Digital divorce service to replace paper D8 form from September 2021
From early September 2021, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) will be mandating the digital divorce process. This means that legal representatives will need to process their divorce applications using the digital online service rather than using the paper D8 form.
Divorce applications should continue to be processed via the paper route in the following instances only:
- civil partnership
- judicial separation
- nullity.
HMCTS strongly encourage signing up to MyHMCTS in good time for September by following these steps:
- check that your firm is not already signed up to MyHMCTS (firms with probate departments may already have accounts); if your firm is using MyHMCTS, request a username and password from your administrator
- if your firm has not signed up, register for the service – your firm needs to nominate an administrator to set the organisation up and manage the account
- to register, organisations must have an active fee account (also known as Payment by Account, or PBA); registering for an account is easy and accounts are usually confirmed within three working days – if you have any questions about setting up an account, email MyHMCTSsupport@justice.gov.uk
- once an account has been created, the administrator will be able to manage the account, add additional users and manage permissions.
For guidance on applying for a divorce on MyHMCTS, click here. The opened page provides guidance on:
- Submitting a case
- Requesting a personal service
- Amending your petition
- Deemed and Dispensed Service Applications
- Alternative Service Journey and General Applications
- Completing an acknowledgement of service
- Responding to an Acknowledgment of Service for represented respondents
- Applying for a decree nisi and decree absolute
- Decree nisi clarification and amend petition for solicitors.
17/7/21