How to start a divorce application on MyHMCTS

You start a divorce in England and Wales by filing an application online through MyHMCTS — the court's digital case management system. The application is made on Form D8. Once filed and paid for, the court issues it and the 20-week cooling-off period begins from the date of issue. This article walks you through exactly what to expect when you log in, what information you will need, and what happens once you submit.

This is part of the complete guide to getting divorced without a solicitor.

What do I need to have ready before I start?

Having the right documents in front of you before you open MyHMCTS will make the process significantly smoother. You will need:

• Your marriage certificate. The court requires it as proof of the marriage. If you were married in England or Wales, you need the original or a certified copy — a photocopy is not accepted. If you do not have the original, you can order a certified copy from the General Register Office. If you were married abroad, you will need the original foreign certificate and, in most cases, a certified translation if it is not in English.
• Full names and addresses for both parties. Your full legal name, date of birth, and current address, and the same for your spouse. If your name has changed since the marriage, you will need your married name as it appears on the certificate.
• Your spouse's solicitor's details, if they have one. If you know your spouse is legally represented, you can provide their solicitor's address for service instead of your spouse's home address.
• A decision on sole or joint application. Decide before you start whether you are applying alone (sole applicant) or together (joint applicants). In a joint application, your spouse will need to create their own MyHMCTS account and link to the same case.
• Payment details. You pay the court fee at the end of the application. Check GOV.UK for the current figure before you start — court fees are reviewed periodically. If you may be eligible for fee remission because of your income, apply for it and have the outcome before you file.

How do I create a MyHMCTS account?

If you do not already have a MyHMCTS account, create one at hmcts-access.service.gov.uk. You will need a valid email address and will be asked to verify your account during setup.

Once your account is created, access the divorce application through your MyHMCTS dashboard. The service is listed under the family law services available to you.

If you already have a MyHMCTS account from a previous case, use the same account. You do not need to create a new one.

What are the steps in the D8 divorce application?

The D8 application is broken into sections. MyHMCTS guides you through them in order. Here is what each section covers:

1. Your details. Your full name, date of birth, address, and contact details. If your name has changed since the marriage and you want to be known by your current name during proceedings, state this here.
2. Your spouse's details. Their full name, date of birth, and address. This is the address the court will use to serve the application if you are a sole applicant. If your spouse has a solicitor, you can provide their address instead.
3. Details of the marriage. The date and place of marriage, and the names as they appear on the certificate. This section also deals with your marriage certificate — what the system asks you to do with it (upload, post, or both) is covered below.
4. Sole or joint application. You confirm whether you are applying alone or jointly. If jointly, the system asks for your spouse's email address so they can join the application from their own account.
5. The ground for divorce. A single statement: that the marriage has broken down irretrievably under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. You confirm it. No further explanation is required.
6. Jurisdiction. The application asks which connection you have to England and Wales — for example, that you are both domiciled here, or that you have been habitually resident here for at least 12 months under the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973. Read the options carefully and select the one that accurately reflects your situation.
7. Children of the family. The application asks whether there are any children of the family under 18, or over 18 and still in education or training. This does not start the child arrangements process — that requires a separate application if needed.
8. Other court proceedings. You are asked whether there are any other court proceedings involving you, your spouse, or your children. This includes any existing financial remedy or child arrangements cases.
9. Orders applied for. You confirm you are applying for a divorce order. The application also asks about financial orders at this stage, but the financial remedy process is commenced separately.
10. Statement of case. You confirm the statement that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. This is the sole ground for divorce under the 2020 Act. No further narrative is required.
11. Review and submit. Before submitting, review everything you have entered. Check names, dates, and addresses against the marriage certificate. Errors at this stage can cause delays later.

What does the court do with my marriage certificate?

The court requires your marriage certificate to verify the marriage before it can issue the application. When you reach this step, follow the instructions the system gives you. If the system asks you to upload a scan or photograph, do that. If it asks you to post the original or a certified copy, do that and note the address and any deadline given. If it asks for both, do both.

If your marriage certificate is in a language other than English, a certified translation will generally be required alongside it.

The court cannot issue your application until it has verified the marriage. Any delay in providing the certificate delays the date of issue — and therefore the start of your 20-week period.

How do I pay the court fee?

After the review step, you pay the court fee online by card. Once payment is taken, the application is submitted to the court. Check GOV.UK for the current fee amount before you reach this step — the figure changes periodically.

If fee remission was granted, it will have been applied to your account and you will not pay at this stage. Keep a record of your payment confirmation.

What happens after I submit the application?

After submission, the court processes your application. Once reviewed and issued, you will receive a case number and a copy of the issued application through MyHMCTS.

The date the court issues the application — not the date you submitted — starts the 20-week cooling-off period. If the court takes several days to process your submission, your 20-week clock starts later than you might expect.

If the court identifies an error before it can issue proceedings, it will contact you with what needs to be corrected. The application cannot be issued until any amendments are made, and the 20-week period does not begin until issue.

If you are a sole applicant, the court then serves the application on your spouse by post to the address you provided. Your spouse has 14 days from the deemed date of service to complete and return an Acknowledgement of Service (Form D10).

If you are a joint applicant, your spouse will be notified through MyHMCTS to confirm the application from their own account.

You can monitor the progress of your case through your MyHMCTS account. Correspondence from the court will appear there as well as being sent by email.

What if something goes wrong with the submission?

MyHMCTS is a digital system and can have technical issues. If the application does not submit correctly, or if you do not receive a confirmation email, check your MyHMCTS account first — your submission status is visible there. If the status is unclear, contact the HMCTS helpline before attempting to resubmit. A duplicate submission can result in duplicate fees and complications with your case.

If there is an error in the application after submission, contact the court as soon as possible. Minor errors can often be corrected administratively. Errors on significant details — such as the marriage date or the parties' names — will need to be addressed formally.

Going through a divorce application without a solicitor is daunting, particularly when you are not sure what each section is actually asking. Access to Justice is built to walk you through exactly this — explaining what each stage means and helping you prepare before you act. Try it free.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to create a new account if I already used MyHMCTS for something else?

No. Your existing MyHMCTS account covers all HMCTS services. Log in with the same credentials and navigate to the divorce application from your dashboard — there's no need to register separately or create a second account for this specific process.

Can I save my application and come back to it?

MyHMCTS allows you to save your progress and return to an incomplete application. Completing it in a single session where you have everything to hand tends to be more straightforward, but if you need to gather documents partway through, your progress won't be lost.

Do I have to send the original marriage certificate?

The court requires the original or a certified copy — a photocopy is not accepted. What the system asks you to do with it depends on the current HMCTS process. Follow the instructions given during the application, as the exact upload or postal requirement can change.

What if my spouse lives abroad?

You can still file as a sole applicant and provide your spouse's address abroad. Service on a spouse outside England and Wales takes longer and may involve different procedures depending on the country. The court will give directions on how to proceed.

What if I do not know my spouse's current address?

Reasonable efforts to locate the address are expected. If you genuinely cannot find it, there are formal provisions for alternative service or dispensation of service, which require a separate application to the court explaining what steps you've already taken to find them.

Can I withdraw the application after submitting it?

Yes, in most cases, though the procedural position depends on what stage the application has reached. The court fee is generally not refunded if you withdraw, so it's worth being certain of your decision before you submit the application in the first place.

What is the difference between submitting and issuing?

Submitting is when you send the application to the court through MyHMCTS. Issuing is when the court processes it, assigns a case number, and formally starts the proceedings. The 20-week period runs from the date of issue, not submission — this distinction matters for your timeline.

How long does it take for the court to issue the application?

Processing times vary. In straightforward cases it is typically within a few working days, but it can take longer depending on court workload. Your case status is visible through MyHMCTS at any point, so you can check real progress rather than guessing how far along things are.

This article provides legal information about the divorce application process in England and Wales. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a qualified solicitor.