Form D11: asking the court for something extra in a divorce

Form D11 is the general application notice used inside divorce, dissolution or separation proceedings when you need the court to decide something extra. Common uses are deemed service, alternative service and applying without your marriage certificate. The fee is £62 without notice or by consent, and £195 if the other side is notified.

What is form D11 used for?

D11 is for anything in a divorce case that doesn’t have its own form. The most common uses are:

• Deemed service: asking the court to treat your spouse as served because you can prove they received the application, for example a text or email from them mentioning it.
• Alternative service: asking to serve the papers another way, such as to a different email address or by a method you show they actively use.
• Issuing without a marriage certificate, when you can’t get the original or a certified copy.
• Costs: the D8 notes say any application for costs should be made on D11.
• Case management: asking to adjourn a hearing or change a deadline.

Some steps have their own form instead: dispensing with service uses D13B, bailiff service uses D89, and a financial application uses Form A.

How do you fill in Form D11?

The D11 is seven pages, but most of the substance goes into two boxes: what you want, and the evidence for it.

Questions 1 and 2: who you are

Give your name and your role in the case: applicant, applicant 2, respondent, or a solicitor acting for one of them.

Question 3: what order you want and why

Say in a sentence or two what you’re asking for and why. For example: ‘I ask the court to deem the application served on the respondent, because he replied to the court’s email on 3 September saying he had read it.’ The form asks you to attach a draft of the order you want. Keep it short and use the same wording.

Question 4: can a judge deal with it on paper?

Most simple applications are decided on paper without a hearing. Tick no unless there’s a real reason a hearing is needed. If a judge makes an order on paper, anyone who objects can ask within 7 days for a hearing.

Questions 5 to 9: hearing details

These cover telephone hearings, time estimates and fixed dates. The form says you can skip them for a deemed service application. If you don’t know how long a hearing would take, leave the time blank rather than guessing.

Question 10: who should be served

List who should get a copy, usually your spouse. If anyone’s contact details must be kept private, leave them out and complete form C8.

Question 11: your evidence

Tick whether you’re relying on an attached statement, the divorce application, or evidence written in the box. For deemed service, attach the proof: screenshots of the message showing the date, sender and what they said. Then sign the statement of truth.

The fee page

Pay £62 if the application is by consent or without notice, or £195 if the other side is being notified. Enter your Help with Fees reference if you have one, or attach EX160.

What are the common mistakes on Form D11?

• Not attaching a draft order.
• Asking for deemed service with no evidence that your spouse actually received the papers.
• Paying the wrong fee. Work out whether the application is on notice (£195) or without notice or by consent (£62).
• Including a private address in the evidence or the draft order.
• Using D11 when a specific form exists, such as D13B to dispense with service or D89 for a bailiff.

What happens after you send Form D11?

A judge reads the application and usually decides it on paper. You’ll be sent the order. If it’s granted, the court treats the step as done: for example, with deemed service you can go on to apply for the conditional order and attach the order to form D84. If the judge needs more, the court will tell you what’s missing or list a short hearing.

Where do you get Form D11?

Download D11 from GOV.UK, which also has a large print version. Send it, with your evidence, draft order and fee, to the court managing your case. GOV.UK’s court finder lists the addresses.

Open Form D11 on GOV.UK

We explain forms but never host them, so you always download the current version from GOV.UK.

When should you get help with Form D11?

A family solicitor can draft the order and the evidence if the application is contested, if you’re asking for costs, or if you’ve already had one service application refused.

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Common questions

Sources

1. GOV.UK, Form D11 application notice (form version 06.26)
2. GOV.UK, Form D8 notes on costs and missing certificates (version 01.25)
3. GOV.UK, Family court fees (EX50), updated 13 July 2026

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This page is general information about court forms, not legal or financial advice. Forms, fees and rules change, so always download the current form from GOV.UK and speak to a qualified professional about your situation. Facts checked 20 October 2026.