HMCTS · Official form

Form D8: Apply for a divorce or to dissolve a civil partnership

Form D8 is the paper application to a court in England and Wales to end a marriage or a civil partnership, and it can also be used to apply for a judicial separation order.

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What is D8?

D8 is the divorce and dissolution application form used by His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. It can be made by one applicant alone or as a joint application by both parties. Under the current law you do not have to give reasons or allege fault: the application is based on a statement that the marriage or civil partnership has broken down irretrievably.

The form runs to around twenty pages and covers the parties' names and addresses, the marriage or civil partnership details, the court's jurisdiction, service arrangements, whether you are also asking the court to deal with money matters, and the statement of truth. The original marriage or civil partnership certificate, or a certified copy, normally has to go with it.

Who files D8?

Anyone applying to end a marriage in England and Wales
Civil partners applying for dissolution of their civil partnership
Couples making a joint application together rather than one applicant
People applying for a judicial separation order instead of a divorce

How to fill out D8

Decide whether you are applying alone or jointly, and complete the applicant and respondent details.
Give the marriage or civil partnership details exactly as they appear on the certificate.
Complete the jurisdiction section and the statement that the relationship has broken down irretrievably.
Tick whether you want the court to consider a financial order, then sign the statement of truth.
Send the completed form with the certificate and the fee to the court address given in the form's guidance notes, or use the online divorce service instead.

Worth knowing: Applying online through the gov.uk divorce service is usually faster than posting form D8. A court fee applies either way.

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These are the form's own fields, in the order they appear on the pages. Fill in what you know; anything left blank stays a fillable field in the PDF, so you can finish it in any PDF reader. Nothing you type here is sent to HMCTS.

Page 1 4 fields

Section 1 – Your application. 1.1 What application are you making? Check this box if you are applying for divorce on the ground that the

Check this box if you are applying for dissolution on the ground that the civil partnership has broken down irretrievably

1.2 Are you applying as a sole applicant or joint applicants? Check this box if you are making a sole application – you are applying on

Check this box if you are making a joint application – you are applying together. You and your spouse/civil partner will complete this

Page 2 2 fields

1.3 What documents are you supplying to support your application? Check this box if you are supplying your marriage or civil partnership

1.3 Check this box if you are supplying a translation that has been certified by a notary public or authenticated by a statement of truth

Page 3 11 fields

Check this box if this is either your married name or the name shown on your marriage or civil partnership certificate

Check this box if this is neither your married name nor the name shown on your marriage or civil partnership certificate

If this is neither your married name nor the name shown on your marriage or civil partnership certificate, please attach your change of

2.2 Check this box if you wish to keep your contact details confidential from your spouse or civil partner. Note 2.2: If you do not wish to

Check this box if you do not wish to keep your contact details confidential from your spouse or civil partner

First name(s)

Middle name(s)

Last name

Page 4 15 fields

2.3 What is your address and contact details? Enter the building and street of your address. Note 2.3: You should give a home address in

The second line of your contact address

The town or city of your contact address

The county of your contact address (optional)

The country of your contact address

2.4 Check this box if you have a solicitor; if so, complete the following questions (2.5 to 2.8). Note 2.4: For a solicitor completing this

Check this box if you do not have a solicitor; if so, go to Section 3

2.5 Enter the solicitor's name

2.6 Enter the solicitor's reference number (if applicable)

2.7 Enter the name of the solicitor's firm

Postcode

Phone number (if you have one)

Email (if you have one)

Page 5 11 fields

2.8 Enter the building and street of the address of the solicitor's firm

The second line of the address of the solicitor's firm

The town or city of the address of the solicitor's firm

The county of the address of the solicitor's firm (optional)

The country of the address of the solicitor's firm

The solicitor's firm's DX address (if applicable)

Postcode

Phone number

Page 6 8 fields

3.2 Check this box if this is neither the married name nor the name shown on the marriage or civil partnership certificate

If this is neither the married name nor the name shown on the marriage or civil partnership certificate, please attach the change of name

First name(s)

Middle name(s)

Last name

Page 7 11 fields

3.3 Enter the building and street of the address of the respondent or applicant 2. Note 3.3: Where the application is to be served by the

The second line of the address of the respondent or applicant 2

The town or city of the address of the respondent or applicant 2

The county of the address of the respondent or applicant 2 (optional)

The country of the address of the respondent or applicant 2

For the respondent's email address only – check this box to confirm that to the best of your knowledge only the respondent has access to

Postcode

Phone number (if there is one)

Email (if there is one)

Page 8 9 fields

3.4 Check this box if the application is to be served on the respondent outside England and Wales; if so, you must arrange service of this

Check this box if the application is to be served on the respondent inside England and Wales

3.5 The court will serve the application on the respondent by email and a notice sent by post unless you specify otherwise. Check this box

3.6 Check this box if the respondent has provided a different address for the court documents to be sent to; if so, please provide the

3.6 Check this box if the respondent has not provided a different address for the court documents to be sent to; if so, go to Section 4

3.7 Enter the name of the solicitor for the respondent or applicant 2 (if applicable and if known)

3.8 Enter the solicitor's reference number (if applicable and if known)

3.9 Enter the name of the solicitor's firm (if applicable and if known)

Page 9 8 fields

3.10 The solicitor's or other address they have provided. Enter the building and street for the address

3.10 Enter the second line of the address

The town or city for the address

The county for the address (optional)

The country for the address

Their DX address (if applicable)

Postcode

Phone number

Page 10 10 fields

4.1 Check this box if your marriage/civil partnership took place outside of the UK

4.1 Check this box if your marriage/civil partnership did not take place outside of the UK

4.2 Check this box if you are making a separate application to issue without your certificate

4.2 Check this box if you are not making a separate application to issue without your certificate

If your marriage/civil partnership took place outside the UK, and/or you are making a separate application to issue without your

4.4 Enter your full name as shown on your certificate

Your spouse/civil partner's full name as shown on your certificate

Day

Month

Year

Page 11 3 fields

4.5 Check this box if the details set out in your marriage or civil partnership certificate are correct

Check this box if the details set out in your marriage or civil partnership certificate are not correct; if so, explain why in the next

If the details set out in your marriage or civil partnership certificate are not correct, enter an explanation here

Page 13 14 fields

Page 14 6 fields

Section 6 – Statement of irretrievable breakdown (the legal reason for your divorce or dissolution). 6.1 You must state that your marriage

Applicant 2 (if a joint application): check this box to confirm that your marriage or civil partnership has broken down irretrievably

Section 7 – Existing or previous court cases. 7.1 Check this box if there are any existing or previous court proceedings relating to your

Check this box if there are no existing or previous court proceedings relating to your marriage/civil partnership or affecting its validity

If there are any existing or previous court proceedings relating to your marriage/civil partnership or affecting its validity, enter the

If there are any existing or previous court proceedings relating to your marriage/civil partnership or affecting its validity, enter a

Page 15 8 fields

Section 8 – Dividing your money and property – Orders which are sought. 8.1 Do you want to apply for a financial order? Sole

Sole applicant/applicant 1: check this box if you want to apply for a financial order for yourself

Sole applicant/applicant 1: check this box if you want to apply for a financial order for the children

Sole applicant/applicant 1: check this box if you do not want to apply for a financial order for yourself and/or the children

8.1 Do you want to apply for a financial order? Applicant 2: check this box if you want to apply for a financial order for yourself and/or

Applicant 2: check this box if you want to apply for a financial order for yourself

Applicant 2: check this box if you want to apply for a financial order for the children

Applicant 2: check this box if you do not want to apply for a financial order for yourself and/or the children

Page 16 6 fields

Section 9 – Summary of what is being applied for (the prayer). The sole applicant or the joint applicants apply for the following: 9.1 The

Check this box if you apply for the civil partnership to be dissolved

The sole applicant or applicant 1 wishes to apply for the following: 9.2 Financial Order (if you ticked 'Yes' to the question at 8.1 and

Check this box if you wish to apply for a financial order to be granted for the children

Applicant 2 wishes to apply for the following: 9.3 Financial Order (if you ticked 'Yes' to the question at 8.1 and wish to make an

Check this box if you wish to apply for a financial order to be granted for the children

Page 17 11 fields

Section 10 – Statement of truth. Sole applicant or applicant 1. Check this box to state that you believe that the facts stated in this form

Check this box to state that the applicant believes that the facts stated in this form and any continuation sheets are true, and you are

Your signature - signature box. You must sign and date the statement of truth. If you do not, the court will return your application.

Check this box if the statement of truth is signed by the applicant

Check this box if the statement of truth is signed by the applicant’s legal representative (as defined by FPR 2.3(1))

The day (in two-digit format) that the statement of truth is signed

The month (in two-digit format) that the statement of truth is signed

The year (in four-digit format) that the statement of truth is signed

The full name of the person signing this form

The name of the applicant’s legal representative’s firm

If you are signing on behalf of a firm or company, enter the position or office you hold

Page 18 11 fields

Section 10 – Statement of truth. Applicant 2. Check this box to state that you believe that the facts stated in this form and any

Check this box to state that applicant 2 believes that the facts stated in this form and any continuation sheets are true, and you are

Your signature - signature box. You must sign and date the statement of truth. If you do not, the court will return your application.

Check this box if the statement of truth is signed by applicant 2

Check this box if the statement of truth is signed by applicant 2’s legal representative (as defined by FPR 2.3(1))

The day (in two-digit format) that the statement of truth is signed

The month (in two-digit format) that the statement of truth is signed

The year (in four-digit format) that the statement of truth is signed

The full name of the person signing this form

The name of applicant 2’s legal representative’s firm

If you are signing on behalf of a firm or company, enter the position or office you hold

Page 19 20 fields

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Frequently asked questions

Can I apply online rather than on paper?

Yes. Gov.uk offers an online service to apply for a divorce or to end a civil partnership, and a phone line on 0330 016 0051 for people who need help. The paper D8 exists for cases that cannot be done online.

How much does it cost?

There is a court fee, and help with fees may be available if you are on a low income or certain benefits. Check the current fee and the Help with Fees scheme on gov.uk before you send the form.

Do I need the original marriage certificate?

The court normally needs the original certificate or a certified copy. If it is not in English, a certified translation is usually required. Follow the guidance notes published with the form.

Form D8: Apply for a divorce or to dissolve a civil partnership

What is D8?

Who files D8?

How to fill out D8

Quick fill D8 on this page

Frequently asked questions

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