It’s no secret that divorce can be a costly process. From solicitors fees to court fees (which have just gone up again), some divorcing couples can end up spending thousands of pounds to obtain their divorce – and that doesn’t even include the cost of any potential financial agreements that you’ll enter into with your partner afterwards. With mortgage interest payments remaining too high, it’s not surprising that many couples feel like they can’t afford to divorce officially.
What many lawyers and solicitors don’t want you to know is that the divorce process doesn’t have to be expensive. Typically, an expensive divorce only occurs when the process is prolonged unnecessarily, either by financial disputes or custody disputes. If you manage to simplify the process through a third party, such as an online divorce provider, you’ll cut back on the costs involved, reduce the amount of time spent in court, and get on with rebuilding your life post-separation.
In this article, we’re going to go over what costs you can expect during your divorce, what the average divorce costs in the UK, and how you can minimise the financial impact of the process by using an online divorce provider.
So, how much does a divorce cost in the UK in 2025? Let’s take a look.
How much does a divorce cost in the UK?
The average cost of a divorce in the UK is £14,500, although this sum takes into account all lifestyle changes being made as you transition from married to single life (such as renting a new home, no longer splitting bills, etc.) However, the divorce itself will typically cost less.
Before the new No-fault divorce law came into force in England and Wales in April 2022, couples could try to offload any divorce fees onto their partner, citing infidelity, desertion, or prolonged absence. The introduction of no-fault divorce across the board means that each party is responsible for paying their own fees.
Now, the price of the average divorce petitioner is around £1000-£1500 to complete the process, which includes court fees and legal costs. As of April 2025, court fees for divorce have increased from £593 to £612. The respondent (provided that you’re not applying for a joint divorce) will typically pay reduced solicitor’s fees and won’t need to pay the court fees.
However, certain circumstances can mean that you end up paying higher costs, such as:
Reaching an agreement
The price of divorce is predominantly impacted by whether you and your ex spouse can agree on child custody and finances.
When both parties agree on the terms, this is considerably cheaper as the divorce can be settled more quickly, meaning fewer court appearances and solicitor input. The average cost typically ranges from £500 to £2000, which primarily covers the divorce application and solicitor fees for basic advice and document handling.
If either party cannot agree, court intervention may be required to settle disputes over issues such as finances and child custody. This will lead to increased legal fees, which start at around £300 and can reach over £30,000, depending on the complexity and length of court legal proceedings. Read this article for information on how a difficult spouse can increase the cost of a divorce.
Custody agreements
In England and Wales, if you share children with your ex-partner, there are many ways to arrange child custody. These include agreeing on:
- Where the children will live
- How much time they’ll spend with each parent
- How you’ll financially support your children
However, if you are unable to settle on an agreement, creating a contested divorce, it may lead to frequent court appearances, increasing your legal fees.
Financial settlements
If you share several assets or are financially tied to your ex-partner, it can be challenging to reach a financial agreement efficiently. This can mean a lengthy, drawn-out process in which both parties will end up paying excessive legal fees.
If you don’t have any financial ties to your partner, you do have the option of applying for a clean break order, aka a full severing of all financial ties.
Whether you use an online divorce or solicitors
Traditional solicitor fees are usually the cause for the largest expense during your divorce proceedings. Depending on experience and location, divorce solicitors can charge up to £350-500 an hour for their services, with many couples ending up paying tens of thousands in legal fees during a lengthy divorce. A more affordable divorce process involves going through a third party, such as an online divorce provider, which helps to significantly reduce legal fees.
What legal fees will I have to pay when getting a divorce?
In general, the minimum amount you’ll have to pay during a divorce is the £612 court fee, provided that you’re the divorce petitioner. However, those who receive certain government benefits, or those on low incomes, can apply to reduce or waive this fee.
To do this, you’ll need to earn less than £1,420 per month as a single person, or £2,130 per month if you have a partner. This threshold increases by £425 for each dependent child you have. You’ll also be eligible for government help paying the fee if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit (with an annual income of less than £6,000 per year)
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
Court appearance fees
Aside from the £612 court fee paid to cover administrative costs, you may also need to appear in court during your divorce process. While court is best avoided during a divorce proceeding, appearances in court may be necessary if you and your partner are unable to reach a financial or custody agreement.
If you end up going to court to resolve these disputes, you’ll need to pay an additional £313 court fee, as well as eye-watering legal fees that can often mount into the tens of thousands for each party. This is because you’ll most likely need to appear in court more than once, and your former partner can even dispute your settlements and bring you back to court again. Taking a divorce to court is incredibly expensive, and should always be avoided where possible. For victims of domestic violence or abuse, some legal aid is available.
Mediation
Mediation is recommended to couples who are struggling to agree on financial or child arrangements, with the help of an unbiased third person, the mediator.
Reaching an agreement through mediation can help you and your ex-partner save money on legal fees, whilst also establishing a solution.
Although you can use a solicitor to negotiate agreement terms, it is more cost-effective to try mediation first.
Costs of mediation
Mediation isn’t free, so it can impact how much your divorce costs, but it is quicker and more affordable than going to court. If the differences between you and your ex-partner are about a child, you may be eligible for a free voucher worth up to £500 for mediation.
Check if you are eligible for the family mediation voucher scheme.
If you’re on a low income, you may be able to get legal aid to pay for:
- First introductory meeting – this covers both of you, even if only one of you qualifies for legal aid
- One session of mediation- this covers both of you
- Multiple mediation sessions – only the person who qualifies for legal aid will be covered
Check if you’re eligible for legal aid on GOV.UK.
Hiring a divorce solicitor
While legal fees can be incredibly expensive, many couples will still hire a divorce solicitor to guide them through the process and help them get the best financial agreement (and the best custody settlement if children are involved.) Hiring legal help is most likely going to be the most costly aspect of your divorce, with solicitors’ fees in the UK costing between £150 and £350 an hour. In London, this figure can even increase to £500 an hour.
While hiring a divorce lawyer can be costly, it makes good financial sense for some. If there are numerous high-value assets at stake, such as property and investments, a solicitor can help you fight for a better settlement. Just be aware that conflict increases the price, and the extra money you get may end up in the solicitor’s pocket rather than your own.
Child maintenance costs
If you share dependent children, you’ll also need to reach an agreement on child support payments. Couples are able to organise child maintenance payments themselves as part of their financial agreement if they wish, but there are also basic rates to fall back on to simplify the process.
Child maintenance payments are subject to the non-custodial parent’s income, and the thresholds are as follows:
Basic Rate
For those on a weekly income of £200-£3000, you’ll pay what is known as the basic rate. This means you’ll pay a weekly sum of £38 for one child, £51 for two children, and £61 for three or more children.
Reduced Rate
If your weekly income is between £100 and £200, you’ll pay 7% of your first £100 (£7) and then a further 17% on weekly earnings.
Flat Rate
If you receive government benefits or your weekly income is less than £100, you’ll pay a flat rate of £7 per week.
Nil rate
For those whose weekly earnings are under £7, you won’t be obliged to pay any child maintenance payments.
The above rates are applicable only when the dependent child lives full-time with the other parent. However, if the child splits time living between both parents’ homes, any child maintenance payments will decrease as follows:
- 52 – 103 nights spent with non-custodial parent: 1/7th reduction per child
- 104 – 155 nights spent with non-custodial parent: 2/7th reduction per child
- 156 – 174 nights spent with non-custodial parent: 3/7th reduction per child
- 175 nights or more spent with parent: 50% total reduction, and an additional 7% reduction per child
If one parent is paying child maintenance to children from another relationship (and earns between £200-£3000 per week) this will be taken into account when calculating payments. Rather than reducing payments to their younger children, Child Maintenance Services will usually reduce their ‘considered income’ instead. These reductions are typically 11%, 14%, and 16% respectively (for one, two, or three or more supported children.)
Getting a financial settlement
During the divorce proceedings, you’ll also need to agree to a financial settlement with your former partner. A financial settlement is an agreement you and your partner can reach either on your own, through mediation, or by having your solicitors draw up a financial order (also referred to as a consent order.) Opting for a mediator to resolve financial matters can cost around £100 per hour. If you opt for a solicitor, this can cost £150-£500 an hour.
The cost of submitting a consent order to the court will be a fixed fee of £53, and once it’s been approved by the court, it will be considered legally binding. In some cases, the court may find that the financial settlement is unfair to one party and refuse to approve it, in which case you’ll need to consult with your solicitors and reconsider its terms. This will mean further costs in the form of legal fees, so it’s best to reach a fair agreement that both parties are happy with.
If a financial agreement cannot be reached, your divorce might go to court. For many, this is worse-case-scenario territory; as previously mentioned, going to court can end up costing you tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees.
Get started with the Online Divorce Service that suits you best
With their more affordable rates than a traditional divorce solicitor it is no wonder online divorce services are becoming an increasingly popular choice for couples looking to save costs during their divorce process.
At Easy Online Divorce we pride ourselves on providing affordable divorce services with expert advice and without delay. From no-fault divorce applications for £299 or our amicable divorce service for £599 we offer multiple divorce services. Get in touch with us to find the divorce service that works for you.
Key Takeaways
- The minimum you’ll need to pay to get a divorce currently is £612, although those on a low income or benefits are eligible to reduce or waive this fee.
- The most expensive factor in most divorces will be legal fees due to disputed financial settlements, with costs reaching £30,000+.
- While legal aid does exist, it’s only available for victims of domestic abuse, including coercive control and financial abuse.
- The best way to avoid a costly divorce is to opt for an online divorce service, which can help you save money on both legal fees and court appearances. Online divorce services will handle all the divorce paperwork, allowing you to obtain your divorce without having to leave your home.
Cost of divorce FAQs
What’s the least expensive way to divorce in the UK?
The least expensive way to get a divorce in the UK is through an uncontested divorce. This occurs when both parties can agree on all aspects of divorce, including property division, child custody and finances. In this, spouses create a separation document agreement and submit it to the court.
Who pays for a divorce in the UK?
In general, each person getting divorced will pay their legal fees, whilst the petitioner, person who filed for divorce, will pay court fees; however, there are circumstances in which they could recover these costs from the other person.
What if I can’t afford a divorce in the UK?
If you receive benefits or are on a low income, you may be eligible for financial help.
Applying for help online will provide you with a reference number which you can use to apply for a divorce, so you do not need to pay the fee upfront.
Alternatively, you can apply through a paper form, which you will post alongside the divorce application. A decision will then be made about your application for help with fees. Depending on what’s decided, you may be asked to pay some or all of the fee.
Please note that if you are making a joint divorce application and want support paying the fee, then both parties must apply for the help. If your ex-partner is not eligible or does not apply, you will have to pay the full fee.
How much does an online divorce cost?
The price of an online divorce in the uk depends on the service and level of support, ranging from £299 to £600. The cost typically covers the online divorce application and related paperwork
You can save £750 – £1500 in legal fees by ordering our no fault divorce service for just £299.
