How much does a divorce cost in the UK?

The court fee to file a divorce application is £593. Legal fees vary depending on complexity. A straightforward divorce with legal representation typically costs £1,500 to £3,000 in total. Contested financial proceedings can cost significantly more. Ansons provides clear cost estimates at the outset.

What happens to the house when we divorce?

Options include selling the property and dividing the proceeds, one party buying the other out, or a deferred sale arrangement where the home is retained until a trigger event such as children reaching adulthood. Any agreement should be recorded in a sealed Consent Order to make it legally binding.

Can my spouse refuse to agree to the divorce?

No. Since the introduction of no-fault divorce in April 2022, a spouse cannot contest or block a divorce in England and Wales. They can only challenge the court's jurisdiction or the validity of the marriage itself.

What is a Consent Order and do I need one?

A Consent Order is a court-approved document that formally records and closes off the financial settlement between divorcing spouses. Without one, financial claims remain open indefinitely after divorce. If you have any assets to divide, a Consent Order is essential.

How are pensions split in a divorce?

Pensions are a matrimonial asset and must be considered in any financial settlement. They can be divided via a Pension Sharing Order, Pension Earmarking Order, or offset against other assets. Specialist actuarial advice is often needed for accurate valuation.

What is the difference between divorce and separation?

Divorce legally ends a marriage. Separation means living apart while remaining legally married. Legal (judicial) separation is available as an alternative for those who do not wish to divorce. For unmarried couples, there is no formal separation process, but legal rights in relation to property and children may still apply.

Divorce solicitors in Staffordshire

Q: How long does a divorce take in England and Wales?

The minimum is around 6 to 7 months from application to Final Order due to the mandatory 20-week reflection period. In practice, most divorces take longer, particularly where financial matters are disputed. The average time from application to Conditional Order was 37 weeks in 2024 according to Ministry of Justice data.

Q: Do I need a solicitor to get divorced?

You can apply for divorce yourself online through GOV.UK. However, if you have property, pensions, children, or a spouse who is not cooperating, professional legal advice is strongly recommended. The financial and children arrangements are where mistakes are most costly — and most avoidable.

Put clarity in place for you and your family

Divorce is one of the most significant decisions you'll make. Getting the right legal advice early, before financial claims crystallise, before court proceedings become necessary, can make a genuine difference to the outcome and the cost.

Our family law team at Ansons acts with discretion and professionalism for clients across Lichfield, Cannock, Dudley, Sutton Coldfield, and throughout Staffordshire and the West Midlands. We help you understand where you stand, what your options are, and how to move forward, without making things harder than they need to be.

Whether you're at the start of what's likely to be an amicable split, dealing with complex finances, or trying to protect your position in a more difficult situation, we're here to give you the advice you need, not just the advice you want to hear.

Make an enquiry

What our divorce and separation solicitors can help with

We'll help you work through the key decisions, protect your position, and keep things moving.

Filing and managing your divorce application

No-fault divorce advice and process

Negotiating financial settlements

Consent orders and financial orders

Division of property and pensions

Arrangements for children

Spousal maintenance

Separation from an unmarried partner

Working constructively to help you reach agreement

Keeping your will and LPA up to date

The process, step by step

Don't leave financial matters until after the Final Order

The divorce process and financial settlement are dealt with separately. Getting your Final Order does not close off financial claims — your ex-spouse can still make claims against you months or even years later unless those claims are formally resolved in a sealed Consent Order. We strongly recommend getting financial matters sorted before applying for the Final Order.

Application

You (or both of you) submit the divorce application. You will need your marriage certificate and identification at this stage. The current court fee is £628.

Acknowledgement

In a sole application, your spouse has 14 days to acknowledge receipt. They cannot contest the divorce itself.

Waiting period

A 20-week waiting period, mandatory reflection period. Use this time to agree on financial and child arrangements.

Conditional Order

The court confirms there is no reason it should not proceed. Previously called 'Decree Nisi'.

6-week wait

You must wait at least 6 weeks and 1 day before applying for the Final Order.

Final Order

This legally ends the marriage. Previously called 'Decree Absolute'. Do not apply for the Final Order without first taking legal advice

How divorce works in England and Wales

The law changed significantly in April 2022. Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, England and Wales moved to a no-fault divorce system.

It's the biggest shake-up in divorce law for over 50 years, and it changed quite a bit about how the process works.

The key changes you should know

There is now a single ground for divorce: that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. You don't need to cite adultery, unreasonable behaviour, or any period of separation.
The divorce cannot be contested. Your spouse cannot block or refuse the divorce, they can only challenge the court's jurisdiction or the validity of the marriage itself.
Applications can be made jointly (both of you apply together) or solely (one of you applies on their own).
There is a mandatory 20-week reflection period between the application and applying for a Conditional Order. The whole process takes a minimum of 7 to 8 months, often longer.
The court fee to file is currently £628. Legal fees are on top of this and will vary depending on complexity.

Why getting the right divorce advice matters, and why Ansons?

Clear advice

We explain your options in plain English so you can make confident decisions, not just legal ones.

We aim to keep things out of court

Contested court proceedings can be expensive and stressful. Where possible, we help clients reach agreement through negotiation or mediation first.

Protect what matters most

Whether that's your home, your pension, your children's arrangements, or your business — we focus on the outcomes that matter to you.

Experienced family team

Our solicitors handle divorce and separation matters across Staffordshire and the West Midlands every day. Several members of our family law team are proud members of Resolution, the national organisation of family justice professionals.

Costs explained clearly

We are transparent about how fees work from the outset and will give you a clear estimate before we start work.

Local offices, local knowledge

With offices in Lichfield, Cannock, Dudley, and Sutton Coldfield, we're accessible and we understand the local context your family and finances sit in.

Divorce and separation: frequently asked questions

If you're unsure where to start, the FAQs here cover the questions we hear most often.

Our Family Law team is on hand if you want to talk through anything specific.

Simply give us a call on 0121 716 3716

How long does a divorce take in England and Wales?

The minimum is around 7 to 8 months from application to Final Order, due to the mandatory 20-week reflection period built into the no-fault divorce process. In reality, most divorces take longer — particularly where financial matters are complex or contested. According to Ministry of Justice data, the average time from application to Conditional Order was 37 weeks in 2024. Joint applications tend to complete faster than sole applications.

Do I need a solicitor to get divorced?

We recommend you take legal advice before applying for a divorce. This is particularly important if you own property together, have pension assets, have children, or your spouse is not cooperating. The financial and children arrangements are where mistakes are most costly and most avoidable.

How much does a divorce cost?

The court fee to file a divorce application is currently £628. If you are instructing Ansons to manage the divorce process on your behalf, our fees for the divorce process in isolation are typically £500 to £700 plus VAT and disbursements. Financial settlement work, including negotiating and drafting a Consent Order, is a separate matter and costed accordingly depending on complexity. We will always give you a clear estimate before we start.

Your Family Law Experts

Our Family Law team is here for people, not just cases. Approachable, compassionate, and focused on securing the best possible outcomes for you and your loved ones. Combining specialist expertise with clear, practical advice, they guide you through life's most challenging moments with sensitivity, integrity, and unwavering professionalism.

Joanne Vernon

LL.B. (Hons)

Associate Director, Head of Family Law

Sara Anderson

LL.B. (Hons)

Associate Director

Maisie Watts

LL.B. (Hons), LL.M.

Solicitor

Aisha Quereshi

LLB (Hons)

Solicitor

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Serving clients across Staffordshire and the West Midlands

Ansons has offices in Lichfield, Cannock, Sutton Coldfield and Dudley. All four cover family law. Choose an office below for local contact details, or read more about our family law service in each town.

Our head office is at St Mary's Chambers on Breadmarket Street, in the centre of the city. We advise clients across Lichfield, Burntwood, Shenstone, Alrewas and Fradley.

Family law solicitors in Lichfield

St Mary's Chambers,
5-7 Breadmarket Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LQ

T: 01543 263 456
E: info@ansons.law

Commerce House is on Ridings Park, just off Eastern Way, with free parking on site. We advise clients across Cannock, Hednesford, Heath Hayes, Norton Canes and Rugeley.

Family law solicitors in Cannock

Commerce House, Ridings Park, Eastern Way, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 7FJ

T: 01543 466 660
E: info@ansons.law

Our office is on Lichfield Road at Mere Green, within reach of Four Oaks, Little Aston, Streetly, Boldmere and the north Birmingham suburbs. Appointments in person or by video.

Family law solicitors in Sutton Coldfield

316-318 Lichfield Road, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 2UG

T: 0121 716 3716
E: info@ansons.law

Castle Court is on Castlegate Way, just off the ring road. We advise clients across Dudley, Netherton, Sedgley, Brierley Hill, Kingswinford, Halesowen and Stourbridge.

Family law solicitors in Dudley

Unit 10, Castle Court 2, Castlegate Way, Dudley, DY1 4RH

T: 0121 550 0010
E: info@ansons.law