Divorce Court Fee Increase: How to Avoid Paying More

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has announced that court fees will rise from 1 April 2025, subject to parliamentary approval. This increase will affect many areas, including the fees required to apply for divorce and consent orders.

What Are the New Divorce and Consent Order Fees?

From April 2025, the following fee changes will apply:

• Divorce application fee: Increasing by £19 from £593 to £612
• Consent order application fee: Increasing by £2 from £58 to £60

These changes follow a government consultation paper, “Implementing Increases to Selected Court and Tribunal Fees,” published in November 2023.

Why Are Court Fees Increasing?

Court and tribunal fees play a key role in funding HMCTS. While many fees are set to recover the cost of services, some, including divorce fees, are classified as ‘enhanced’ fees. This means they are set higher than the actual cost to subsidise other areas where fees are lower or non-existent to protect vulnerable users.

Since the last fee increase in 2021, the cost of running the courts has risen significantly. In 2022/23, court fees covered less than half of HMCTS’s operating costs, with taxpayers subsidising the shortfall. To reduce this reliance on public funds, HMCTS is increasing fees to recover a larger proportion of costs from court users.

How Will This Impact the Cost of Divorce?

For many couples, the court fee is already the most significant cost when getting divorced, and this increase makes the process even more expensive.

Every week, we speak to people—especially women—who are trapped in unhappy or even abusive marriages simply because they cannot afford the court fee. Women are disproportionately affected by divorce costs, as they are more likely to have caring responsibilities and lower incomes due to the gender pay gap.

The government recognises that the divorce fee is already high compared to other family court proceedings. While many fees increased in May 2024, the divorce fee was deliberately held at £593 to avoid discouraging people from applying. However, from April 2025, the increase will take effect.

Can You Avoid Paying the Higher Court Fee?

Yes! If you are considering divorce, we strongly recommend submitting your application before 1 April 2025 to lock in the current lower court fee.

Who Is Exempt from Paying Court Fees?

If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may qualify for a fee exemption or reduction through the Help with Fees scheme.

This government initiative helps thousands of people access justice every year and cost the government over £80 million in 2022. You can check if you’re eligible for Help with Fees here.

Your Divorce Options Before and After the Fee Increase

If cost is your top priority, you can file for divorce yourself via the government portal, but you’ll need to handle everything yourself.

If you want to complete your divorce quickly and stress-free, our Managed Divorce Service costs just £299 plus the court fee. We handle the entire process for you, ensuring everything is filed correctly and on time.

By applying before 1 April 2025, you save £19 on your divorce.

What Happens After You Start the Divorce Process?

Once you choose our Managed Divorce Service, here’s how it works:

1. Next Steps Email – You’ll receive an email with simple instructions.
2. Submit Your Marriage Certificate – Just take a photo and upload it.
3. Complete a Quick Online Questionnaire – Takes less than 5 minutes.
4. We Prepare Your Application – Ready within 24-36 hours.
5. Court Submission – You pay the court fee, and we submit your application.
6. Receive Your Case Number – The court notifies your spouse.
7. Spouse Acknowledgment – Your spouse submits an Acknowledgement of Service.
8. 20-Week Reflection Period – After this, you can apply for a Conditional Order.
9. Final Order – After 6 weeks and 1 day, your divorce is complete.

Let Us Handle the Stress for You

Divorce can seem complicated, but with our expert team, the process is fast, easy, and hassle-free. All you need to do is complete our simple questionnaire and digitally sign a few documents.

With court fees increasing soon, now is the best time to start your divorce. Don’t wait—save money by applying before 1 April 2025.

Get started today!