posted 6th October 2026
How Much Does a Financial Consent Order Cost?
If you and your former partner have agreed how to divide your finances, the next question is usually what it will cost to make that agreement legally binding. The answer depends on two things: the court fee (which is fixed) and the cost of having the order drafted, which can vary a great deal depending on who you use.
This guide explains what you are likely to pay, what affects the price and where the hidden costs can lie.
The court fee
The court charges a fee to consider and approve a financial consent order. From 13 July 2026 that fee is £62. It is one fee for the application rather than one fee each. It is the same whoever drafts the order.
If you are on a low income or certain benefits, you may be able to get some or all of the fee waived through the Help with Fees scheme. It is worth checking before you apply.
The cost of drafting the order
This is where most of the cost lies and it is often misunderstood. Many people assume that drafting a consent order means filling in a single document. In practice it is a set of detailed court papers that all have to work together.
The order itself uses prescribed legal wording and refers to the relevant legislation. It is supported by further paperwork setting out each person's financial position before and after the settlement, along with the reasons why the agreement is fair. Preparing this properly takes a thorough understanding of your finances, the settlement you have reached and how the court will look at it. Where a pension is being shared, further paperwork is needed for each pension too.
It is a lengthy and important piece of work. If it is not done properly, the court may not approve the order or it may not give you the protection you expect.
There are broadly four ways to get this done:
- A mediator who also drafts the order. Most mediators help you reach an agreement and then refer you to a solicitor to draft the order, which means a second set of fees. Some, including The Divorce Negotiator, do both in house.
- Each person instructs their own solicitor. This is the traditional route. Fees are often charged by the hour and you are paying two sets of legal costs. Where there is a lot of correspondence between solicitors, costs can run into thousands of pounds.
- Online services. These can look cheaper. Many work by asking you to complete online forms and then produce the order from your answers, often with little or no discussion of your circumstances. Points that matter may be missed and some charge extra for pensions, property or maintenance.
- Doing it yourselves. The court does not require you to use a professional, but for most people this may not be a realistic option. Without legal knowledge it is difficult to know what has to be included for the order to be approved and enforceable. A badly drafted order may be returned by the court or may not achieve what you intended and mistakes can be costly to put right later.
What affects the cost?
Every case is different, but the price is usually affected by:
- whether there are pensions to share
- whether property is being transferred or sold
- whether there is any spousal maintenance
- whether either of you has a business or more complex assets
- how much financial information needs to be gathered and checked
- whether you have already reached an agreement or still need help getting there
A straightforward clean break with no pensions or property will usually cost less than an order dealing with the family home, several pensions and ongoing maintenance.
The hidden costs to watch for
The headline price is not always the full picture. Some of the costs people do not expect include:
- An order being returned by the court. If the judge is not satisfied with the wording or the information provided, the order may be sent back. Putting it right takes time and may cost more.
- Pension provider charges. Many pension schemes charge a fee to implement a pension sharing order. This is separate from the cost of the consent order itself.
- Pension reports. Where pensions are complex or of significant value, an actuarial report may be advisable. This is an additional cost.
- Valuations. A property or business valuation may be needed before you can agree a settlement.
The cost of not having a consent order
It can be tempting to save money by relying on an informal agreement. However, without a court order, financial claims between former spouses may remain open, even after the final order of divorce. In some cases a claim has been made many years later.
You can read more about this in our articles Why "We've Agreed" isn't enough and Can An Ex-Spouse Claim A Share of Pension After Divorce?.
Set against that risk, the cost of a properly drafted consent order is usually modest.
How The Divorce Negotiator keeps costs down
Most mediators help you agree the finances and then send you to a solicitor to draft the consent order. We do both in house, so you do not need to instruct a solicitor separately.
- One fee for the couple. Not a separate fee for each of you.
- Mediation and drafting in one place. If you have not yet reached agreement, we can help you get there and then draft the order.
- No travel. All our work is done by telephone and video, so we can help couples anywhere in England and Wales.
- Experience. We have been helping couples reach financial settlements since 2017 and have dealt with hundreds of cases.
Frequently asked questions
Do we both have to pay the court fee?
No. There is one court fee for the application.
Who pays for the consent order?
That is up to you. Many couples split the cost, but you can agree whatever arrangement suits you.
How long does it take?
Once the paperwork is ready and submitted, the court will usually take several weeks to consider it, although this varies between courts.
Can we apply for a consent order before the divorce is final?
The order can be submitted once the conditional order has been made. Most professionals in this area advise waiting until the consent order has been approved before applying for the final order of divorce, particularly where a pension is being shared.
Is a clean break order cheaper?
A clean break order is a type of consent order. Where there are no pensions, property transfers or maintenance it is often simpler, so it may cost less.
Get a fixed price for your consent order
If you would like to know what your consent order is likely to cost, get in touch for a free initial conversation.
