By 
Part of: Divorce Specialists
The D8 form is the paper divorce application for England and Wales. You fill it in and post it to the court to end a marriage or civil partnership, instead of applying online. Once the court issues it, a clock starts: you cannot move on to a conditional order until 20 weeks have passed (Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s.1(5)). A small slip on the form can hold up that start. Our divorce specialists assist and advise people at every stage of that process.
If the form is printed out in front of you, it is normal for a few pages to feel heavy. This guide covers England and Wales only. It explains what the form asks for, where it goes, what it cannot do, and what happens once the court has it.
Reviewed by: Iblal Iqbal, Partner & Family Law Strategist, Kabir Family Law
Key takeaways
- It is the postal route. You can apply online or by post, and the D8 is the postal form (GOV.UK, how to apply).
- One year first. Nobody can apply for a divorce until a year after the wedding (MCA 1973, s.3(1)).
- The court fee is £628. It is not refunded once you are told the application has been issued, but help with fees may be available on benefits or a low income (GOV.UK).
- Twenty weeks, then six. A conditional order needs a 20-week wait, and the final order waits at least another six weeks (MCA 1973, s.1(4)-(5)).
- It does not divide money. A binding money arrangement needs its own court application, made before the final order (GOV.UK, finalise your divorce).
- Missing papers cost time. You need the original marriage certificate or a certified copy, plus proof of any change of name (GOV.UK).
What is a D8 form?
A D8 form is the paper application that asks a court to end your marriage or civil partnership. Before 6 April 2022, the paper form was a divorce petition, and it had to rely on one of five facts, such as adultery, behaviour or a period of separation. The no-fault divorce rules swept that away. Now you simply confirm that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and the court must treat your statement as conclusive evidence (MCA 1973, s.1(3)). Nobody has to prove anything against anyone.
You may see it called the D8 divorce form, or the divorce application form D8. Both names mean the same document. You can download the D8 form PDF free from the GOV.UK publication page, including a large print version, so you never need to pay a website for a copy.
Can you still use a paper divorce application form?
Yes. GOV.UK offers both routes, and it lists the online service first. The paper route still suits people who cannot use the online service, or who would rather keep a signed paper record. A Welsh version of the form is available too. Either way, the law behind the application is the same, and so are the waiting periods.
Three basics apply to both routes. First, you must have been married for over a year. Second, the marriage must be legally recognised in the UK. Third, a court in England and Wales must have jurisdiction, for example because you or your spouse are habitually resident here (Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973, s.5(2)).
The main practical difference is checking. Online, the service takes you through each question in turn. On paper, nothing stops you posting a form with a gap, and you may only find out when the court sends it back.
What does the D8 form ask you for?
The form works through your details, the marriage, the court’s power to deal with the case, and what you want to happen next. The table below is a map, not a set of answers, because the right entry depends on your own circumstances.
| Part of the form | What the court wants | Where people trip up |
|---|---|---|
| Who you are | Your full names, plus proof of any change of name since the wedding | Married names, shortened names and changes of spelling |
| The marriage | The date, the place, and the original certificate or a certified copy | Sending a plain photocopy, or a foreign certificate with no certified translation |
| Why this court can help | The jurisdiction ground you rely on (DMPA 1973, s.5(2); Schedule A1 covers same-sex marriages) | Choosing habitual residence when only domicile actually fits |
| The breakdown | Your confirmation, with no reasons and no blame | Adding a long explanation that the form does not ask for |
| Money | The financial order section, which records whether you intend to apply for a financial order | Leaving it blank, then assuming money is sorted automatically |
| Service | Your spouse’s current address, and an email address if you have one | A guessed or out-of-date address, which can stall the case |
| Statement of truth | Your signature and the date | An unsigned form, or one signed by somebody else |
Where do you send the D8 form, and how do you pay?
GOV.UK says to send the form to HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution service, PO Box 13226, Harlow, CM20 9UG, and to keep your own copy. You will also need your original marriage certificate or a certified copy, a certified translation if it is not in English, and proof of any change of name since you married (GOV.UK, how to apply).
The fee is £628. You can pay by cheque made payable to “HM Courts and Tribunals Service”. You can also pay by debit or credit card, and HMCTS will call or email you with details. Check the address and fee on GOV.UK before you post anything, because both can change.
Does the divorce application deal with money?
No, and this catches many people out. A divorce order ends the marriage. It does not divide the house, the savings or the pensions. It does not close off financial claims either, because only a court order settles them. Our guide to financial settlement after divorce sets out how that separate application works.
Even so, the financial order section on the application matters. The court rules let you make a financial claim within the divorce application itself (Family Procedure Rules 2010, r.9.4). That becomes important if you remarry or form a civil partnership. After that, you cannot start most money claims for yourself against your former spouse (MCA 1973, s.28(3)). Completing the section does not start a money case, so you still apply separately when you are ready.
What happens after you send the D8 form?
Once the court issues your application, the timetable takes over. The steps below follow a sole application.
- The court issues it. Staff check the application. If it is correct, you receive a notice that it has been issued, a stamped copy and a case number (GOV.UK).
- Your spouse gets the papers. The court sends them the application and an acknowledgement of service. They must respond within 14 days, saying whether they agree or intend to dispute it. On paper, that response is form D10.
- You wait 20 weeks. You can only confirm that you want to continue once 20 weeks have passed from the start of proceedings (MCA 1973, s.1(5)). Our guide to the 20-week reflection period explains how to use that time.
- You ask for the conditional order. By post, that is form D84. The court then considers whether to make the order.
- At least six weeks later, you ask for the final order. GOV.UK says to wait at least 43 days (six weeks and one day), and the postal form is D36. Apply within 12 months of the conditional order, or you will have to explain the delay (GOV.UK, finalise your divorce).
GOV.UK adds one warning about timing. If you want a legally binding arrangement for money and property, apply to the court for it before you apply for the final order.
Meanwhile, silence from the other side does not end the case. Your spouse can still respond after the deadline. If they do not, the court contacts you and explains your options. For instance, you may ask the court to accept that the papers arrived, or to serve them another way, using a D11 application notice.
Why do courts send applications back?
The court checks every application before it issues it, and small slips can send a paper form back. Watch for a name that does not match the certificate, a photocopied certificate, or a missing fee. Blank service details and an unsigned statement of truth cause trouble too.
Each slip looks minor. Each one still matters, because the 20-week clock only starts when the court issues the application, not when you post it. So go through every section, and every enclosure, before the envelope goes in the post.
Frequently asked questions about the D8 form
Where do I get a D8 form from?
GOV.UK publishes the current version free, including a large print version, and a Welsh version is also available. Always download a fresh copy rather than reuse an old file, because court forms change. Some websites charge for the same form, so check the web address before you pay anybody.
How much does it cost to apply for a divorce by post?
The court fee is £628. If you receive certain benefits or have a low income, you may be able to get help with court fees. Apply for that help online and you get a reference number to use on your application. Using the paper help form instead? Send it in the same envelope as your D8. On a joint application, you both have to apply for help, or the full fee is due.
Can we both apply together?
Yes. Either or both of you may apply, so a couple who agree can start jointly (MCA 1973, s.1(1)). According to GOV.UK, you can also continue as a sole applicant at the conditional order stage, even if you started jointly. So a change of heart does not have to end the case.
Can my spouse stop the divorce once it has started?
Not simply by disagreeing. To dispute it, your spouse completes an answer form, and they need a genuine legal reason. GOV.UK says they cannot dispute it just because they do not want a divorce, or to delay the process (GOV.UK). For example, they might argue that the court lacks jurisdiction, or that the marriage is not legally valid.
Which other court forms come next?
Several follow on regularly. The D10 is your spouse’s response. The D84 asks for the conditional order, and the D36 asks for the final order. A D11 application notice covers requests during the case, such as a different way of serving the papers. Finally, the D81 sets out both sides’ finances when a judge is asked to approve an agreed money order.
Is the D180 form the same as the D8?
No. The D180 sets out the details of a divorce judgment that already exists. It is a certificate under an old EU regulation, and it applies only to proceedings started before 11pm on 31 December 2020 (GOV.UK, form D180). It plays no part in starting a divorce.
Does sending the application freeze our savings?
No. Sending the application freezes nothing, and it does not change who owns what. What matters is honest disclosure later, plus early advice if you fear money is being moved. Moving money to defeat a claim tends to backfire, because a court can restrain or undo such a transfer (MCA 1973, s.37). Our guide on protecting assets in a divorce explains the safer options.
Getting ready to send your divorce application? Get initial advice before you apply
A returned form costs you weeks, and money left unresolved can resurface years later. Book a free initial consultation, where one of our specialists gives you initial advice tailored to your circumstances. It is initial advice only, and it does not include drafting or reviewing documents. You can also read how our divorce specialists assist and advise at each stage.
Expert Tip
We are commonly asked whether the money can wait until the divorce is finished. It can, but do not leave the financial order section of the application blank just because things feel amicable. If you remarry before making a claim, you lose the right to start most money claims for yourself. Complete that section even in a friendly separation. Then take advice on a financial order before you apply for the final order.
Garry Steedman, Family Law Consultant (Divorce, Children & TOLATA)
![Prest v Petrodel [2013] UKSC 34: What It Really Decided](https://www.kabirfamilylaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Prest-v-Petrodel-1024x572.jpg)
![Radmacher v Granatino [2010] UKSC 42: What It Decided](https://www.kabirfamilylaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Radmacher-v-Granatino-1024x572.jpg)
