Form D5 UK: Service Notice Under Rule 6.14 Explained

What this document is

Form D5 is a court notice designed to be indorsed on a document that has been served under rule 6.14 of the Civil Procedure Rules. In plain terms, it is the written confirmation that travels with the served document to record the fact of service and the date on which service is treated as having taken place.

The Civil Procedure Rules set out detailed requirements about how claim forms and other court documents can be served in England and Wales, including by post, personal delivery, document exchange, fax, or email where permitted. Rule 6.14 deals specifically with the deemed date of service of a claim form once it has been dispatched in accordance with the rules.

Form D5 sits alongside that framework, giving the recipient clear notice of the position. Where the court itself serves a claim form, the court will send the claimant a notice of the deemed date of service. Where the claimant serves the claim form, a certificate of service must be filed at court within a short window after service.

How to use this document

1. Check whether service falls under rule 6.14. Before using Form D5, confirm that the document you are serving is within the scope of rule 6.14 of the Civil Procedure Rules. This generally applies to claim forms served in civil proceedings in England and Wales. If the matter is a family case or involves a different procedural regime, a different form or notice may be appropriate.
2. Complete the form with accurate case details. Fill in the claim number, the names of the parties, and the court where the claim is issued. Make sure every detail matches the claim form itself, because inconsistencies between documents can cause administrative delays and may give the other side grounds to challenge whether service was valid.
3. Indorse the notice on the served document. The purpose of Form D5 is to be attached to or written on the document being served. Keep a clear copy of the indorsed document for your own records, as you may need to refer back to it if the other side later disputes when or how service took place.
4. Serve the document using a permitted method. Choose a method of service that is allowed under Part 6 of the Civil Procedure Rules, such as first class post, personal service, or an agreed electronic method. The method you choose affects the date on which service is deemed to have occurred, so double check the timing rules before you send the documents.
5. File a certificate of service where required. If you served the claim form yourself, you must file a certificate of service at court within 7 days of service. Without this, you cannot obtain judgment in default under Part 12. Rule 6.17 sets out what the certificate must contain, so follow that list carefully to avoid a rejected filing.

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