You must file three copies of your response the original and two photocopies. All three copies will then be stamped with the court seal. The original will be kept by the court, you keep one copy and arrange to have the other copy served on the applicant. Step 3 serving the response When you make a response to an application before the court, it is essential that the applicant knows that the response has been made and what you have said in the response. This is done by a procedure known as 'service'.
Service is the legal term to describe the provision of documents by one party to another.
It means the delivery, by post or personal delivery, of the necessary documents in a way that ensures the other party will receive them. When you make a response to a maintenance application you must arrange for the response to be served on the applicant. Part A of the application form served on you has the relevant information as to where to serve the documents on the applicant. If the applicant has a solicitor, the address will appear in item 3 of Part A of the Application for maintenance. You can follow the instructions in the guide or arrange for service to be conducted by a process server for a fee.