice for divorce cases in England and Wales. You use it to ask a judge for an order while your case is already running. It follows the procedure in Part 18 of the Family Procedure Rules (FPR 2010, Part 18). For example, people use it when a spouse ignores the papers, or when a case needs to pause. Our divorce specialists assist and advise at each stage of that process.
If your divorce has stalled, it can feel as if nothing will move until someone else acts. This guide covers England and Wales only. It explains what Form D11 is for, what it costs, how to fill it in and what happens next. It also applies to civil partnership dissolution and judicial separation.
Reviewed by: Iblal Iqbal, Partner & Family Law Strategist, Kabir Family Law
Key takeaways
- One form, many requests. Form D11 covers requests such as deemed service, alternative service, pausing a case or shortening a waiting period (GOV.UK guidance).
- Two fee bands. The GOV.UK court fee list sets £62 for a request made by consent or without notice, and £195 for one made on notice. You may also qualify for help with court fees.
- Question 3 does the work. A judge may decide on paper, so say which order you want, explain why and attach a draft order.
- Notice matters. If the other party must be told, they should usually get a copy at least 7 days before the court deals with it (FPR r.18.8).
- It is not for everything. Bailiff service, a defence to the divorce and financial claims all use other routes.
What is a D11 form used for?
A D11 application asks the court to make an order or give directions in a case that has already started. The official title is “Application notice”, and HM Courts & Tribunals Service publishes it on GOV.UK. The current edition is dated June 2026, so always download a fresh copy of the D11 form. Divorce forms are revised from time to time, and this one has changed several times since 2022.
In simple terms, the D11 form in divorce is the “ask the judge” form. GOV.UK gives these common examples:
- asking the court to treat the papers as served (deemed service);
- serving the papers another way, such as by email or text (alternative service);
- going ahead without the original marriage certificate (not for a marriage in England or Wales, where you order a copy instead);
- asking for more time to serve the papers;
- asking for a government search to find a spouse’s address;
- shortening the 20-week or 6-week waiting periods;
- pausing or cancelling a conditional order or final order;
- withdrawing the divorce once the other party has been served;
- asking for a costs order.
The form’s own notes add more examples, such as asking to adjourn a hearing, to vary an existing order or to restart a case that has gone quiet.
Which D11 form applications cost £62 and which cost £195?
The fee depends on whether the other party is told about your request. As a rule, agreed or simple requests fall in the lower band. However, if the other party objects, the higher fee applies, because a judge may want to hear from both of you. The table below uses the GOV.UK fee list (EX50) and HMCTS divorce guidance.
| Application | What you ask the court | Fee band |
|---|---|---|
| Deemed service | Treat the papers as served when your spouse has not replied | £62 (the form says no hearing is needed) |
| Alternative service | Let you serve by email, text or another method | £62 |
| More time or an address search | Extend the time to serve, or search government records for an address | £62 |
| Shorten a waiting period | Cut the 20-week or 6-week wait in extreme circumstances, such as a medical reason | £62 if you both agree; £195 if not |
| Pause or cancel an order | Stay or rescind a conditional order or final order | £62 if you both agree; £195 if not |
| Withdraw the divorce | End the case once your spouse has been served | £62 if you both agree; £195 if not |
| Respondent’s final order | Finish the divorce when the applicant has not | £195 |
| Answer out of time | Permission to defend the divorce late | £195; a hearing is usually needed |
Fees change, so check GOV.UK before you pay. If you pick the wrong band, the court may ask for a top-up or give a partial refund. If your spouse has not been served yet, withdrawing needs only a statement to the court, with no fee. Also, if you have a low income or receive certain benefits, you can apply for help with fees first.
When should you not use a D11 form?
Form D11 is broad, but it has limits. GOV.UK says you cannot use a general application to ask for bailiff service, to file an answer (a defence), to amend your divorce application, to appoint a litigation friend or to start a financial claim. Each of those has its own form or process.
Similarly, if every reasonable attempt to find and serve your spouse has failed, you ask the court to dispense with service on Form D13B, not the D11 (FPR r.6.20). Children cases work differently too. Requests within Children Act cases use a different form, which our guide to the C2 form explains.
How do I fill out a D11 form?
The D11 application form has 11 questions and a statement of truth. GOV.UK says questions 1 to 4, 10 and 11 must be answered, as well as the statement of truth. Work through it in this order:
- Start with the case details. Add the case number, the court’s name and the names of both parties. Your case number is on letters from the court.
- Questions 1 and 2: who you are. Give your name and your role in the case, for example applicant or respondent.
- Question 3: the order and the reason. Say exactly what you want the judge to do and why. Then attach a draft of the order you want.
- Question 4: paper or hearing. Tell the court if there is a reason a judge should not decide it on paper.
- Questions 5 to 9: hearing details. These cover telephone hearings, time estimates and fixed dates. You can skip them for a deemed service application, as the form notes explain.
- Question 10: who gets a copy. List the people to serve. If an address must stay private, leave it blank and use Form C8 instead.
- Question 11: your evidence. Tick what you rely on, such as a witness statement, and attach it. Or set out the evidence in the box on the form.
- Sign the statement of truth. Only sign if you believe every fact is true. The form warns that a false statement can lead to contempt of court proceedings.
- Pay the fee and send it. Pay the right band, or add your help with fees reference. Then send the form and copies to the court managing your case.
Question 3: what order are you asking the court to make, and why?
This is the heart of the D11 application notice. A judge may decide it on the information you give, without a hearing. So write it as if nobody will ask you a follow-up question. Name the order, give the key dates and explain what has happened so far. For instance, “I ask the court to deem the application served because my spouse confirmed by text on 2 March that they received it.” Then point to the evidence you attach.
How does a D11 deemed service application work?
Deemed service fixes a common problem. Your spouse has received the divorce papers but has not sent back the acknowledgment of service. Under the rules, the court can treat the papers as served if it is satisfied they arrived (FPR r.6.16). GOV.UK says you can apply once 14 working days have passed without a reply.
You need proof that your spouse got the papers. The form notes say written confirmation, such as a letter, email or text, can be enough. If the judge agrees, your case can move on without their reply. The 20-week wait before a conditional order still counts from the date the court issued the application, as our guide to the 20-week divorce reflection period explains.
Alternative service is different. You use it before service, when post will not work. The court can allow another method, such as email or social media (FPR r.6.19). GOV.UK asks for proof that your spouse actively uses that method, or an explanation if you have none. Also, the court itself cannot serve by text or social media.
How long does a D11 form take to process?
There is no fixed timescale. Court staff pass the application to a legal adviser or a judge. They then approve it, refuse it or ask you for more information. Paper decisions are usually quicker than requests that need a hearing.
Several things affect the wait. First, if the other party must be told, they should usually get a copy at least 7 days before the court deals with it (FPR r.18.8). Second, a thin application often comes back with questions. Third, if a judge decides on paper, the form says any party who objects can ask for a hearing within 7 days of the order. Finally, if your request is urgent, say why on the form and contact the court straight away.
Can the respondent use Form D11 to finish the divorce?
Yes, in a sole application. Usually the applicant asks for the final order. But if they do not, the other spouse can apply once three months have passed from the earliest date the applicant could have applied (Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s.9(2)). GOV.UK lists this as a D11 application in the £195 band. Our guide to the decree absolute, now called the final order explains why that last step matters.
The same form works in the other direction too. If you need to stop the divorce from finishing, you can ask the court to pause the order. Apply early, though, because GOV.UK warns that a late request may not stop the order in time. The court also has power to shorten the waiting periods in a particular case (MCA 1973, s.1(8)). Our page on no-fault divorce sets out those waiting periods.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a D11 application cost?
GOV.UK’s court fee list, updated in July 2026, sets two fees. It is £62 for a request made by consent or without notice, such as most agreed or simple requests. It is £195 for a request made on notice, for example when the other party objects. Help with fees may reduce or remove the cost if you qualify.
Can I fill in the D11 form on screen?
Yes. GOV.UK publishes Form D11 as a PDF you can download, fill in on screen and print, and there is a large print version too. Send it, with copies, to the court managing your case, and follow any newer instructions that court gives you.
Do you need to attach a draft order to a D11?
Yes. The form asks you to attach a draft copy of the order you want. If you ask for costs, the form notes say the draft should state the amount and show briefly how you worked it out. A clear draft also helps a judge decide quickly on paper.
Is Form D11 used in children cases?
No. Form D11 is for divorce, dissolution and separation cases. Requests made within Children Act cases use a different form. If both cases are running at once, you may need a separate application in each.
What happens if the judge refuses a D11 application?
The order will say why. For a refused service application, GOV.UK says you can respond with more evidence or make a new D11 application. For other requests, read the reasons carefully before you apply again, because the same request with the same evidence is unlikely to succeed.
Need an order before your divorce can move on? Take advice before you apply
A request with the wrong fee or too little evidence can slow the whole case down. Book a free initial consultation, where one of our specialists gives you initial advice tailored to your circumstances. You can also read how our divorce specialists assist and advise.
Expert Tip
A D11 often stalls for a simple reason: question 3 is too thin. A judge can decide these requests on paper, so the form has to make the whole case on its own. Name the order you want, give the dates and attach the proof, such as the text or email showing your spouse received the papers. Add a draft order too. If you are unsure which fee band applies, ask the court before you pay.
Garry Steedman, Family Law Consultant (Divorce, Children & TOLATA)
