What is the court fee for a divorce in England and Wales?

The mandatory court fee for a divorce application in England and Wales is £593 (2025). Additional fees apply: £303 for a financial remedy order and £215 for a child arrangement order. You may qualify for full or partial fee remission using form EX160.

What is a MIAM and how much does it cost?

A Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) is a mandatory initial meeting before applying to court. It costs around £100–£200 per person. If you qualify for legal aid, it may be free.

How long does a divorce take in England and Wales?

Under no-fault divorce rules, there is a mandatory 20-week reflection period before the conditional order, then 6 more weeks to the final order. The minimum is approximately 6 months. Contested financial proceedings can extend the process to 2–3 years.

Who pays solicitor fees in a UK divorce?

Each party generally pays their own solicitor's fees. Courts rarely make costs orders in financial remedy proceedings. If one party behaves unreasonably, costs can be awarded against them, but this is the exception.

UK Divorce Cost Calculator

Estimate the cost of a divorce in England and Wales — from the £593 court fee for a DIY divorce to mediation and full solicitor-led proceedings.

Updated April 2026 HMCTS EX160 · £593 Divorce Fee Private — runs in your browser

DIY / Online Divorce Costs

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Apply for Financial Remedy Order?

Estimated DIY Divorce Cost

£593

Divorce Application Fee£593

Typical Timeline6–12 months

The £593 court fee is the mandatory government charge for a divorce application in England and Wales. You may qualify for Help with Fees (ex160 form) if your household income is under certain thresholds.

Advanced Calculator

Cost comparison chart across all routes, what-if analysis for complexity and asset mix, and full timeline breakdown.

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UK Divorce Routes — Cost Comparison

The £593 court fee is fixed by the government. All other costs depend on complexity, cooperation, and the professionals involved. Costs shown are per party estimates for a typical moderate-complexity case.

Professional Simulator

Full cost estimate with VAT, Help with Fees eligibility check, and combined both-parties cost analysis.

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Comprehensive Cost Estimate

Divorce Route

Children Under 16

Financial Remedy Application

VAT on Legal Fees?

Solicitor Hours(20–60)

Solicitor Rate(per hour)

Expert Witness / Valuation Fees(optional)

Full Estimated Divorce Cost

£9,896

Court Application Fee£593

Financial Remedy Fee£303

Professional Fees (incl. VAT)£9,000

How Much Does a UK Divorce Cost in 2025?

The cost of a divorce in England and Wales depends significantly on the route you take. The mandatory government court fee is £593 for a divorce application. Beyond that, costs range from near-zero (a fully DIY online divorce) to tens of thousands of pounds per party in contested financial proceedings.

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 introduced no-fault divorce, making the process simpler. You no longer need to blame the other party, which has reduced conflict and costs in many cases.

UK Divorce Cost Breakdown by Route

DIY / Online Divorce: Court application fee: £593 (mandatory) Child arrangement order: £215 (if applicable) Financial remedy order: £303 (if applicable) Total range: £593–£1,111 Mediation Route: MIAM assessment: £100–£200 per person Mediation sessions (5–8): £500–£2,000 per person Court filing fee: £593 Total range: £1,200–£3,000 per person Solicitor-Led (uncontested): Solicitor fees: £3,000–£8,000 per party Court fees: £593–£896 Total range: £5,000–£10,000 per party Solicitor-Led (contested): Solicitor fees: £8,000–£20,000+ per party Barrister (per day): £2,000–£5,000 per day Total range: £15,000–£50,000+ per party

Example: Moderate Complexity Divorce

Example: Couple with 2 children, shared family home, mediation route

MIAM assessment (each)£150

6 mediation sessions£1,050

Court divorce application£593

Child arrangement order£215

Financial remedy order£303

Total estimate (per party)£2,311

A contested financial remedy case could add £5,000–£20,000 per party in solicitor and possibly barrister fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

The mandatory court fee for a divorce application in England and Wales is £593 (as of 2025). This is set by the government and applies regardless of how you proceed. If you apply for a financial remedy order, there is an additional £303 fee. Child arrangement applications cost £215. You may qualify for full or partial fee remission using form EX160 if your income and savings are below the thresholds.

A Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) is a mandatory initial meeting with a mediator before you can apply to court for most family matters. The MIAM costs around £100–£200 per person. If you qualify for legal aid, the MIAM may be free. Some domestic abuse and urgency exemptions apply. The MIAM helps both parties decide whether mediation or another out-of-court resolution is possible before going to a judge.

The cheapest route is a DIY online divorce through the HMCTS online service. You pay the £593 court fee and handle the paperwork yourself. This is most suitable for couples who agree on all financial and child arrangements. If you have a family home, pensions, or children, you should still get legal advice even if you process the divorce itself. Without a financial consent order, any financial claims between ex-spouses technically remain open indefinitely.

Under the no-fault divorce rules introduced in 2022, there is a mandatory 20-week reflection period from when the application is submitted to when the conditional order (formerly decree nisi) can be granted. A further 6 weeks must pass before the final divorce order (formerly decree absolute) can be applied for. So the minimum is approximately 26 weeks (6 months). In practice, contested financial proceedings can extend the total process to 2–3 years.

Each party generally pays their own solicitor's fees. Courts rarely make costs orders in financial remedy proceedings. In an uncontested divorce, the petitioner (the person who filed) can sometimes recover the court fee from the respondent, but this is not automatic. If one party behaves unreasonably in financial proceedings, the court can order them to pay the other side's costs, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Official Sources & Legal References

When to Consult a UK Solicitor

Consult a family law solicitor if your divorce involves: a disputed financial settlement or pensions; children arrangements that cannot be agreed; property owned jointly or with a mortgage; one party living abroad; or domestic abuse or urgency. A solicitor can advise on cost exposure and the best route for your circumstances.