F1PART 7PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATIONS IN MATRIMONIAL AND CIVIL PARTNERSHIP PROCEEDINGS
CHAPTER 2RULES ABOUT STARTING PROCEEDINGS
What the respondent must do on receiving the application7.7
1
The respondent must file an acknowledgment of service within 14 days beginning with the date on which the application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order was served.
2
This rule is subject to rule 6.42 (which specifies how the period for filing an acknowledgment of service is calculated where the application is served out of the jurisdiction).
3
The acknowledgment of service must—
a
be signed by the respondent or the respondent’s legal representative;
b
include the respondent’s address for service; and
c
indicate whether or not the respondent intends to dispute the proceedings.
4
Where a notice of proceedings is sent to joint applicants under rule 7.5(3) each joint applicant must acknowledge receipt of the notice of proceedings within 14 days of receipt of such notice.
5
A respondent who wishes to dispute proceedings must file and serve an answer within 21 days beginning with the date by which the acknowledgment of service is required to be filed.
6
A respondent may file an answer even if the intention to do so was not indicated in the acknowledgment of service.
Pt. 7 substituted (6.4.2022) by The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/44), rule 1(3)(a), Sch. (with rule 29); S.I. 2022/283, reg. 2