Online Divorce in Wales: MyHMCTS Portal Guide

Yes — Online Filing Is the Standard Route

The GOV.UK citizen portal is where most divorces in England and Wales now begin. You can complete the entire process — from the initial application to the final order — without visiting a courthouse or posting any physical forms, provided you have access to the internet, a way to scan or photograph your marriage certificate, and a credit or debit card for the £628 court fee (or an EX160 Help with Fees reference number).

Paper filing via Form D8 is still available for people who prefer it or lack digital access. But the online route is faster, gives you a real-time case tracker, and avoids the postal delays that can add weeks to the early stages.

Setting Up Your Application

You start by creating a GOV.UK account if you do not already have one. The portal guides you through the application screens, which broadly map to the sections of the paper Form D8.

The key information you need:

• Your full legal name and the name on your marriage certificate (these may differ if you changed your name during the marriage)
• Your spouse's full legal name, postal address, and email address — the court uses these for service
• Your marriage certificate — the original or a certified copy, uploaded as a scanned image. If the certificate is in a language other than English or Welsh, you also need a certified translation
• Whether you are filing sole or joint — in a joint application, you supply your spouse's email and they receive an invitation to confirm their participation through the portal
• Your jurisdictional basis — which of the habitual residence or domicile routes you are relying on

Once you submit and pay, the Court and Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC) reviews the application. If there are errors or missing information, they will contact you by email. If everything is in order, the court issues the application, assigns a case number, and the 20-week reflection period begins.

Welsh-Language Options

Welsh speakers can navigate the MyHMCTS portal in Welsh. The bilingual interface covers the same application screens — it is not a separate or reduced version. For paper filers, HMCTS publishes a dedicated Form D8 in Welsh (Cymraeg). You can also request that any court hearing be conducted entirely in Welsh, and the judiciary will arrange Welsh-speaking officers.

Filling in Form D8

Whether online or on paper, the D8 asks for the same core details. A few fields where errors commonly cause rejections:

• Name variants — the portal asks for your name as it appears on the marriage certificate and your current name. If these differ, enter both exactly as they appear on the relevant documents. Mismatches between the names on your application and your certificate are a common reason for CTSC queries.
• Marriage certificate — upload or attach the original certificate or a certified copy, not an ordinary photocopy. If you cannot provide the original or a certified copy, you must file a Form D11 application requesting permission to proceed without it.
• Address for service — the respondent's address must be one where they can actually receive post. An old address they have moved from will cause service to fail and add weeks to your timeline.

After You Submit

The court sends a notice of issue confirming your case reference number and the date of issue. For sole applications, the court serves the respondent — by email and first-class post — and the respondent has 14 days to complete the Acknowledgement of Service. For joint applications, both parties can track progress through the portal.

The CTSC handles all administrative queries (0300 303 0642, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, or [email protected]). If you need help using the online system itself, We Are Group provides free digital support at 03300 160 051.

The Wales Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a portal navigation walkthrough and pre-submission checklist — designed to catch the name, address, and document errors that most commonly delay applications.

See more Wales guides →