Form D14 is the application you file in the Family Court of England and Wales when standard methods of delivering your divorce or dissolution papers to the respondent have failed, and you need a judge to direct what happens next. It covers three possible orders under Part 6 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010: that service be deemed to have taken place, that service be made by an alternative method or at an alternative place, or that service be dispensed with altogether. You download it from the GOV.UK family law forms collection or request a paper copy from the court, and you submit it to the HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution Service.
Which Direction to Ask For
Before you touch the form, work out which of the three directions fits your situation. The rule you cite shapes everything else, including the evidence you’ll need to attach.
Deemed Service (Rule 6.16)
Use this when the court sent the application by post or email, no acknowledgment of service came back, but you have reason to believe the respondent actually received it.1Justice UK. PART 6 – SERVICE This typically arises when the respondent is avoiding paperwork rather than genuinely unreachable. You’ll need evidence that the documents reached them: confirmation from a process server that papers were handed over at the correct address, proof the respondent mentioned the proceedings to a third party, or records showing postal delivery was signed for.
Alternative Service (Rule 6.19)
Rule 6.19 allows the court to authorise service by a method or at a place not normally permitted, provided there is good reason. If the court grants this direction, the order must specify the exact method of service, the date on which the application will be treated as served, and the deadline for the respondent to file an acknowledgment of service or answer.1Justice UK. PART 6 – SERVICE Common alternatives include delivery through a relative known to be in contact with the respondent, service by email where you have a verified address, or leaving documents at a place the respondent is known to visit. The court can also retrospectively approve steps you’ve already taken.
Dispensing With Service (Rule 6.20)
Rule 6.20 lets the court dispense with service entirely when it is impracticable to serve by any method available under Part 6. The application must be supported by evidence, and the court may require you to attend a hearing.1Justice UK. PART 6 – SERVICE This is the hardest direction to obtain. You are asking the court to let your divorce proceed without the respondent ever being formally notified, so expect the bar to be high. If the respondent is at a known address and simply ignoring correspondence, this isn’t the right ask.
What to Put on the Form
The form itself is short. You’ll need your case number (assigned when the divorce application was issued), your full name, and the respondent’s full name. If your case was issued on or after 6 April 2022 under the no-fault system, use the current terminology: “applicant” rather than “petitioner,” “application” rather than “petition,” “conditional order” rather than “decree nisi,” and “final order” rather than “decree absolute.”2GOV.UK. “Blame game” ends as no-fault divorce comes into force
State clearly which direction you want and the exact rule you’re relying on. A brief explanation of why that direction fits your facts helps the judge pair your request with the evidence that follows.
The Evidence That Decides It
The evidence attached to Form D14 is what actually determines the outcome. Present it in a statement of truth: a written account signed by you confirming the facts are accurate. What you need depends on the direction you are seeking.
- For deemed service under Rule 6.16: evidence the respondent received the application despite not returning the acknowledgment. A process server’s report documenting delivery, signed-for postal receipts, text messages or emails from the respondent referencing the divorce, or a statement from someone the respondent told about the proceedings.
- For alternative service under Rule 6.19: an explanation of why standard service is not working, the alternative method you propose, and why you believe it will bring the application to the respondent’s attention. If you’ve already attempted the alternative method, include proof of those steps.
- For dispensing with service under Rule 6.20: a detailed account of every attempt you have made to locate and serve the respondent. Reports from a professional process server documenting failed delivery attempts with dates, times, and locations; enquiries with the respondent’s last known employer, family members, or friends; checks of the electoral roll, social media, and any other public records; and confirmation that you have no current address or contact method for the respondent.
Specifics matter. A vague statement that you “made enquiries” without listing what they were will usually prompt a request for more detail or an outright refusal.
Fee and Fee Help
A court fee is payable when you submit Form D14. The amount depends on whether the application is made with or without notice to the other party, and it changes periodically. Check the current HMCTS fee schedule (form EX50) on GOV.UK before filing.
If you can’t afford the fee, apply for help using Form EX160 and send it in with your D14. You may qualify for a full or partial remission if you receive certain benefits (such as income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, or Universal Credit with earnings under £6,000 per year), or if your income and savings fall below the published thresholds.3GOV.UK. Get help paying court and tribunal fees An application submitted without a fee or an EX160 won’t be processed.
Where to Send It
Post the completed D14, all supporting evidence, and your fee or EX160 to:
HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution Service
PO Box 13226
Harlow
CM20 9UG4GOV.UK. Divorce Service Centre
If your divorce was started online, follow-up applications can sometimes be submitted through MyHMCTS, though that portal is primarily used by solicitors. Litigants in person who started online should contact the Divorce Service Centre to confirm whether digital filing is open to them or whether they need to post the application.
After You File
A judge or legal adviser reviews the application and evidence on paper. Three outcomes are possible.
- The direction is granted. You receive a court order specifying the approved service method, or confirming service is deemed or dispensed with, and setting any new deadlines. Your divorce can then move on to the next stage.
- The court requests more information. The judge may ask for additional evidence or clarification before deciding. If you asked to dispense with service but didn’t say whether you checked the electoral roll, for instance, you’ll likely be told to do so and report back.
- A hearing is listed. Under Rule 6.20 the court can require you to attend and explain the service difficulties in person. This is more common with applications to dispense with service than with deemed or alternative service requests.
Processing times vary with the court’s workload. There is no guaranteed turnaround, and delays during busy periods are not unusual. If you’ve heard nothing after several weeks, contact the Divorce Service Centre to check on the application’s status.
Mistakes That Stall the Application
Thin evidence is the most common cause of a refusal or a request for more information. Judges want dates, methods, and results, not a general assurance that you tried.
Applying under the wrong rule is the next most common error. Deemed service, alternative service, and dispensing with service answer different problems, and choosing the wrong one wastes time because the judge will either refuse or tell you to resubmit under the correct provision. If the respondent is reachable but silent, you are in Rule 6.16 or 6.19 territory, not Rule 6.20.
And if your case was issued after April 2022, use the current terms throughout. “Petitioner” and “decree nisi” belong to the old system, and mixing them into a form governed by the no-fault rules creates avoidable confusion.