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Fixed fee divorce solicitors
Our divorce solicitors and specialists will take you through the divorce process to legally end your marriage.
- A dedicated specialist will guide you through all parts of your divorce
- You'll pay a fixed fee with no added costs
- We are Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulated
How our fixed fee divorce service works
We arrange for you to have an initial phone consultation with a divorce solicitor, to provide you with legal advice and to enable us to get the information we need to start the divorce process for you or to respond to divorce proceedings.
Using the information you provide, we will then prepare the necessary court documents and process the divorce for you from start to finish, and we’ll keep you fully updated every step of the way.
Are you starting divorce proceedings?
If you're starting divorce proceedings against your spouse, this means you're the applicant. This means you're responsible for completing and submitting the divorce application, which we will do on your behalf as part of our fixed fee service.
For applicants, our fixed fee divorce service costs from £600, providing both people agree to the divorce. In addition to our fee, you'll also need to pay a court fee of £593.
The court fee is payable upfront, along with our full fee. If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for help with court fees. For more information, visit GOV.uk.
These are the costs to legally end your marriage. There may be additional costs to resolve any matters to do with finances, assets or children. This can vary depending on the case, and we can discuss your options with you once you start divorce proceedings with us.
If you'd like to discuss your options before starting your divorce, we offer a 30 minute consultation with a family law solicitor.
Are you responding to divorce proceedings?
If your spouse has issued divorce proceedings against you, this means you're the respondent. This means you'll receive the completed divorce application once this has been issued by the court.
For respondents, our fixed fee divorce service costs from £400. This fee is payable upfront. There is no court fee to pay if you are the respondent.
If you'd like to discuss your options before starting your divorce, we offer a 30 minute consultation with a family law solicitor.
Get a 30 minute consultation
To help you clearly understand your legal position, book a telephone appointment with a family law solicitor for a comprehensive consultation.
Consultations are usually available on the same day or the next working day. The fixed fee for a detailed and comprehensive telephone consultation with a family law solicitor is £120 including VAT.
If you then decide to take out one of our hourly rate family law services, the consultation fee will be deducted from your final bill.
How much does a divorce cost?
We offer fixed rates for divorce services in the UK. Our fixed fee divorce service provides you with a divorce solicitor to take you through the usual steps in the divorce process to end your marriage.
We have two fixed price options, depending on whether you're making the divorce application or responding to a divorce application.
How does divorce work – the divorce process explained
You need to have been married for at least a year before you can apply for a divorce.
There's a lot of paperwork involved in getting a divorce, and these documents are sometimes referred to as divorce papers. Divorce papers can include the divorce application, the acknowledgement of service, the conditional order and the final order.
How long does it take to get a divorce?
If there are no complications the divorce process generally takes 6-12 months to complete depending on how busy the courts are.
Using a divorce solicitor will not affect how long the court takes to process your application, but paperwork that has been completed by a solicitor is less likely to contain errors and more likely to be accepted by the courts. This means the process could be completed more quickly with a divorce solicitor.
Important: In order to protect your financial assets, we recommend that you resolve your money matters alongside the divorce. Depending upon the circumstances of your divorce, we may recommend delaying the application for the final order until any financial issues have been resolved. Our divorce solicitors can advise you on this based on your specific financial details and circumstances.
Can a divorce be contested?
Under new divorce laws that came into force on 6 April 2022, it's no longer possible to contest a divorce unless this is on the basis of jurisdiction. If you are applying for a divorce against the wishes of your spouse, or responding to a divorce that you don't agree to, discuss your options with our divorce solicitors.
Divorce financial settlements
Divorce brings marriage to a legal end in England & Wales but it does not end the financial commitments between the couple. In order to end matrimonial financial commitments and to protect your finances upon divorce a financial consent order or a clean break order, is required from the court, meaning each person's financial affairs are completely separated from each other.
Sorting out any financial issues is vital for your future and the future of your children. Our specialist team of divorce solicitors are experts in achieving fair financial settlements and dealing with uncooperative spouses.
It's important to resolve your finances at the same time as your divorce or civil partnership dissolution.
Will I have to go to court to get a divorce?
In most circumstances, the couple will not need to appear in court during the divorce process. If there is a dispute over costs, finances or children that can't be resolved amicably, then a court hearing may be needed, but this is uncommon.
Can a divorce be refused by a judge?
It's unusual for a judge to deny a divorce in England and Wales, but it may be possible in some circumstances. This may happen if the judge thinks the respondent hasn't received their divorce papers, or if the divorce is contested on the basis of jurisdiction. It's not possible for a divorce to be contested on any other grounds.
Are there any alternatives to divorce?
Yes this is known as judicial separation and is not very common. Judicial separation is generally used by people who have a religious objection to divorce. The court retains the power to resolve money matters on judicial separation with the exception of pension sharing. The most significant difference between divorce and judicial separation is that you cannot remarry.
The court fee for judicial separation is £365.
Children in divorce or legal separation
If you are getting a divorce or facing legal separation in England or Wales, we can provide the support and reassurance you and your children need to help you make the right decisions and find a way forward. We can help you to negotiate child custody arrangements to suit the family now and in the future such as:
- which parent the children should live with
- which school the children should go to
- who the children should see and when
- change of children names and other specific issues
We can provide you with legal advice about Parental Responsibility and how to get it, and help you to make arrangements for the children such as help getting a Child Arrangement Order to deal with child contact or residence issues.
Our Children Law Solicitors are specialists in resolving child custody disputes in divorce, legal separation and Civil Partnership Dissolution and can help you reach a fair and affordable outcome.
Children in divorce or legal separation – what to consider
- how to tell the children you are splitting up
- your legal rights to see the children
- agreeing financial payments to help look after children
- where the children should live
- when and how often the children should see both parents
- other practical issues, such as whether they should be able to go abroad
- what name they should be known by
- issues concerning their religious upbringing
- who should be appointed as the children's Guardian in your Will
If you'd like to discuss your options before starting your divorce, we offer a 30 minute consultation with a family law solicitor.
Specialist divorce advice
Our promise to you
No nasty surprises. We will provide a written quote before any work starts.
No legal jargon. We will take time to understand your needs and provide clear explanations so you completely understand what’s going on every step of the way.
Minimise stress. We will help you reach the best possible outcome for you and your family with the least possible distress.
Treat you as an individual. We do not believe in a one size fits all approach and we will work with you to find the solution that's right for you.
Handle your case with sensitivity. Our family solicitors, lawyers and legal specialists are experts in family law and have specialist training to ensure they can help you through the challenges you are facing.
Fair pricing. Our fixed fee packages mean you know how much your legal work will cost.
About Co-op Legal Services
The family law team at Co-op Legal Services includes specialist family solicitors, divorce solicitors and children law solicitors with Resolution accreditation and accredited experts in child abduction, co-habitation, domestic abuse, property disputes, high net worth money matters and financial advocacy.
Resolution is a national organisation of family lawyers committed to non-confrontational divorce, separation and other family problems.
As part of the Co-op Group, our values of openness, honesty, social responsibility and caring for others are core to the service we provide.
Co-op Legal Services has over 800 staff working in different businesses with offices in Manchester, Bristol, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sheffield and London.
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