The mandatory court fees (2026)
These are the HMCTS court fees payable regardless of which route you take. They are set by the government and apply to everyone.
| Fee | Amount (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce application | £612 | Payable when you submit the application on GOV.UK. Covers the conditional order and final order stages, no additional court fee at those stages. |
| Consent order application | £60 | Payable when you submit the consent order and D81 to the court for sealing. |
| Form A (financial remedy proceedings) | £313 | Payable if contested financial proceedings are issued. Covers the FDA hearing. |
| Help with Fees (fee remission) | £0, free | If you are on a low income, apply for Help with Fees using form EX160. A full or partial waiver may be granted. |
Total cost by route
GOV.UK alone
DivorceCompanion
Full representation
DivorceCompanion pricing (2026)
DivorceCompanion offers three tiers, all available at divorcecompanion.co.uk:
| Product | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free Clarity Plan | £0 | Route checker quiz, personalised Clarity Plan showing your recommended route |
| Amicable Execution Plan | £79 one-off | 6-stage tracker, document vault, D81 builder, stage-by-stage guidance, 7-day money-back guarantee |
| Form E Builder | £99 one-off | Guided Form E completion across all 28 sections, AI assistance, auto-calculation, court-ready PDF, 7-day money-back guarantee |
Use promotional code JUNE10 at checkout for 10% off the Form E Builder (£99 → £89.10).
What solicitors charge, and when you need one
Family law solicitors in England and Wales typically charge between £200 and £450 per hour depending on the firm, the solicitor's seniority, and the complexity of the work. Fixed-fee services are available for some tasks but are less common for contested matters.
| Solicitor service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Uncontested divorce only (no financial work) | £500,£1,500 |
| Consent order drafting and review | £500,£1,500 |
| Form E completion with solicitor | £500,£2,500 |
| Full financial remedy proceedings (amicable resolution) | £3,000,£10,000 |
| Fully contested financial proceedings to final hearing | £15,000,£30,000+ |
| Hourly advice / consultation | £200,£450 per hour |
DivorceCompanion's one-off fees of £79 and £99 compare to typical solicitor costs of £500,£2,500 for the equivalent tasks.
Combining DivorceCompanion with selective solicitor advice typically costs a fraction of full representation.
How to reduce the total cost of your divorce
- Check Help with Fees, if you qualify, you can waive the £612 court fee entirely
- Use DivorceCompanion for the financial process, the Amicable Execution Plan at £79 and Form E Builder at £99 replace tasks that typically cost £500,£2,500 with a solicitor
- Reach a financial agreement before instructing a solicitor, solicitors charge by the hour; the less negotiation they need to do, the lower the bill
- Use DivorceCompanion to prepare, then instruct a solicitor selectively, a one-hour solicitor consultation to review a consent order costs £200,£450. That is very different from instructing them to manage the whole process
- Avoid contested proceedings where possible, mediation costs £100,£200 per person per session; contested court proceedings cost tens of thousands. A MIAM is free or low cost and may open a path to agreement
When to stop DIY and take specialist advice
Cost savings are only worthwhile if the outcome is sound. These are the signals that mean you should pause and take legal advice before proceeding, regardless of which route you are on:
- Your spouse has instructed a solicitor and you have received a formal letter. Do not respond directly without understanding your position. The cost of one hour of advice is far less than responding incorrectly to formal correspondence.
- A previously agreed financial settlement has broken down. Once proceedings become contested, the costs and approach change significantly. The assisted DIY route is not designed for contested financial proceedings.
- A business, overseas asset, or defined benefit pension is involved. These require specialist valuation and legal structuring. DivorceCompanion helps you understand the process and prepare, but these specific elements need professional input.
- You are being pressured to sign something you do not understand. A one-hour solicitor review of a consent order typically costs £200,£450. That is a small sum against the risk of signing an order that cannot easily be changed.
Already started your divorce? DivorceCompanion joins mid-process
You do not need to be at the very beginning of your divorce to use DivorceCompanion. Many users join during the 20-week reflection period, after receiving their conditional order, or when they realise they need structured help for the financial settlement that GOV.UK does not provide.
DivorceCompanion's catch-up onboarding places you at the correct stage in the process based on where you already are. You never pay for stages you have already completed, and you never start from scratch.
Start with the free route checker
DivorceCompanion's free Clarity Plan identifies your route and tells you exactly which products and services apply to your situation, so you pay only for what you need.
- ✓ Free, no credit card required
- ✓ Personalised to your situation
- ✓ Amicable Execution Plan from £79
- ✓ Form E Builder from £99 (use JUNE10 for 10% off)