Form Ud 1 – Fill Out and Use This PDF

Updated: Oct 31, 2026

The UD-1 form, utilized within the Supreme Court of the State of New York, serves as a formal summons with notice in actions for divorce. It mandates the recipient, named as the Defendant, to respond by serving a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff or the Plaintiff’s attorney within a specified timeframe, under threat of a default judgment. For individuals facing the complexities of divorce proceedings, understanding and completing this form correctly is crucial for the legal process ahead.

If you are navigating through the divorce process and need to understand more about the UD-1 form or require assistance in filling it out, click the button below for detailed guidance.

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Form Ud 1 PDF Details

In the intricate labyrinth of legal proceedings, the initiation of a divorce in the State of New York begins with a crucial document known as the UD-1 form or more formally, the Summons With Notice. This form acts as the preliminary step in the divorce process, setting the stage for what is to come. The UD-1 form encompasses essential information, including the index number, the county of venue, plaintiff and defendant designations, and the grounds for divorce under the Domestic Relations Law (DRL) sections. It serves as a formal notification to the defendant, stipulating the requirement to respond within a specified timeframe—twenty days if served within New York State or thirty days if otherwise—to avoid a default judgment. This document not only signifies the commencement of legal proceedings but also outlines the nature of the action for divorce, including any requests for ancillary relief such as property distribution, alimony, or child custody arrangements. By requiring the plaintiff to designate a county as the place of trial and state the basis of venue, it ensures that the proceedings are conducted in an appropriate and judicious location. Additionally, the form briefly touches upon the relief sought, which is a judgment of absolute divorce, thereby dissolving the marital bonds between the parties. The UD-1 form, thus, not only serves a legal function by formally notifying the defendant about the divorce proceedings but also outlines the initial expectations and directions for the divorce process within the legal framework of New York State.

Question	Answer
Form Name	Form Ud 1
Form Length	1 pages
Fillable?	Yes
Fillable fields	21
Avg. time to fill out	4 min 27 sec
Other names	summons with notice divorce, divorce action, summons divorce action, notice divorce

How to Fill Out Form UD-1

Form UD-1 at a glance

What it is: UD-1 is the Summons With Notice for an Action For A Divorce in the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Who signs: Mark Plaintiff or Attorney(s) for Plaintiff.

A filled-in Form UD-1 example: a plaintiff serves a Summons With Notice

Form UD-1 example filled out, example: a plaintiff serves a Summons With Notice — Sam Example, the plaintiff, serves a Summons With Notice for a divorce. Sam sues on ground DRL 170(7), irretrievable breakdown, and requests no ancillary relief. The picture shows the filled boxes, and every value in it is made up. Sam signed the summons on March 10, 2026 and filed it on March 14, 2026, so the dates differ. Sam has no attorney, so the Attorney(s) for Plaintiff box stays empty. Nothing goes in the Ancillary or additional relief line because Sam requests no ancillary relief, so its other boxes stay empty. The ground fits on one line, so the second grounds line stays empty.

How to fill out Form UD-1, box by box

Index No., Date Summons filed, venue and residence

At the top, enter the Index No., the COUNTY OF, the Date Summons filed, and the County that Plaintiff designates as the place of trial.

After The basis of venue is, write the basis; after Plaintiff/Defendant resides at, write the place.

Dated, Plaintiff or Attorney(s) for Plaintiff

Enter the date after Dated, and fill in Phone No. and Address.

The grounds for the divorce

Under NOTICE, the nature of this action is to dissolve the marriage between the parties, on the grounds: enter DRL §170 subd. and the ground. Read pp. 3-5 of Instructions and insert the grounds for the divorce.

The grounds are DRL §170(1) - cruel and inhuman treatment; DRL §170(4) - adultery; DRL §170(2) - abandonment; DRL §170(5) - living apart one year after separation decree or judgment of separation; DRL §170(3) - confinement in prison; DRL §170(6) - living apart one year after execution of a separation agreement; DRL §170(7) - irretrievable breakdown in relationship.

The relief sought is a judgment of absolute divorce in favor of the Plaintiff dissolving the marriage between the parties in this action.

Ancillary or additional relief

Write the nature of any ancillary or additional relief requested (see p.14 of Instructions) on the line, then mark Additional page describing ancillary relief requested is attached; Marital property to be distributed pursuant to separation agreement/stipulation; or I waive distribution of Marital property.

For divorces commenced on or after 1/25/16 only: mark I am not seeking maintenance as payee as described in the Notice of Guideline Maintenance (the "Notice") other than what was already agreed to in a written agreement/stipulation; OR mark I seek maintenance as payee, as described in the Notice.

Mark NONE - I am not requesting any ancillary relief; AND any other relief the court deems fit and proper.

More rules for Form UD-1

In case of the failure of the Defendant to appear, judgment will be taken by default for the relief demanded in the notice set forth under NOTICE.

Common questions about Form UD-1

Is there a deadline?

The Defendant must serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff or the Plaintiff's Attorney(s) within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to the Defendant within the State of New York.

Sources

[1] Form UD-1 (Rev. 1/25), Summons With Notice, Supreme Court of the State of New York (the Official source link on this page).