Divorce can feel expensive before you’ve even started.
There are court fees, solicitor fees, paperwork, legal jargon and the worry that one mistake could delay everything or cost you more money.
So it’s no surprise that lots of people ask the same question:
Can I get a divorce for free?
Quick answer: You can get a free divorce in England and Wales if you qualify for Help with Fees and complete the divorce yourself. Help with Fees can reduce the £612 divorce court fee to zero, but it does not cover solicitor fees or managed divorce service fees.
So yes, a free divorce is possible.
But it is important to understand what “free” actually means, what help is available, and where people often get caught out.
How to get a free divorce in the UK
The biggest cost for many people starting a divorce is the court fee.
In England and Wales, the court currently charges £612 to apply for a divorce.
This fee is paid to the court. It is separate from anything you might pay to a solicitor, legal adviser or divorce service.
However, if you are on a low income, receive certain benefits, or have little or no savings, you may be able to get this fee reduced or removed completely through the government’s Help with Fees scheme.
If the court agrees that you qualify, you may not have to pay the £612 court fee at all.
That is how people can get the court part of the divorce for free.
What is Help with Fees?
Help with Fees is a government scheme that helps people who cannot afford court fees.
If you qualify, the court may reduce the fee or waive it completely.
For divorce, this can mean not having to pay the £612 court fee.
This can make a huge difference, especially for people who feel trapped in a marriage because they do not think they can afford to leave.
We speak to people all the time who do not realise this help exists.
Who can get Help with Fees for divorce?
You may be able to get Help with Fees if you have little or no savings and either:
✓ receive certain benefits
✓ have a low income
✓ have children and your income is within the allowed limits
The court looks at your savings, income and benefits.
Savings limit for Help with Fees
To qualify, you must have less than the maximum amount of savings allowed.
For a divorce court fee of £612, if you are 65 or younger, you can have up to £4,250 in savings.
If you are 66 or over, you can have up to £16,000 in savings.
You should always check the latest Help with Fees guidance before applying, because the rules can change.
Benefits that may qualify you for Help with Fees
You may be able to get the divorce court fee reduced or removed if you receive one of the following benefits:
✓ Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
✓ Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
✓ Income Support
✓ Universal Credit, if you earn less than £6,000 a year
✓ Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
You must also be within the savings limit.
Income limits for a free divorce
If you do not receive one of the qualifying benefits, you may still be able to get Help with Fees based on your income.
To get the divorce court fee completely removed, your monthly income before tax must be:
✓ £1,420 or less if you are single
✓ £2,130 or less if you have a partner
You can also receive extra allowance for children.
Help with Fees if you have children
If you have children, the income limit increases.
You can add:
✓ £425 for each child aged 0 to 13
✓ £710 for each child aged 14 or over
For example, if you have a partner and two children under 13, your income limit for a full fee reduction would be £2,980 per month before tax.
What if my income is higher?
If your income is higher than the figures above, it does not automatically mean you have to pay the full £612 court fee.
You may still be able to get part of the fee reduced.
As a rough guide, someone earning up to around £2,500 per month before tax may still get some help with the fee, depending on their circumstances.
Here is a rough guide to what you might pay.
| Monthly income before tax | Approximate court fee to pay |
|---|---|
| £1,400 | £0 |
| £1,500 | £20 |
| £1,600 | £100 |
| £1,700 | £150 |
| £1,800 | £200 |
| £1,900 | £250 |
| £2,000 | £300 |
| £2,100 | £350 |
| £2,200 | £400 |
| £2,300 | £450 |
| £2,400 | £500 |
| £2,500 | £550 |
| £2,600 | £612 |
These figures are only a guide, but they show an important point.
You do not need to assume you have to pay the full court fee.
My income is low, but my spouse earns more
This is one of the biggest worries people have.
They think:
“My income is low, but my husband or wife earns more, so I probably won’t qualify.”
That is not always the case.
If you are permanently separated, applying for divorce, or the case involves your spouse, you may be treated as single for the Help with Fees application.
That means your spouse’s income may not need to be included.
This matters because many people delay divorce because they wrongly believe their spouse’s income rules them out.
Can I get Legal Aid for divorce?
Legal Aid is not available for most straightforward divorce cases in England and Wales.
There are some situations where Legal Aid may be available, such as cases involving domestic abuse or serious safeguarding issues.
But for most people who simply want to get divorced, the main way to reduce the cost is Help with Fees.
How to apply for Help with Fees
You can apply for Help with Fees online through the government website before submitting your divorce application.
If you qualify, you will receive a Help with Fees reference number.
You then use this reference number when you apply for divorce, so the court knows you are not paying the full £612 fee.
You can also apply using form EX160 if you are applying by post.
Can I do my divorce myself for free?
Yes.
If you qualify for Help with Fees and complete the divorce yourself, you can get divorced without paying the court fee or a divorce service.
You can apply for divorce yourself through the government website.
This is the only true way to get a free divorce.
But you need to be careful.
Free does not always mean simple.
You still need to complete the application correctly, use the right details, understand the stages of the process and submit everything at the right time.
A simple mistake can cause delays. In some cases, you may have to pay to correct an error.
The divorce process in England and Wales
Divorce has three main stages.
1. Divorce application
This is where you apply to the court to start the divorce.
2. Conditional order
This is where the court confirms that you are entitled to a divorce.
3. Final order
This is the order that legally ends the marriage.
Even when both people agree, divorce takes just over seven months as a minimum.
Does a free divorce sort out your finances?
No.
This is really important.
Getting divorced legally ends your marriage, but it does not automatically sort out your finances.
It does not automatically protect your savings, pension, home, income, inheritance or future wealth.
If you want to dismiss future financial claims, you need a financial order approved by the court.
Depending on your situation, this may be a clean break order or a consent order.
Without one, financial claims can remain open after divorce.
This is where lots of people make an expensive mistake.
They think the divorce is the end of everything.
It isn’t.
The divorce ends the marriage. A financial order sorts out the financial claims.
This is why a free divorce can still become expensive later if the financial side is ignored.
Can I get a free clean break order?
You may be able to get help with the court fee for a financial order, but the order itself still needs to be drafted correctly.
A clean break order is used when there are no major assets to divide and both people want to dismiss future financial claims.
A consent order is used when there are assets such as property, pensions, savings, debts or other financial arrangements.
If the order is not drafted properly, the court may reject it or ask for changes.
So while you may be able to reduce the court fee, you need to be careful about preparing the order yourself.
The next best thing to a free divorce
If you qualify for Help with Fees but do not want to deal with the forms, court website or process yourself, Easy Online Divorce can help.
Our fully managed divorce service is £299.
With this service, we:
✓ prepare your divorce application
✓ submit it to the court
✓ manage the court process for you
✓ deal with court communication
✓ tell you what happens at each stage
✓ help keep the divorce moving forward
If you qualify for Help with Fees, you may not need to pay the £612 court fee.
That means your only cost would be our £299 service fee.
It is not a free divorce, but it is a low-cost way to get the divorce handled properly without paying expensive solicitor fees.
Need help getting divorced affordably?
If you are worried about the cost of divorce, do not assume you are stuck.
You may be able to get the £612 court fee reduced or removed completely.
And if you do not want to manage the divorce yourself, you do not have to pay thousands in solicitor fees.
Call us on 0204 530 8101 or book a free consultation and a member of our team will explain the cheapest and simplest way to move forward.
You may also find these guides helpful
✓ What is a financial order in divorce?
✓ Clean break order explained
✓ Divorce process UK: step-by-step guide
✓ Spouse won’t respond to divorce papers — what can I do?
FAQs about free divorce
Can I get divorced for free in the UK?
You can get divorced for free in England and Wales if you qualify for Help with Fees and complete the divorce yourself without paying for a solicitor or managed divorce service.
What is Help with Fees?
Help with Fees is a government scheme that reduces or removes court fees for people on a low income, certain benefits, or with little or no savings.
Does Help with Fees cover solicitor costs?
No. Help with Fees only covers court fees. It does not pay solicitor fees, legal advice fees or managed divorce service fees.
What is the divorce court fee in England and Wales?
The court fee to apply for divorce in England and Wales is £612.
Can my spouse’s income stop me getting Help with Fees?
Not necessarily. If you are permanently separated, applying for divorce, or the case involves your spouse, you may be treated as single for the Help with Fees application.
Can I apply for Help with Fees after paying the divorce court fee?
Yes, you may be able to apply for a refund if you paid the fee in the last three months and were eligible for Help with Fees when you paid it.
Is a DIY divorce risky?
A DIY divorce can work if your case is straightforward and you are confident completing the application correctly. Mistakes can delay the divorce and may lead to extra costs.
Does divorce end financial claims?
No. Divorce ends the marriage, but it does not automatically end financial claims. To protect yourself financially, you need a clean break order or consent order approved by the court.
