I have received an application for divorce from my spouse, what do I do?

You will have received a copy of your spouse’s initial application for divorce, a copy of their statement of arrangements and 2 copies of Form 6 - Acknowledgement of Service (Word doc) (PDF).

You now need to return the acknowledgement of service form to the court with your response to the initial application.

There are 5 possible grounds on which your spouse can seek a divorce as laid down in the Matrimonial Proceedings Act 2003. These are:

• you have committed adultery and the applicant finds it intolerable to live with you;
• you have behaved in such a way that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to live with you;
• you have deserted the applicant for a continuous period of at least 2 years before they applied for a divorce;
• both parties have lived apart for a continuous period of more than 2 years (2 years separation), and you consent to a divorce; and
• the parties have lived apart for a continuous period of at least 5 years before applying for a divorce;

What do I need for the acknowledgement of service form?

You will need to state that you have seen and read the application form, as well as when you received it.

The main thing you need to decide is whether or not you intend to defend the application or whether you consent to it.

Where do I send the acknowledgement of service to?

You will need to fully complete both acknowledgement of service forms and return them to the High Court.

Please ensure you have answered all necessary questions to avoid any unnecessary delays.