Can you get help with divorce fees? Psst, the answer may surprise you.

Can I get help with divorce fees?

One of the biggest financial challenges facing a lot of people getting a divorce is the court fee of £612, with a further £60 for a Financial order (either a clean break or consent order). Although there is only one court fee for each divorce, the person who applies for divorce is the one who must pay it. What many people don’t know is that these court fees can be reduced or avoided altogether.

When it comes to divorce, you have three choices: to manage your divorce yourself, to use an expensive high street solicitor, or to use an online divorce provider.

In each case, the HM Courts and Tribunals Service charge £612 to process your divorce. These are not fees for you to attend court. These are the fees to pay for the court’s staff to process your divorce.

So even if you decide to handle your entire divorce process yourself, you will still be required to pay the court fee unless you are eligible for the ‘help with fees’ scheme.

Eligibility for help with fees for divorce

Being eligible for support with court fees depends on:

• Savings
• Whether you get any benefits
• Your income

Savings

To be eligible for support with court fees, you must have less than the maximum amount of savings. If you have a partner, their savings must be included as part of the total amount.

If you’re 65 or under, you can have up to £4,250 in savings and still qualify for support.

If you’re 66 or older, you can have up to £16,000 in savings.

Check the amount of savings you can have using the ‘How to apply for help with divorce fees’ guidance included with form EX160 (the form used to apply).

Benefits

You also either need to be on a low income or receive one of the following benefits:

• JSA – Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• ESA – Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Universal Credit (+ earn less than £6,000 a year)
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)

Income

Whether or not you receive benefits, you don’t have to pay the court fee if your monthly income is less than £1,420 before tax, if you’re single, or £2,130 if you have a partner. If you live with the person you’re divorcing, their income is not included. However, if you live with a new partner, their income must be included, although you do receive an additional £175 allowance.

For each child, the amount of income you’re allowed to earn increases:

• £425 more for children aged 0 to 13
• £710 more for children aged 14 and over

For example, if you have a partner and two children aged 7 and 5, your reported income can be up to £2,980.

You must also have less than the maximum amount of money in savings. This is usually up to £4,250.

How Much Am I Likely to Pay in Divorce Fees?

See how much court fees you could pay based on your monthly income.

You won’t have to pay court fees if you earn less than £1,420 a month before tax.

If you earn £1,800 you will have to pay about £200.

For every child you can add another £425 to your earnings.

So, if you have two children, you can earn up to £2,840 and not pay cort fees.

See how much you are likely to pay in court fees for your divorce based on your monthly income before tax.

Can we get help with fees if we apply for a divorce jointly under the no-fault law?

Yes, you can, but you both must meet the savings and low-income or benefits requirements. If only one of you receives a low income, it might be better to divorce as individuals rather than jointly.

Does that mean we can choose who applies for help with court fees to save money?

Yes, it does. In an individual divorce, the person making the application is called the applicant, and their spouse becomes the respondent. Only the applicant can apply for help with court fees. If the respondent has a lower income, they could become the applicant, saving you both money if you split the cost of your divorce.

Get help with court fees for your divorce in minutes

I know what you are thinking. This sounds great, but how many hoops do I need to jump through, and how long does it take? Surprisingly, it is straightforward and extremely fast. It takes less than five minutes to apply, and you get your help with the fees code instantly.

All you then need to do is email the code to us at Easy Online Divorce, and we will apply it to your divorce petition. It couldn’t be easier. Many people feel trapped in a marriage because they think they can’t afford to divorce. We speak to people daily who are surprised but delighted when they find out they don’t have to pay court fees.

For more information on how to get help with court costs, you can visit the government website.

How can Easy Online Divorce help?

Divorce can be an emotionally taxing time, made worse by delays and expensive solicitors. At Easy Online Divorce, we pride ourselves on delivering a service that is affordable and more efficient. We offer a personalised service that focuses on resolution whilst saving you £750 – £2500 on average compared to a high street solicitor. Contact us or call us on 020 4586 6111 to get started.

Find out more about the cost of a divorce.