How much does an uncontested divorce cost?
The official court fee for a divorce application is £628, and a solicitor’s fee for an uncontested divorce typically runs from about £600 to £1,500 on top of it. However, costs vary between firms, so treat these figures as a guide rather than a quote. A financial consent order, if you need one, costs extra.
The short answer
Two costs make up most of the bill: the court fee and your solicitor’s fee. The court fee is official, and GOV.UK lists it as £628 to apply for a divorce online or by post. A solicitor’s fee is different, because it depends on the firm and the work involved. For an uncontested divorce, it typically falls at about £600 to £1,500, on top of the court fee.
If you need a financial consent order drafted, expect that to cost more. However, it typically costs about £500 to £1,000.
This guide gives no range for contested divorces or financial settlements. That is because the figures here do not cover them. For the basic question, use the sourced range above as your starting point.
The court fee
GOV.UK lists the fee to apply for a divorce as £628. The figure is the same whether you apply online or by post. It is separate from anything a solicitor charges you, so keep the two amounts apart when you budget.
You may get help with fees if you are on benefits or a low income. However, this guide cannot tell you whether you qualify, so check the rules on GOV.UK before you apply. If money is tight, ask yourself two questions. First, could help with fees cover part of the court fee? Second, how much of the rest can you manage without paying for full legal help?
Because an official source sets the court fee, it is the easiest figure to plan around. A solicitor’s fee is harder to predict, so the next section looks at it. If cost is a worry, our guide to free legal advice and legal aid in London explains where else to look for help.
What a solicitor typically charges
For an uncontested divorce, a solicitor’s fee is typically about £600 to £1,500. That sum sits on top of the £628 court fee, so it is not included in it. The word “typically” matters here, because your own quote may fall inside or outside the range.
Drafting a financial consent order typically costs about £500 to £1,000. This is a separate piece of work from the divorce application, so a firm may quote for it separately. However, this guide gives no range for a contested divorce, and none for financial settlements. If your situation involves either, you need a quote from a firm that has seen your details.
You may wonder whether you need a solicitor at all. Our guide on whether you need a solicitor for a divorce looks at that question. Meanwhile, you can read about the wider topic on our family law page.
Before you compare any figure with a quote, note what the quote covers. For example, check whether it covers only the application or also other paperwork. Since the range above is a typical one, a quote that sits far outside it deserves a polite question about why.
The steps and how long they take
The steps follow a set order, and the waits come from official guidance. First, check that you can get divorced. You can divorce in England or Wales if you have been married over a year. Your relationship must also have permanently broken down, and the UK must legally recognise your marriage.
Next, you apply for the divorce and pay the court fee. Once the court has issued the application, GOV.UK says you must wait 20 weeks before you can apply for a conditional order. As a result, the process cannot move faster than that wait, whatever a solicitor charges.
After the conditional order is granted, you must wait at least 43 days before you can apply to finalise the divorce. GOV.UK describes this as 6 weeks and 1 day. Then you apply for the final order.
GOV.UK also says you should apply for the final order within 12 months of the conditional order. If you apply later, you must explain the delay to the court. Therefore, write the dates in a diary or calendar as each step happens, because the deadlines run from those dates.
While you wait, you can ask your solicitor which dates they are tracking for you. A short written list of the steps and dates, agreed at the start, helps both sides. It also helps you see which costs fall at which stage.
How to ask for a clear quote
A clear quote starts with a clear question. Tell the firm what you want to ask about, for example an uncontested divorce, a financial consent order, or both. Then ask the firm to say exactly which steps the price covers, because a price without a list of steps is hard to judge.
Ask whether the quote includes the £628 court fee or whether you pay that separately. Ask whether the figure covers drafting a financial consent order, since that work has its own typical cost. Then ask what happens if your situation changes, for instance if your spouse does not agree.
Next, ask how and when the firm will tell you about extra charges. Ask for the answers in writing, so you have a record to check later. Although this takes a little effort, it helps you spot differences between what you were told and what you are billed.
Finally, check who you are dealing with before you pay anything. Our check-a-solicitor page shows you how to confirm that a solicitor is regulated.