Divorce Fees in the UK – Complete Overview

Divorce fees in the UK can be confusing. But don’t worry; this article is here to help clear up the fog.

We know that many people are worried about the cost of divorce; you’re not alone in this. Over 8,700 people visit our website every month for guidance on navigating a divorce.

In this simple guide, we’ll talk about:

•  How to save money on divorce fees
•  The different types of divorce fees in the UK
•  How to get help with divorce fees

Our expert team has deep knowledge of these topics. We’re here to help you understand your divorce fees and how to manage them. 

How much does it cost to divorce in the UK?

The average cost of a divorce in the UK is said to be just above £14,500. But this figure is slightly misleading. 

The cost of getting a divorce in the UK is usually much lower unless the divorce is contested by the respondent (the individual who hasn’t made the divorce application) or in cases where the parties cannot agree on how to divide finances and assets and therefore have to go to court. 

If you can avoid court hearings with an uncontested divorce, the actual amount you will pay is significantly less than £14,500. 

This figure is overstated not because there are lots of contested divorces (there really aren’t that many!) but because it factors in additional expenses. It accounts for expenses that arise from getting divorced rather than the divorce itself, such as child maintenance or seeking a rental property. 

Divorce fees in the UK

The standard divorce fees that must be paid for a UK divorce include:

1. Solicitor fees
2. Divorce application fee (also called the divorce centre fee)
3. Financial settlement fee
4. Mediation fees when financial settlement cannot be reached
5. Legal costs when mediation hasn’t worked

Divorce solicitor fees

Divorce solicitor fees are used to prepare and apply for divorce. The petitioner is the person who makes the application, and if they’re using a solicitor to do this, they end up paying more in solicitor fees than the respondent in most cases. 

On average, the petitioner will pay between £500 and £1,000 in solicitor fees. The respondent will also pay solicitor fees, but they will pay less at around £250 to £600. This is because they don’t make the divorce application; they just respond to it.  

If further legal services are required to finalise the divorce, both parties will need to pay more for additional divorce solicitor services. This can happen when the divorce is contested, and court hearings are required. 

Divorce application fee

The divorce application fee, also known as the divorce centre fee, costs £593. This fee is often paid by the petitioner and not the respondent unless other arrangements have been agreed upon between both parties. If the no-fault divorce has been made as a joint application, both people usually pay.

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Divorce financial settlement fees

A financial settlement will be made between both parties, stating how finances and assets will be divided after the divorce is finalised. A solicitor will create a Financial Consent Order to make this legally binding, and a court fee of £53 will need to be paid.

In total, this step will usually cost between £350 and £450. It will cost a lot more if the couple’s finances and assets are complicated. When no agreement is reached, the couple might need to pay for mediation services, which usually cost around £100 per hour. Most couples require around three hours to reach an agreement.

Mediation services are a cheaper alternative to other methods of overcoming a failed financial settlement. 

What is mediation?

Mediation is when you get together with your ex-spouse and a third person to help you reach an agreement. Not only is it more cost-effective than going straight to court, but it can also reduce conflict and make the divorce process smoother for you both.

In this forum post on MoneySavingExpert, you can see this user is wondering if the quote they have received for a financial settlement and solicitor costs is reasonable. Another user recommended trying to agree on a fair division with their ex before going to a solicitor to stop it from costing thousands more.

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Court fees for a divorce

If no agreement has been reached, the couple may need their finances and assets decided in court and get a Financial Remedy Order to make this legally binding. Solicitor fees for these hearings can exceed £10,000. A cheaper alternative before going to court may be to use divorce arbitration, which costs £3,000 to £4,000 and is paid jointly by both parties. 

Divorce fee exemption

The UK government offers financial support to pay for court fees, including divorces. You’ll need to be on a low income or receive state benefits and have savings below a certain threshold, usually below £3,000.