Looking for help in your family court proceedings?Bridge The Gap is a free, community-built guide to UK family court, written by litigants and McKenzie Friends, for litigants. Real observations, plain English, and people who can help.
The steps required by the rules of court to bring documents used in court proceedings to a person's attention.
In Plain English
Formally getting court papers to the other person so they know about the case. The rules say how this must be done.
This content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
A "gap" is a common assumption people hold going into family court, set against what the court actually does. The bold line below is the assumption — not a fact. The reality underneath is what the court typically observes.
Gap #556
The assumption
Cafcass will speak to your child before making recommendations about them.
The reality
Many parents report that Cafcass officers formed recommendations without direct conversation with their child — particularly older children who could express views. The welfare checklist requires officers to consider the child's wishes and feelings (ascertained in light of their age and understanding), but how those are gathered varies widely between officers. Some parents report their child was never spoken to; others say the conversation was brief or filtered through the other parent. If your child's voice is not being directly heard, you can raise this with the court — the judge decides what weight to give the report, and can direct that the child's views be properly ascertained.
Gap #517
The assumption
As the respondent, I will be told straight away when my spouse applies for the conditional order, and I will get an email at every stage.
The reality
What you receive depends on how the divorce application was made, whether it was online or by post, and on whether the court service holds your email address. GOV.UK says the court reviews the application for a conditional order, which can take several weeks. If the judge agrees, the court sends both spouses a certificate giving the time and date the conditional order will be granted. The published guidance does not describe a separate notice to the respondent at the moment of application, so some respondents may first hear at the certificate stage. One respondent told us they received emails and had to agree to every step by following the links sent. That is one person's experience, not a description of the official process. If you applied by post or the court has no email address for you, you may be contacted differently. If you were a respondent, which emails or letters did you receive, and at what stage? This is a community question, so please share only what happened to you and leave out names and personal details.
Gap #365
The assumption
(Filing & Emailing the Court) The court will give me a secure way to send sensitive documents.
The reality
The sender is responsible for the security of what they email. The secure service (cjsm) is for solicitors and is not available to the public.
Gap #361
The assumption
(Filing & Emailing the Court) I can serve my ex by email because we always email each other.
The reality
PD 6A para 4 says the person being served must have said in writing beforehand that they accept email service. You must also first ask whether there are any limits, such as file format or size.
Navigating court alone?
A McKenzie Friend can help you understand terms like these in the context of your case.
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