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Form D89: asking a court bailiff to deliver papers

When your spouse ignores the post and email, a court bailiff can hand them the papers. This is the request form.

By Paige ThomsonFacts checked 20 October 2026Covers the law in England and Wales

Form D89 asks a court bailiff to hand-deliver divorce or other family court papers to the other person. It’s used when someone ignores papers sent by email and post but you know where they live. The fee is £47. There’s no fee for bailiff service of an application for a non-molestation, occupation or Domestic Abuse Protection Order.

Official name
Request for personal service by a court bailiff
Court fee
£47 (no fee for protective injunction applications)
Online or paper
Paper
Who fills it in
The person who needs the papers served
When
When other service has failed and you have an address in England or Wales
Current version
D89 (08.26)
Where it goes
The court managing your case; for divorce, HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution service, PO Box 13226, Harlow CM20 9UG

Correct at 20 October 2026. Fees from GOV.UK, Family court fees (EX50).

How do you fill in Form D89?

Most of D89 is about helping a bailiff find and recognise the right person safely. The more precise you are, the better the chance of service on the first visit.

Questions 1 to 4: the case and the person

Give the type of case (divorce, child arrangements and so on), their full name, date of birth and phone number.

Question 5: description or photo

Describe their height, hair, eyes and any distinguishing features. A recent photo helps most. The form says the photo must show only the respondent, so don’t send a group picture.

Questions 6 to 9: when and where

Say when they’re most likely to be in, for example weekday evenings after 6pm. Question 7 asks whether they live in a refuge. Give the address in England or Wales where the bailiff should try, and details of any car they drive.

Question 10: safety

Answer each question honestly: violence or convictions, threats, police or social services involvement, dogs, mental health or substance issues, and firearms. Tick ‘not known’ if you don’t know. These answers protect the bailiff and affect how service is attempted.

Statement of truth, address and fee

Sign and date. Give the address for documents to be sent to you, unless you’ve already asked the court to keep it private. Pay the £47 or give your Help with Fees reference.

What are the common mistakes on Form D89?

  • Giving an address outside England and Wales. Court bailiffs only serve here.
  • No photo and only a vague description.
  • Guessing times rather than giving the hours they’re usually home.
  • Leaving the safety questions blank.
  • Requesting a bailiff before checking whether your spouse already received the papers. If they did, deemed service on D11 may be quicker.

What happens after you send Form D89?

The court passes the request to a bailiff, who tries to hand over the papers. If they succeed, the court has proof of service and your spouse’s time to respond starts. If they can’t, the court will let you know, and you can consider other options such as alternative service on form D11 or, as a last resort, form D13B.

Where do you get Form D89?

Download D89 from GOV.UK. Send it to the court managing your case. For divorce and dissolution cases, the form gives HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution service, PO Box 13226, Harlow CM20 9UG.

Open Form D89 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 D89?

If there’s any history of violence or threats, talk to a family solicitor or a domestic abuse service before arranging service. You may also be able to keep your own address private and apply for protection at the same time.

Get help with Form D89

Tell us what’s going on and we’ll introduce you to two or three family solicitors who can help. Introductions are free for you.

Get matched with a family solicitor

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Common questions

How much does bailiff service cost?

The court fee for a bailiff to serve a document is £47. There is no fee for bailiff service of an application for a non-molestation, occupation or Domestic Abuse Protection Order.

Can a bailiff serve papers abroad?

No. Form D89 asks for an address in England and Wales. If your spouse lives abroad, different rules apply and you should get legal advice.

Do I need a photo of my spouse?

It is not compulsory, but a recent photo makes it far more likely the bailiff serves the right person. It must show only them.

What happens if the bailiff cannot serve them?

You can consider other routes, such as asking the court for alternative service on form D11 or, if you cannot find them, to dispense with service on form D13B.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK, Request a court bailiff to deliver papers: Form D89 (form version 08.26)
  2. GOV.UK, Family court fees (EX50), updated 13 July 2026
Form D11Ask the court for an extra order in a divorce, such as deemed serviceForm D13BAsk to continue a divorce without serving a spouse you can’t findForm D8Start a divorce or dissolution on paper (most people apply online)Form D10Reply to your spouse’s divorce application (the acknowledgement of service)

Guides and tools

Divorce when you can’t find your spouseDeemed service, bailiffs and dispensing with serviceDealing with a difficult exPractical steps when things are hardDivorce and family court fees 2026Every fee in one dated table

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.