The government intends to increase many family court fees on 1 April 2025, subject to parliamentary approval.
In general, fees will rise by 3.2%, but some fees will also be reduced in order to ensure that they “remain aligned with the latest estimate of their underlying costs”.
The most notable fee increases are:
- Applications for divorce, annulment or dissolution of civil partnership – £612, up from £593
- Applications for a matrimonial or dissolution of civil partnership order – £415, up from £402
- Applications for a financial remedy order – £313, up from £303
- Applications for a financial remedy consent order – £60, up from £58
- Answer to application for matrimonial or civil partnership order – will reduce to £234 from £245
- Applications for a financial order (other than consent order) – £313, up from £303
- Applications for decree nisi, conditional order, separation order (no fee if undefended) – from £61, up £59
- Applications for most orders under the Children Act 1989 (such as for children arrangements or parental responsibility issues) – £263, up from £255.
Other family court costs will change too. You can see the full list of the proposed increases and decreases to family court fees on the government’s website.
There is a scheme to help those who are unable to afford court fees due to limited income. You can find information about it on the government website .
The courts support mediation as a way to resolve family issues and anyone who wants to apply to court for an order about arrangements for their finances or their children must attend a mediation, information and assessment meeting (MIAM) first. You can read a letter written by The Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane to all parents, explaining why parents should think about mediation first.
You can also read our web page to find out more about why mediation works.
