How Much Does a Divorce Cost in the UK?

If you are asking how much does a divorce cost, the honest answer is: it depends far more on how you divorce than on the divorce itself. The court fee is fixed at £628, and that part is the same for everyone. What varies wildly is everything around it, the legal advice, the financial settlement and whether you end up in court. In this guide we break down every cost in plain English, so you can plan with confidence rather than fear. For the wider picture of your rights and the process itself, our guide to divorce in the UK walks you through each stage.

What Is the Court Fee for a Divorce?

The court fee to apply for a divorce, dissolution or nullity in England and Wales is £628. This rose from £612 on 13 July 2026 as part of an inflation uplift to court fees, confirmed in the Ministry of Justice fee update (as of July 2026).

You pay this once, when you submit your application online or by post. If you apply jointly with your ex, one of you pays it, and many couples agree to split it between them. Since the introduction of no fault divorce, you no longer need to blame anyone, so there is no extra cost for proving fault.

One thing that surprises many women: the divorce itself and your finances are two separate legal processes. The £628 ends your marriage. It does not divide your money, your home or your pensions. That part has its own costs, which we cover next.

How Much Does a Divorce Cost if You Agree Everything?

If you and your ex can agree how to divide your finances, a divorce can cost surprisingly little. Here is what an amicable route typically involves:

• Divorce application: £628 court fee
• Financial consent order: £62 court fee (as of July 2026)
• Drafting the consent order: a fixed fee if you use an online service, or solicitor rates if you instruct a firm

A consent order is the legal document that makes your financial agreement binding and, if you choose a clean break, stops either of you making financial claims against the other in future. Even if you agree everything over a cup of tea, we would always encourage you to get that agreement sealed by the court. Without it, your ex could come back for more years later, including a share of anything you build after the divorce. Protecting what you rebuild matters, and our financial freedom after divorce guide covers this in depth.

How Much Does a Divorce Cost With Solicitors and Court?

This is where the answer to how much does a divorce cost changes completely. Court fees are modest. Solicitor fees are not, because most firms charge by the hour, and contested cases involve a lot of hours: letters between solicitors, financial disclosure, hearing preparation and barristers.

If you cannot agree your finances and one of you applies to court for a financial order, the contested application fee alone is £321 (as of July 2026). From there, a fully contested financial case that runs to a final hearing can cost each person tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees, money that comes straight out of the pot you are trying to divide.

That is not said to frighten you. Sometimes court is genuinely necessary, particularly where there has been abuse, hidden assets or a complete refusal to engage. But if court is avoidable, avoiding it is usually the single biggest saving you can make in your divorce. If you are still weighing up your options, our post on separation versus divorce may help you decide what is right for you.

How Can I Keep My Divorce Costs Down?

The good news: you have more control over how much your divorce costs than you might think. These are the routes that make the biggest difference:

Family mediation

Mediation is where an impartial professional helps you and your ex reach agreement on children and finances, without solicitors fighting it out. It is usually far quicker and far less expensive than court, and it keeps the decisions in your hands. If your case involves child arrangements, the government’s family mediation voucher scheme contributes up to £500 per family towards mediation costs. It is not means-tested, though it does not cover the initial MIAM meeting (source: Family Mediation Council, as of July 2026).

Fixed fees rather than hourly rates

Where you do need legal help, fixed-fee services tell you the whole price up front. An hourly rate can feel small until the hours add up, and it makes budgeting almost impossible when money is already tight.

Sort your paperwork before you pay anyone

Gathering your own financial documents, bank statements, mortgage details, pension valuations, saves paid hours later. Pensions in particular deserve attention, they are the second biggest asset after the home and the one women most commonly under-claim. Our guide to pension planning after divorce explains what to look for.

What Help Is Available With Divorce Costs?

Help with Fees: if you are on a low income or certain benefits, you may not have to pay the £628 court fee in full, or at all. You apply through the government’s Help with Fees scheme when you submit your divorce application. For many women on a tight budget, this is the single biggest reduction in how much does a divorce costs.

Legal aid for family mediation: this is means-tested only. If you meet the financial criteria, your MIAM and your mediation sessions are free to you, whatever your circumstances. You can check quickly using the Mediate UK legal aid checker.

Legal aid for a solicitor: this is a separate scheme with a different test. It was withdrawn for most private family cases in April 2013, but it remains available to victims of domestic abuse and in cases involving child safety, where you can provide evidence and you also meet the financial criteria. If you are in this situation, please also see the support lines at the end of this post, you do not have to work any of this out alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a divorce cost in the UK in 2026?

The court fee to apply for a divorce in England and Wales is £628 as of July 2026. An amicable divorce with a fixed-fee consent order can cost under £1,200 in total, while a contested divorce with solicitors and court hearings can cost each person tens of thousands of pounds.

Who pays for the divorce, me or my ex?

The person who applies pays the £628 court fee, though in a joint application couples agree to split it. Each of you pays for your own legal advice. In some cases the court can order one person to contribute to the other’s costs, but in most amicable divorces each person covers their own.

Can I get a divorce for free?

If you qualify for the government’s Help with Fees scheme, the £628 court fee can be reduced or waived entirely. Legal aid for family mediation is also means-tested, so if you are eligible, your mediation is free. There is no way to avoid the process itself, but a genuinely low-cost divorce is possible.

Do I need a consent order if we agree everything?

Yes, we would strongly encourage it. A consent order makes your financial agreement legally binding, and a clean break order stops future claims against your income, savings or pension. The court fee is £62 as of July 2026, a small price for long-term financial security.

Does mediation really save money in a divorce?

Usually, yes, mediation is one of the most effective ways to reduce how much does a divorce costs. It is typically much quicker and less expensive than contested court proceedings, because you are paying for a small number of structured sessions rather than months of solicitor correspondence and hearings. The £500 mediation voucher scheme can cover a large part of the cost in cases involving children.

How much does a divorce cost should never decide your future. Plan it well, protect what matters, and everything you build from here is yours.