Respond to a divorce application

If your husband or wife has started divorce proceedings against you, the divorce centre will send you a copy of their divorce application (sometimes called a divorce 바카라 사이트˜petition바카라 사이트™).

You바카라 사이트™ll also get the following documents online or by post:

• a 바카라 사이트˜notice of proceedings바카라 사이트™

• an 바카라 사이트˜acknowledgment of service바카라 사이트™ form 

Keep the notice of proceedings, which tells you the case number and what you should do next.

How to respond

How you respond depends on how your husband or wife applied for divorce and whether you have a solicitor. 

Responding online 

Respond online if your notice of proceedings has an access code. You바카라 사이트™ll need to create an account.

You must respond within 14 days of getting the notice of proceedings.

You cannot respond online if you have a solicitor representing you.

Responding by post

You must respond by post if:

• your notice of proceedings does not have an access code

• you are represented by a solicitor 

You need to post back the acknowledgment of service form. 

You must respond within:

• 7 days of getting the notice of proceedings, if the court issued your divorce application before 6 April 2022

• 14 days of getting the notice of proceedings, if the court issued your divorce application on or after 6 April 2022

If you do not respond in time

Your husband or wife might still be able to continue with the divorce if the court decides that you received the application.

The court might deliver the papers personally to you so that there바카라 사이트™s proof you바카라 사이트™ve received them. You might have to pay the cost of this.

or get legal advice if you바카라 사이트™re not sure.

If you agree with the divorce  

The divorce will go ahead. Your husband or wife will apply for a legal document (a 바카라 사이트˜conditional order바카라 사이트™ or a 바카라 사이트˜decree nisi) to end the marriage. Then they must apply for a 바카라 사이트˜final order바카라 사이트™ or 바카라 사이트˜decree absolute바카라 사이트™ to finalise the divorce. 

If you disagree with (바카라 사이트˜dispute바카라 사이트™) the divorce 

After you respond, you must also fill in an answer to a divorce application explaining why you disagree with the divorce. Return the form within 21 days, starting from the date that you are due to respond to the divorce application.

It costs £234. You might be able to get help with fees.

You can only dispute the divorce if you have a legal reason. For example, if you live abroad the courts in England and Wales might not be able to deal with your application.

Disagreeing with the divorce means there바카라 사이트™ll be a court hearing. You바카라 사이트™ll have to attend and come to an agreement over the divorce with your husband or wife.

You can get legal advice or apply for help paying court fees if there바카라 사이트™s going to be a court hearing. 

Start your own divorce proceedings 

You need permission from the court to start your own divorce after receiving a divorce application, unless the application was issued before 6 April 2022.

If the court issued the divorce application before 6 April 2022, you can start your own divorce. Fill in a divorce application form.

You will have to pay a £612 fee.

You and your husband or wife will usually have to attend a court hearing to try to come to an agreement over the divorce. 

If your husband or wife does not finalise the divorce

If your husband or wife started the divorce, but they have not applied for the legal document that ends the marriage (the 바카라 사이트˜final order or 바카라 사이트˜decree absolute바카라 사이트™), you can apply. 

You can only do this if it바카라 사이트™s been at least 3 months, 6 weeks and 1 day from when the conditional order or decree nisi was granted.  

To apply, fill in an application notice form.

You바카라 사이트™ll have to pay a £190 fee and go to a court hearing with your husband or wife.