How to apply for divorce online

Before you start

To apply for divorce in England and Wales, you must:

• Have been married for at least 12 months
• Have a marriage that’s legally recognised in the UK
• Have a permanent home in England or Wales, or have lived here for at least 12 months (or your spouse meets these requirements)

Since April 2022, you don’t need to give a reason for your divorce or prove anyone was at fault. You simply confirm that the marriage has “irretrievably broken down” – that’s the only legal ground for divorce.

What you’ll need

Before starting your application, gather:

• Your marriage certificate – the original or a certified copy. If you married abroad and the certificate isn’t in English, you’ll need an official translation
• Your spouse’s address – so the court can send them the application (for sole applications)
• Payment – £612 court fee, or evidence for fee remission if you’re on a low income

Applying online

The quickest way to apply is through the government’s online divorce service at GOV.UK.

Step 1: Go to www.gov.uk/apply-for-divorce and create an account

Step 2: Choose whether to make a sole or joint application

Step 3: Complete the online form with:

• Your personal details and your spouse’s details
• Details of your marriage (date, location)
• Confirmation that the marriage has irretrievably broken down
• Whether there are any children

Step 4: Upload a photo or scan of your marriage certificate

Step 5: Pay the £612 court fee online

Step 6: Submit your application

The court will check your application and, if everything is in order, “issue” it – meaning they formally accept it and send it to your spouse (in a sole application).

Applying by post

If you prefer, you can apply by post using Form D8. Download it from GOV.UK or request a paper copy from any county court.

Send your completed form to:

Courts and Tribunals Service Centre HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution Service PO Box 13226 Harlow CM20 9UG

Include:

• Completed Form D8
• Your original marriage certificate (or certified copy)
• Court fee of £612 (cheque payable to “HMCTS” or request a card payment)

The court fee

The divorce court fee is £612 (as of April 2025).

This single fee covers:

• Processing your application
• Issuing the conditional order
• Granting the final order

It doesn’t include:

• Legal advice or solicitor fees
• Financial remedy applications (£313 separately)
• Child arrangements applications (£263 separately)
• Consent orders for finances (£60)

Help with fees

If you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you may not have to pay the full fee. The “Help with Fees” scheme can reduce or waive the court fee entirely.

You may qualify if you:

• Receive income-based benefits (Universal Credit, Income Support, JSA, ESA, Pension Credit)
• Have savings under a certain threshold
• Have low income after essential expenses

Apply online at www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees or use Form EX160. You’ll receive a reference number to include with your divorce application.

What happens after you apply

Within a few days: The court checks your application. If anything’s missing or incorrect, they’ll contact you.

Once issued: For sole applications, the court sends your spouse:

• A copy of the divorce application
• An acknowledgement of service form to confirm they’ve received it

Your spouse has 14 days to respond to the acknowledgement of service. They can confirm they’ve received the application and whether they intend to dispute it.

20-week reflection period: You must wait 20 weeks from when the court issued your application before applying for a conditional order. This period gives you time to:

• Reflect on your decision
• Sort out arrangements for children
• Begin negotiating finances

If your spouse doesn’t respond

If your spouse doesn’t return the acknowledgement of service within 14 days, you can:

1. Contact them directly (if safe) to remind them
2. Ask the court to arrange “alternative service” – serving papers by another method
3. Apply for “deemed service” – asking the court to accept that papers have been served

The divorce can proceed even without your spouse’s cooperation, though it may take longer.

Switching between joint and sole

If you started a joint application but your spouse stops cooperating, you can switch to a sole application and continue without them.

Similarly, if you started as a sole applicant, you can invite your spouse to join and convert to a joint application – though this is less common.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Wrong marriage certificate – sending a commemorative certificate instead of the legal one
• Missing details – incomplete addresses or incorrect dates
• Not keeping copies – always photograph or scan everything before sending
• Rushing – take time to check everything is correct before submitting

Next steps

After your application is issued:

1. Wait for your spouse’s acknowledgement of service (sole applications)
2. Use the 20-week period to work on children and financial arrangements
3. Apply for a conditional order once 20 weeks have passed
4. Wait 6 weeks and 1 day, then apply for the final order