General information only — not legal advice. Every situation is different; a solicitor can advise on yours.
Divorce costs in England and Wales range from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands, depending almost entirely on two things: whether you and your spouse can agree, and how much you involve solicitors. Here is an honest, realistic breakdown.
The mandatory court fee
Every divorce requires an application to the court. The court fee is currently around £600 (check the Ministry of Justice website for the current rate, as it is updated periodically). This is unavoidable — it applies whether you use solicitors or handle everything yourself.
If you are on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a fee remission (help with court fees) that reduces or eliminates this cost. Check on Gov.uk whether you qualify before paying.
No-fault divorce — what changed in 2022
Since April 2022, England and Wales has had no-fault divorce. Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020:
- You no longer need to blame your spouse or prove behaviour, adultery, or separation
- Either of you can apply, or you can apply jointly
- You simply state that the marriage has irretrievably broken down
- There is a minimum period of 20 weeks between the application and the conditional order (previously known as the decree nisi), then a further six weeks to the final order
The change has made uncontested divorces significantly simpler. There is now much less incentive to fight the divorce itself, which means legal costs for the divorce process are generally lower than they used to be.
DIY divorce — the cheapest option
If you and your spouse agree the marriage is over, have no children’s arrangements to formalise through the court, and have already sorted out your finances (or have nothing significant to divide), you can handle the divorce yourself online.
Cost: approximately £600 — the court fee only.
The government’s online divorce portal is at divorce.apply.justice.gov.uk. It walks you through the process step by step. Many couples with straightforward situations complete this without any professional help at all.
What it doesn’t do: sort out what happens to the family home, pensions, savings, or other assets. That is an entirely separate legal process, and it is not covered by the divorce itself.
Using a solicitor for the divorce process
For the divorce application itself (not the financial settlement — see below), solicitor involvement adds cost but also removes the administrative burden and ensures it’s done correctly.
Typical costs for uncontested divorce with solicitor involvement:
- £1,500 to £3,000 for one party using a solicitor
- If both parties each instruct a solicitor: roughly double
For contested divorce (where one party disputes the divorce itself — rare under the new no-fault system):
- Costs can rise significantly, sometimes into five figures, depending on complexity
The financial settlement — often more expensive than the divorce itself
The divorce ends the marriage. It does not automatically decide who keeps the house, how pensions are divided, or who pays what going forward. Many people are surprised to find that sorting out the finances is a completely separate process, with its own legal proceedings and costs.
Why you need a financial order (clean break order):
Even if you and your spouse have agreed informally on finances, without a court-approved financial order either of you can make financial claims against the other in the future — potentially years later. A clean break order closes that door permanently.
Typical costs for financial settlement:
- Consent order (where both agree and a solicitor drafts the terms): £1,000–£2,500
- Contested financial proceedings (where you cannot agree): £5,000–£30,000+ per side, sometimes more where there are complex assets, businesses, or overseas interests
Mediation as an alternative:
If you can communicate reasonably with your spouse, family mediation is significantly cheaper than contested court proceedings. A mediator helps you reach agreement, which a solicitor then drafts into a formal order. Mediation typically costs £100–£250 per hour, shared between you. It is often faster than court proceedings and much less adversarial.
Child arrangements
Decisions about where children live and how much time they spend with each parent are separate again — separate from the divorce and separate from the financial settlement. Most separating couples are able to agree child arrangements without court involvement. Where court orders are needed, this adds further cost and time.
Keeping costs down — practical tips
- Agree on as much as possible before instructing solicitors. Every hour of legal time costs money; the less your lawyers are doing, the less you pay.
- Consider fixed-fee services for uncontested divorces. Many solicitors offer a fixed fee for handling a straightforward divorce application.
- Try mediation before litigation. If you have financial or children’s disputes, mediation is almost always cheaper than contested court proceedings.
- Understand what you’re paying for. Ask your solicitor for a clear estimate at the start and ask them to flag it if costs are likely to exceed that.
Frequently asked questions
Do both parties need a solicitor?
No — only the applicant needs to be involved in the divorce application. But both parties should take legal advice on any financial settlement.
Can we use the same solicitor?
No. A solicitor can only act for one party, due to the conflict of interest. However, in uncontested cases, only one solicitor needs to be actively involved.
How long does divorce take?
Under the new system, the minimum is around 26 weeks (20 weeks for the conditional order, then six more for the final order). In practice, administrative delays at the court mean it often takes longer.
What if we agreed on finances years ago?
An informal agreement is not legally binding. Without a court order, financial claims can still be made years later. Even amicable separations benefit from a formal clean break order.
If you’re going through a separation and want to understand your financial or legal position properly, use Super Solicitor to get matched with an SRA-regulated family law solicitor — free to search, no obligation.