Fixed-fee divorce solicitors - what is actually included
The short answer
A fixed-fee solicitor package for a consent order typically costs £500 to £1,000 + VAT, on top of the £62 court fee. What that buys you is a qualified solicitor drafting and checking your order, plus limited advice on whether the deal is fair.
That is genuinely worth the money when your finances include pensions, property or anything that needs professional judgment. But for a simple, agreed split, you are paying solicitor rates for work that a cheaper service can do competently. The table below shows what each route includes and where each one falls short.
General guidance, not legal advice. This guide compares routes for getting a consent order at the same level of detail for each.
How the routes compare
Four routes to a consent order, from the court fee alone to full bespoke solicitor drafting. Court fees are on top of every route. All third-party prices were checked on provider websites on 18 August 2026.
| Route | Typical cost (+ court fee) | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY | £0 (court fee only) | You draft and file everything yourself. No professional check. | Confident, fully agreed, simple finances, no pensions to share. |
| Online drafting service | £159 – £279 | A drafted document. Most of these firms are not solicitors. | Agreed split, simple finances, you want someone else to type it. |
| Fixed-fee solicitor | £500 – £1,000 + VAT | Drafted by a solicitor. Limited advice on fairness. Pension wording usually included. | Some complexity: a pension to share, property to transfer, a few outstanding questions. |
| Bespoke solicitor | £1,000 – £3,500+ VAT | Full advice, bespoke drafting, negotiation if needed. Quoted after consultation. | Complex finances, disagreement on any point, high-value assets. |
Our review panel are independent family solicitors. They are not employed by Settle Divorce, and Settle Divorce is not a firm of solicitors. Every order is checked by an independent family solicitor from our review panel, in practice in England and Wales.
What a fixed-fee solicitor actually includes
The phrase "fixed fee" covers a wide range of packages. At the cheaper end (£500 + VAT), you typically get the drafting and filing of a consent order from a qualified solicitor, but limited or no advice on whether your deal is fair. At the higher end (£800 – £1,000 + VAT), the package usually includes a review of your finances, advice on the fairness of the split, pension sharing wording, and help if the court asks questions.
What a fixed fee almost never includes: negotiation with your ex, contested court hearings, or anything that turns out to be more complicated than the initial assessment suggested. Read the small print. Most fixed-fee solicitors will move you to hourly rates if the case becomes contested.
When each route goes wrong
DIY
The judge sends the order back because the wording is vague, the pension is handled badly, or the D81 does not explain why the split is fair. You redraft and resubmit, losing weeks. Worse: the order is sealed but the wording does not actually achieve what you intended.
Online drafting service
The document is typed but nobody qualified has checked whether the deal is fair to you. If the pension is worth more than the house (common), and the order splits property but ignores the pension, you may not realise the problem until years later.
Fixed-fee solicitor
The fee covers the expected scope. If your case turns out to be more complicated, the solicitor either moves you to hourly rates or declines to continue at the fixed fee. This is fair enough, but ask upfront what triggers the switch.
Bespoke solicitor
Cost. A straightforward agreed case that a £399 service could handle competently will cost you £1,000+ at bespoke solicitor rates, plus VAT. You are paying for expertise you may not need.
Common questions
Is a fixed-fee solicitor better than an online service?
If your finances are simple and you both agree, an online drafting service or a solicitor-reviewed service can be perfectly adequate. A fixed-fee solicitor is worth the extra cost when you have pensions to share, property to transfer, or any question about whether the split is fair.
What does the £62 court fee cover?
The £62 is the HMCTS fee for applying to the court for a consent order. It is paid to the court, not to your solicitor or service provider, and it applies regardless of which route you take. It was checked on GOV.UK on 18 August 2026.
Can I switch from a fixed fee to a bespoke solicitor mid-case?
Yes, though you may lose some of the fixed fee you have already paid. If your fixed-fee solicitor tells you the case is more complex than expected, ask them to continue on hourly rates or seek a second opinion from another firm.
Sources
Everything above leans on these. Primary sources where they exist.
- GOV.UK — Apply for a consent order — the official process and the current court fee of £62. Checked 18 August 2026.
- Provider pricing pages for consent-orders-online.co.uk (£159), divorce-online.co.uk (£269), and expressdivorce.co.uk (£279) — the online drafting service price range. Checked 18 August 2026.
- Advertised fixed-fee packages from SRA-regulated solicitors (OLS Solicitors, Howells, Setfords) — the £500 to £1,000+ VAT range. Checked 18 August 2026.