How much does divorce cost?
The cost of a divorce is influenced by a few factors. At a basic level, it costs £593 to apply for divorce and process your application in England and Wales. You can apply online or by post. The process is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland. While there is no requirement to hire a solicitor, it can be very helpful, even for an ‘no-fault’ divorce. Our fixed-fee package for divorce is priced at £250 + VAT.
Divorce can get a lot more expensive, depending on the circumstances. Where there are complicated financial assets or child custody matters involved, it could cost anywhere between £2,500 to £25,000.
How long does it take to get divorced?
A change in the law in April 2022 means that couples can now pursue a ‘no-fault’ divorce in England and Wales. There is no longer a need to prove that the other party is at fault or be separated for at least two years before the divorce is granted. However, the process of getting divorced is still not immediate and can take a few months.
After your divorce application has been issued, you must wait for 20 weeks before applying for a conditional order. This document says that the court cannot see any reason that you cannot get divorced. If it is granted, a certificate will be sent to your spouse which could take several more weeks. You have to wait six weeks and one day (43 days) before you can apply to finalise the divorce and you must apply within 12 months. If you apply for a divorce as a sole applicant and don’t apply to finalise the divorce, your spouse can do it instead but must wait an additional three months (on top of the 43 days).
This means that the minimum amount of time between applying for divorce and finalising the divorce is just over 26 weeks or around six and a half months. Unfortunately, it can take longer, especially if there are more complex issues to deal with or if one party fails to cooperate. There can also be court or divorce centre delays that are out of your control.
Get a free consultation
Contact Beyond Legal to arrange a free consultation for our divorce services. Our offices in Newton Abbot and Tiverton are conveniently located and we are here to discuss issues relating to your divorce and other family law matters that may be troubling you. Send us a message, call us or email us if you want to chat about your needs.
