Divorce solicitor fees explained
The short answer
Most divorcing couples in England and Wales spend between £1,500 and £10,000 per person in total, including court fees. The divorce application costs £628 and the consent order costs £62. Everything else is what you pay for help, and that ranges from nothing (DIY) to £25,000+ per person for a fully contested case.
Solicitor hourly rates run £150 to £350 outside London, and higher in London. Fixed-fee packages for uncontested divorces start around £500 + VAT. The biggest factor is not the solicitor's hourly rate but whether your case stays agreed or becomes contested.
General guidance, not legal advice. This guide explains how solicitor fees work and what each stage of a divorce typically costs. Fee ranges are market estimates, not quotes for your case.
How solicitor fees work
Family solicitors charge in one of two ways, and sometimes a combination of both.
- Hourly rates. The traditional model. You pay for time spent, and the solicitor gives you a costs estimate upfront. Hourly rates for family solicitors in England and Wales typically run £150 to £350, depending on location and seniority. London rates start higher. The total depends on how many hours the case takes.
- Fixed fees. A set price for a defined scope of work. Common for straightforward consent orders (£500 to £1,000 + VAT) and uncontested divorces (£500 to £2,000 + VAT). The catch: if the case becomes more complex than expected, the solicitor either moves you to hourly rates or charges an additional fixed fee for the extra work.
In either model, court fees are on top. The solicitor's fee covers their time, not the court's fee for processing your application.
What each stage costs
£628Divorce application court fee. Checked on GOV.UK 18 August 2026.
£62Consent order court fee. Checked on GOV.UK 18 August 2026.
| Stage | Typical solicitor cost | Court fee |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce application (uncontested) | £500 – £1,500 + VAT | £628 |
| Consent order (agreed finances) | £500 – £1,000 + VAT (fixed fee) or £1,000 – £3,500+ + VAT (hourly) | £62 |
| Contested financial remedy (to FDR hearing) | £5,000 – £15,000 + VAT | £321 |
| Contested financial remedy (to final hearing) | £15,000 – £25,000+ VAT | Included above |
| Children arrangements (consent) | £500 – £1,500 + VAT | £0 (no fee for consent children orders) |
| Children arrangements (contested) | £3,000 – £15,000+ VAT | £232 |
How to keep solicitor costs down
The single biggest saving is agreeing as much as possible before you instruct a solicitor. Every hour of negotiation your solicitor does on your behalf adds to the bill.
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Agree the split between you first
If you can reach agreement on the main points (property, pensions, savings, debts) before involving a solicitor, you turn a negotiation into a drafting exercise. That is the difference between £5,000 and £500.
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Use mediation for the sticking points
Mediation costs £120 to £250 per person per session, compared to £150 to £350 per hour for a solicitor. If you are stuck on one or two issues, a mediator is usually cheaper and faster. You still need someone to draft the consent order afterwards.
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Get a fixed-fee quote
For straightforward cases, a fixed fee removes the risk of an unexpectedly large bill. Ask upfront what the fixed fee covers and what would trigger additional charges.
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Do the paperwork yourself where you can
Gathering disclosure documents, completing Form D81, and communicating with your ex are things you can do without paying solicitor rates. Use the solicitor for the parts that need legal expertise: advice, drafting and filing.
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Consider a reviewed service for the consent order
If your finances are straightforward and you both agree, a service that provides solicitor review at a fixed price (a fixed-fee solicitor package, for example) can do the job at a fraction of the bespoke cost.
The false economy: skipping professional advice when your finances are complex does not save money. A badly drafted consent order, or one that mishandles a pension, can cost you far more than the solicitor would have charged to get it right. The advice to keep costs down applies to straightforward cases, not complex ones.
Common questions
Do both of us need a solicitor?
No. You can share a solicitor for drafting the consent order, but a solicitor cannot advise both of you because your interests may conflict. If only one of you instructs a solicitor, the other should at least get independent advice on the final order before signing it.
Can I get legal aid for a divorce?
Legal aid for most private family law cases was withdrawn in 2013 under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO). It remains available where there is evidence of domestic abuse or where a child is at risk of harm. If you qualify, it covers solicitor fees and court fees in full.
What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?
A solicitor handles the day-to-day work: advice, correspondence, drafting, negotiation. A barrister (also called counsel) is brought in for specific tasks, usually court hearings and specialist opinions. Your solicitor instructs the barrister on your behalf. In most straightforward divorces, you will not need a barrister.
Sources
Everything above leans on these. Primary sources where they exist.
- GOV.UK — Get a divorce: how to apply — the £628 divorce application fee. Checked 18 August 2026.
- GOV.UK — Apply for a consent order — the £62 court fee for a consent order. Checked 18 August 2026.
- GOV.UK — Family court fees (EX50) — the full schedule of family court fees including the £321 financial remedy application fee. Checked 18 August 2026.
- Published pricing from regulated family solicitors (Stowe Family Law, Woolley & Co, WHN Solicitors, Setfords) — hourly rates and fixed-fee ranges. Checked 18 August 2026.