If you have decided to end your marriage, you might be thinking, do I need to pay for a divorce or is it free?

There is good news and bad news on this topic.

Yes, you can get divorced for free, but very few people will qualify under the conditions set by the Government. Read on to find what conditions you need to meet to qualify for a free divorce.

Can I get a free divorce in the UK? (Quick answer!)

Put simply, in some situations it is possible to get divorced for free.

In reality, very few couples in England & Wales will qualify for a free divorce.

You’ll need to be on a low income and have minimal savings or receive certain state benefits to have the court fee of £593 waived through fee exemption.

And you will have to complete the divorce yourself (DIY divorce), which means you can’t instruct solicitors to help you submit your divorce application.

The court fee is set by the Government and all applicants are required to pay it unless they’re eligible for fee exemption.

You should use our court fee calculator to get an estimate of what you’ll be expected to pay toward the court fee if anything!

A DIY divorce will require you to complete the divorce process yourself through the Government website or via paper forms.

Don’t qualify for a free divorce? Cheap alternative options

Whilst you may not be able to get divorced for free due to your circumstances or income, there are low-cost affordable options available.

With the average cost of divorce being close to £1,000, it’s always wise to shop around and explore your options.

The best solution for most couples is to seek a divorce online.

A divorce online will enable you to obtain a straightforward divorce, whilst not being involved in the legal process directly.

Since the introduction of the no fault divorce law in April 2022, couples can now file a joint application, which helps to keep the costs down.

Overall, getting a divorce online will save most couples in the UK over £1,000. Couples in London could save closer to £2,500 on legal fees.

There are no exact rules on who pays the divorce costs, but in general, it’s usually paid for by the person applying for the divorce (Applicant).

Free divorce & ending all financial ties…

Whilst it may be possible to get divorced for free, this only ends the legal part of marriage, it does not look at the financial aspect.

It’s actually a common misunderstanding for many couples. We’re in agreement and have filed an uncontested divorce, so we’re done… Well, not quite.

You need to be aware of the potential consequences of not having a court approve a financial order.

A financial order can be obtained from the court by either applying for them to make decisions for you or agreeing with your spouse on how money and assets are to be divided and provide this to the court.

Therefore, even if you can get divorced for free, you will still require the assistance of legal professionals to end your financial ties to your spouse and prevent any future claims.