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Divorce guidance for England & Wales

Divorce,
long and expensive
abbreviated.

Plain-English guides to how divorce works, and an experienced consultant to talk it through. You do the admin with our help and only pay a lawyer for the moments that really need one.

Book a 20-minute consultation, £19.95 Read the guides first

Abbreviate is not a law firm and does not give regulated legal advice.

The shorthand you'll hear

MIAM
Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. Usually required before going to court.
Form E
The financial statement each of you fills in to show what you own and owe.
Form A
The application that starts a court case about money.
FDA
First Directions Appointment. The first court hearing about finances.
FDR
Financial Dispute Resolution hearing, designed to help you settle.
D81
The summary of finances sent to court with a consent order.
C100
The form to ask the court about arrangements for children.

Guide 1

How divorce works

Since April 2022 divorce in England and Wales is no-fault. Nobody has to prove blame. The legal steps are fixed and mostly about waiting.

  1. Week 0

    Apply online

    One of you, or both together, applies through GOV.UK and pays the court fee of £628. Help with Fees can reduce or remove it on a low income.

  2. Weeks 0–20

    Reflection period

    A minimum of 20 weeks from when the court issues the application. Use it to sort finances and arrangements for children.

  3. After week 20

    Conditional order

    You apply and the court confirms it sees no reason you can't divorce. You are still legally married at this stage.

  4. +6 weeks & 1 day

    Final order

    You can apply for the final order, which legally ends the marriage. The minimum is about seven months in total. In practice it often takes longer.

The step people miss. Divorce ends the marriage but not the financial claims between you. Only a court order does that. Many advisers suggest getting your financial order in place before applying for the final order, as finalising first can affect pension and inheritance rights.

Guide 2

Sorting the finances

Everything starts with full and honest disclosure. After that there are two routes. The first is far cheaper.

Route A · You agree

Agree, then make it binding

  1. Swap financial information, often using Form E.
  2. Negotiate directly or through mediation.
  3. Write the deal up as a draft consent order.
  4. Send it to court with Form A marked "by consent" and a D81. Court fee £62.
  5. A judge approves it, usually without a hearing.
Route B · Court decides

When you can't agree

  1. Attend a MIAM unless an exemption applies.
  2. Apply with Form A. Court fee £321.
  3. Exchange Form E and prepare for the first hearing.
  4. FDA: the court sets the timetable and what extra information is needed.
  5. FDR: a judge gives a view to help you settle.
  6. A final hearing only if it still doesn't settle.

Guide 3

Arrangements for children

Most separated parents agree arrangements themselves. Court is the last resort, and it focuses on the child, not on who was at fault.

Agreeing it yourselves

Write down where the children live, when they spend time with each parent and how you'll handle holidays, school and changes. A written parenting plan helps. Mediation can help if talking directly is hard.

If you need the court

Most people must attend a MIAM first. You then apply on C100, court fee £270. Cafcass usually contacts both parents before the first hearing.

If you're worried about safety

Exemptions from the MIAM apply in cases of domestic abuse, and there is no court fee to apply for a non-molestation order. Contact the police on 999 if you're in immediate danger.

Guide 4

What it costs, and how to spend less

Court fees are fixed and fairly small. The big cost is professional time, and much of it goes on admin you can do yourself with the right help.

Court feeWhat it's forFee
Divorce applicationStarting the divorce£628
Consent orderMaking an agreed financial deal binding£62
Financial order (Form A)Asking the court to decide finances£321
Child arrangements (C100)Asking the court about children£270

Fees from GOV.UK, in force from 13 July 2026. Check GOV.UK before you pay, as fees change.

~£8,000Average per person for divorce and finances with solicitors, as quoted by the online service amicable.
£1,500–£2,000One chambers' fixed fee for a public access barrister at the first financial hearing (FDA).
£2,500–£4,500The same chambers' fixed fee for the FDR hearing.

Third-party figures for comparison only. Your costs depend on your case.

Off the lawyer's clock

The work we help you do yourself:

  • Understanding each step and deadline
  • Gathering bank statements, pensions and valuations
  • Drafting your Form E and chronology
  • Organising documents for court and for your lawyer

Where a lawyer is worth it

The moments that need legal judgment:

  • Advice on what a fair outcome looks like
  • Reviewing questions to the other side
  • Representation at the FDR or final hearing
  • Checking a consent order before it's signed

Prices

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