BLB Solicitors
  • +01225 755656
  • enquiries@blbsolicitors.co.uk
BLB Solicitors
  • +01225 755656
  • enquiries@blbsolicitors.co.uk
  • Home
  • Services for You
    • Conveyancing Solicitors
    • Leasehold Solicitors
    • Property Dispute Solicitors
    • Divorce, Family Law and Mediation
    • Lifetime Planning and Wills
    • Probate and Estate Administration
    • Equity Release Solicitors
    • Retirement Property Conveyancing
    • Personal Injury Compensation
    • Medical Negligence Solicitors
  • Services for Business
    • Commercial Property
    • Commercial Property Disputes
    • Corporate & Commercial Legal Advice
    • Estate Management Solicitors
  • BLB Solicitors Locations
    • Almondsbury Solicitors
    • Bath Solicitors
    • Bristol Solicitors
    • Bradford on Avon Solicitors
    • Swindon Solicitors
    • Trowbridge Solicitors
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Working for BLB
    • BLB Solicitors – How we work
    • Making Payments to BLB Solicitors
    • Instructing BLB Solicitors
    • Terms of Business
    • Complaints Policy
    • Interest Policy
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Home » How much does a divorce cost in England and Wales?

Divorce and Family Law
Apr 25th, 2017

At BLB Solicitors, our goal is simple – to deliver you clear, practical legal advice and cost-effective solutions. We hope you enjoy exploring our Blog. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please do contact us.

How much does a divorce cost in England and Wales?

Ending the legal contract of marriage – divorce main suit

Whether you download the forms and apply for a divorce yourself or not, you will need to pay a petition fee of £550, although you may be eligible for help with the fee if you are on benefits or a low income.

If you would like a solicitor to manage the divorce process for you – draft the petition, issue it, apply for the decree nisi (first decree) and then the decree absolute (second decree) – you are looking at additional costs usually of a minimum of £600 plus VAT to £800 plus VAT, depending on the solicitor’s seniority. Costs will be greater than this if there are any complicating factors e.g. the other spouse refuses to consent to the divorce or fails to acknowledge the petition.

Financial settlement

If you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement yourselves and you simply need a solicitor to draft a Financial Remedy Consent Order for you, the solicitor’s costs are likely to be between £500 plus VAT (for a simple clean break order) and £1,500 plus VAT (where there are complex assets). The court fee will be £50.

If you would like a solicitor to assist with the exchange of financial disclosure and/or to negotiate an agreement on your behalf, you should budget for costs of up to £5,000 plus VAT and a court fee of £50.

Alternatively, if you would like to exchange disclosure and negotiate settlement proposals at mediation, your costs are likely to be around £1,200 plus VAT assuming three sessions are required. You will then need a solicitor to draft the Financial Remedy Consent Order for you (resulting in additional costs of £500 to £1,500 – see above).

If an agreement cannot be reached and you need to apply to the court for an adjudication (a Financial Remedy Order other than by consent), the court fee is £255 and your solicitor’s fees could easily reach £15,000 plus VAT assuming your case settles after a couple of court attendances. If a fully contested final hearing is required, overall costs are usually in the region of £25,000 plus VAT.

Hourly rate vs fixed fee

Please note that most solicitors will charge by the hour so the above figures are estimates only. Even those that offer fixed fees usually do so subject to caveats, so that the fixed fee is for a simple divorce only and if any complicating factors arise, an hourly rate will be charged. Therefore. if you speak on the phone or meet face to face with your solicitor on a regular basis, or send multiple emails to your solicitor, your costs will be higher.

Your solicitor should give you a written costs estimate at the outset and this should be reviewed regularly.

Should you wish to discuss any of the issues raised in this article in the strictest confidence, please contact, specialist solicitor and family mediator, Sarah Jackson, on 01225 462871 or by email at sarah.jackson@blbsolicitors.co.uk

 

Image by Images Money under a creative commons licence

 

Sarah Jackson
Request a Call Back

Recent Articles

  • Grey divorce: divorcing at 50+
  • What is a Petnup and do I need one?
  • Will a judge go against a CAFCASS report?
  • Separated parents’ holiday rights
  • Postnuptial Agreement: when should we get one?

Newsletter Sign-up

* indicates required

Share this article

You may also like...
  • Mar 10th, 2025
    Will my spouse get half of everything if they cheated on me?
    Read Article
  • Apr 17th, 2025
    Separated parents’ holiday rights
    Read Article
View All Related Articles
Get in-touch today
Contact Form

Left Column

Right Column

Centre

 
Sending
  • Bristol Solicitors

    0117 905 5308
  • Bath Solicitors

    01225 462871
  • Bradford on Avon Solicitors

    01225 866541
  • Swindon Solicitors

    01793 615011
  • Trowbridge Solicitors

    01225 755656
  • Almondsbury Solicitors

    0117 905 5308
Authorised & Regulated by Solicitors Regulation Authority (No. 636644)
©2025 BLB Solicitors | Terms | Privacy | Legal