Divorce Application Cover Letter

Formal cover letter to accompany an online divorce application, explaining the choice of sole or joint application under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020.

When to use this template

Use this when submitting a divorce application (D8 form or online portal) to the HMCTS Courts and Tribunals Service. It is particularly useful where you wish to provide context, confirm that the one-year wait since the conditional order has not yet elapsed, or explain why you are proceeding as a sole applicant rather than jointly.

When NOT to use this template

Do not use this letter to make financial claims — those must be made through Form A in separate financial remedy proceedings. If there are children, their arrangements should be addressed in a separate Child Arrangements Order application (C100). Do not send this letter to your spouse in place of serving the application through the court.

Legal Basis

Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (in force 6 April 2022); Family Procedure Rules 2010, Part 7. The Act replaced fault-based divorce with a no-fault system. Either or both spouses may apply. The sole applicant serves the application on the respondent through the court. A conditional order may be applied for no earlier than 20 weeks after the application is issued.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Confusing a sole application with a unilateral divorce — the respondent is still served and can respond
✗Not enclosing the original marriage certificate or a certified copy
✗Applying before the marriage is at least one year old (the one-year bar still applies)
✗Conflating the divorce process with financial remedy proceedings — the two run separately

Build Your Letter

Fill in your details

Complete the fields below. Required fields are marked with *.

Your full name (applicant)*

Your address*

Date of letter*

Spouse's full name (respondent)*

Date of marriage*

Type of application*

Letter preview

[YOUR FULL NAME (APPLICANT)]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

[DATE OF LETTER]

The Court Manager
HMCTS Divorce Service

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Dear Sir or Madam,

**DIVORCE APPLICATION — [YOUR FULL NAME (APPLICANT)] and [SPOUSE'S FULL NAME (RESPONDENT)]**
**Marriage date: [DATE OF MARRIAGE]**

I write to accompany my [TYPE OF APPLICATION] divorce application submitted through the HMCTS online divorce service.

**The parties**

Applicant: [YOUR FULL NAME (APPLICANT)], [YOUR ADDRESS]
Respondent: [SPOUSE'S FULL NAME (RESPONDENT)]

The parties were married on [DATE OF MARRIAGE]. The marriage has broken down irretrievably and I am applying for a divorce pursuant to the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020.

**Nature of the application**

This is a [TYPE OF APPLICATION] application. I confirm that:

1. The marriage took place more than one year before the date of this application.
2. The marriage has broken down irretrievably, as required by section 1 of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020.
3. I understand that a conditional order cannot be applied for until at least 20 weeks have elapsed from the date the application is issued, and a final order cannot be applied for until at least six weeks after the conditional order is made.

**Documents enclosed**

I enclose the following documents in support of this application:

1. The completed online application (reference number to be allocated by the court).
2. The original / certified copy of the marriage certificate.
3. The court fee of £593, paid online / by cheque / by postal order.

**Service**

I ask the court to serve the application on the respondent at the address provided in the application. I understand that if service cannot be effected, I will need to make alternative arrangements.

Please acknowledge receipt of this application and provide the case reference number at your earliest convenience.

Yours faithfully,

[YOUR FULL NAME (APPLICANT)]

Unfilled fields appear as [FIELD NAME]. Review the letter carefully before sending. This template is a starting point — adapt it to your specific circumstances.