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Divorce & Separation

Responding to a Divorce

If your husband or wife has started a divorce, you will be sent the papers and asked to respond. Responding to a divorce means returning the acknowledgement of service to confirm you have received the application, and saying whether you agree or want to dispute it. You usually have 14 days to do this. Being served with divorce papers can feel overwhelming, but in almost every case the divorce itself cannot be stopped, so the real work is protecting your position on money, property and any children. We explain exactly what the documents mean, deal with the response for you, and make sure your finances are safeguarded before the marriage ends.

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What does responding to a divorce mean?

Responding to a divorce means dealing with the papers you receive when your husband or wife applies to end the marriage. You are the respondent, and the court sends you the divorce application, a notice of proceedings, and an acknowledgement of service form. Returning that form, usually within 14 days, is how you formally respond.

This only happens with a sole application, where one spouse applies. In a joint no-fault divorce, both of you are applicants and there is no respondent. If you have been served with divorce papers, it means your spouse has chosen to apply on their own, and the law now asks you to respond.

The acknowledgement of service confirms you have received the application and lets you say whether you agree or want to dispute it. It is not the place to argue about money or children. Those are dealt with separately, and they are usually where it matters most to get advice.

Who this page is for

This page is for you if any of the following apply.

  • You have been served with divorce papers and are named as the respondent.
  • You accept that the marriage is over and simply want to respond correctly and on time.
  • You think there may be a legal reason to dispute, such as the court not having jurisdiction, or the marriage not being valid.
  • You are worried about what the divorce means for your home, your finances, or arrangements for your children.

How to respond to a divorce, step by step

There is a clear path once the papers arrive. These are the steps for a respondent.

1. Read the papers carefully

You will receive the divorce application, a notice of proceedings with your case number and an access code, and the acknowledgement of service. Keep them safe and note the date you received them, because the deadline runs from there.

2. Return the acknowledgement of service within 14 days

You respond online using the access code, or by post. If a solicitor is acting for you, the response goes in by post. Returning it confirms you have received the application and keeps the case moving without extra cost or delay.

3. Agree, or dispute on limited grounds

Most respondents agree, because under no-fault divorce you cannot stop the marriage ending. You can only dispute for narrow legal reasons, such as the court of England and Wales not having jurisdiction. Disputing means filing an answer on form D8B, paying a fee, and attending a hearing.

4. Protect your finances before the final order

This is the part that really matters. We help you agree a financial settlement and a consent order, and where there are children we help with arrangements for them, so the marriage does not end before your position is secured.

Ignoring the papers does not stop the divorce. If you do not respond, your spouse can ask a process server or court bailiff to serve you in person, or apply for the court to treat you as served, and you may be ordered to pay the cost. The bigger risk is losing the chance to protect your finances. The 14-day deadline and the steps above are correct as at June 2026, and court rules and fees can change, so please confirm the current position with us. This page is a general guide and not legal advice on your situation.

How we help

Our family solicitors take the pressure off responding to a divorce, from the first deadline through to your settlement.

  1. 1

    Explaining the papers and your options

    We go through the application, the notice of proceedings and the acknowledgement of service with you, explain what each one means, and set out clearly what you should do and by when.

  2. 2

    Filing your response correctly and on time

    We complete and return your acknowledgement of service within the deadline, so the case is not delayed and you avoid the cost of your spouse having to serve you again.

  3. 3

    Protecting your money and property

    We work on your financial settlement and consent order before the final order is made, so that ending the marriage does not put your claims, including over a pension, at risk.

  4. 4

    Disputes and difficult cases

    If there is a genuine legal reason to dispute, for example a question of jurisdiction or whether the marriage was valid, or if your spouse is being obstructive, we advise on the right approach and represent you.

What is included in our service

  • A full explanation of the divorce papers you have received
  • Completing and returning your acknowledgement of service on time
  • Advice on whether you can or should dispute the divorce
  • Help reaching a financial settlement and a consent order
  • Advice on arrangements for any children
  • Representation if the divorce becomes contested or complicated

Responding to a divorce is usually privately funded, and we offer a clear fixed fee so you know the cost from the start. Legal Aid for divorce is limited. It is generally available only where there is evidence of domestic abuse or a risk of harm to a child, and it is means and merits tested. Legal Aid for family mediation is more widely available, and can fund a MIAM and mediation sessions even without evidence of abuse. We will tell you honestly whether you may qualify, and we set out any fee clearly and in writing before any work begins. There is no charge for an initial phone consultation to talk things through.

Common questions

The respondent is the spouse who receives the divorce application when the other spouse applies on their own. As the respondent, you are sent the papers and asked to return an acknowledgement of service. It does not mean you are at fault. Under no-fault divorce, no blame attaches to either spouse.

You usually have 14 days from receiving the papers to return the acknowledgement of service. This deadline changed from 7 to 14 days under the no-fault divorce law in April 2022. You can still respond after 14 days, but your spouse may by then have taken steps to prove you were served.

In almost all cases, no. Since April 2022, you cannot refuse a divorce simply because you do not want it. You can only dispute it on limited legal grounds, such as the court of England and Wales not having jurisdiction, the marriage not being legally valid, or the marriage having already ended.

Ignoring them does not stop the divorce. Your spouse can ask a process server or court bailiff to serve you in person, or ask the court to treat you as served, and you may have to pay the cost. You also lose the chance to protect your finances, which is the real risk of doing nothing.

You do not need one to return the acknowledgement of service, which is straightforward. Where a solicitor really helps is with the finances and any children, because the divorce itself does not settle those. Getting advice before the final order can protect claims that are easily lost, such as over a pension.

Yes, if your notice of proceedings includes an access code, you can respond online by setting up an account. If you were served by post without an access code, or if a solicitor is acting for you, the response must go in by post. We can deal with the whole response on your behalf.

Yes. It is usually best to agree your finances and have a consent order approved before the final order ends the marriage. Applying for the final order too early can leave money claims open and can affect rights such as pensions. As the respondent, you can take the lead on protecting this.

Last updated: June 2026.