"How much will my divorce cost?" is the first question everyone asks. The honest answer is "it depends" - but these real-world scenarios show what people in different situations typically pay.
Quick cost estimator
| Your situation | Likely total cost (both parties) |
|---|---|
| Short marriage, no kids, no property, amicable | £1,000 - £2,500 |
| Family home, some pensions, amicable | £3,000 - £8,000 |
| Family home, pensions, children, some disagreement | £8,000 - £20,000 |
| Complex assets, significant disagreement | £20,000 - £50,000 |
| High-net-worth or very contested | £50,000 - £200,000+ |
These are combined costs for both parties. Your individual share depends on how much legal help you each use.
Scenario 1: The simple split
Profile
- Married: 3 years
- Ages: Both early 30s
- Children: None
- Property: Renting
- Assets: £15,000 savings, small pensions, two cars
- Income: Both working, similar salaries
- Relationship: Amicable, grew apart
What they did
Used the online divorce service themselves. Agreed informally to split savings 50/50 and keep their own pensions and cars. Didn’t bother with a consent order (low risk given minimal assets).
Cost breakdown
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Divorce application fee | £593 |
| Marriage certificate copy | £11 |
| Total | £604 |
Time taken
4 months from application to final order
Would they do anything differently?
“In hindsight, we probably should have got a simple consent order just to have a clean break. But honestly, there was nothing to fight about.”
Scenario 2: The amicable family divorce
Profile
- Married: 12 years
- Ages: Mid-40s
- Children: Two (ages 8 and 11)
- Property: Family home worth £380,000, mortgage £150,000
- Assets: Pensions (hers £80,000, his £160,000), £25,000 savings
- Income: He earns £65,000, she earns £35,000 (part-time)
- Relationship: Sad but respectful, want to co-parent well
What they did
Started with mediation (5 sessions). Agreed: she keeps the house (offsetting against his pension), 50/50 child arrangements, spousal maintenance for 3 years. Used one solicitor between them for the consent order (with independent legal advice certificates from a second solicitor).
Cost breakdown
| Item | Who paid | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mediation (5 sessions) | Split 50/50 | £2,400 |
| Mediator’s MOU drafting | Split | £350 |
| Solicitor consent order | Split | £1,200 |
| Second solicitor ILA (each) | Each | £300 x 2 |
| Divorce application | Her | £593 |
| Consent order court fee | Split | £53 |
| Pension CEVs | Free | £0 |
| Total (combined) | £5,196 |
Her total: £2,748 | His total: £2,448
Time taken
7 months from separation to final order
Would they do anything differently?
“Mediation was brilliant. We nearly used solicitors to negotiate but would have paid three times as much.”
Scenario 3: The property disagreement
Profile
- Married: 18 years
- Ages: Early 50s
- Children: One at university, one just finished
- Property: Family home worth £550,000, mortgage £120,000; buy-to-let worth £280,000, mortgage £140,000
- Assets: Combined pensions worth £450,000, investments £80,000
- Income: He earns £95,000, she hasn’t worked for 10 years
- Relationship: He wants divorce, she’s hurt and angry
What they did
Started with mediation but it broke down after 2 sessions - she felt pushed into decisions. Both instructed solicitors. Disagreement over whether to sell the buy-to-let. Eventually settled after First Directions Appointment when barrister gave her realistic advice.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Her cost | His cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mediation (2 sessions) | £480 | £480 |
| Solicitor fees | £14,500 | £9,800 |
| Barrister (FDA) | £2,500 | £2,200 |
| Pension actuary (2 pensions) | £1,400 | - |
| Property valuation | £350 | - |
| Court fees | - | £868 |
| Total each | £19,230 | £13,348 |
| Combined total | £32,578 |
Time taken
14 months
Would they do anything differently?
Her: “I wish I’d got proper legal advice before mediation. I didn’t understand what I was entitled to.” Him: “I should have made a reasonable offer earlier. The extra 4 months of fighting cost us both £15,000.”
Scenario 4: The business complication
Profile
- Married: 15 years
- Ages: Late 40s
- Children: Three (ages 10, 13, 16)
- Property: Family home worth £650,000, mortgage £200,000
- Assets: His business (disputed value), pensions worth £200,000, savings £40,000
- Income: His business income £120,000, she works part-time £28,000
- Relationship: He had an affair, she’s devastated and angry
What they did
Straight to solicitors, no mediation. Major dispute over business valuation - she believed it was worth £800,000, he said £300,000. Forensic accountant instructed. Settled at FDR after judge indicated likely outcome.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Her cost | His cost |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor fees | £38,000 | £28,000 |
| Barrister (FDA + FDR) | £12,000 | £10,000 |
| Forensic accountant (business) | £7,500 (split) | £7,500 |
| Pension actuary | £1,800 | - |
| Property valuation | £450 | - |
| Court fees | - | £921 |
| Total each | £59,750 | £46,421 |
| Combined total | £106,171 |
Time taken
22 months
What they’d do differently?
Her: “The anger made me fight harder than I needed to. I didn’t get much more than I would have with a sensible negotiation - but I paid £30,000 extra in fees.” Him: “Being honest about the business value from the start would have saved us both a fortune.”
Scenario 5: The high-net-worth battle
Profile
- Married: 25 years
- Ages: Mid-50s
- Children: Two adults (independent)
- Property: Main home £2.2m, holiday home abroad £400,000
- Assets: His pension £1.5m, business interests, investments, art collection
- Total wealth: Approximately £8m
- Income: He earns £400,000+, she has investment income
- Relationship: Acrimonious, allegations of hidden assets
What they did
Both instructed top London firms. She applied for maintenance pending suit and legal services payment order (both granted). Forensic investigation of his business interests. Case went to final hearing over 5 days.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Her cost | His cost |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor fees | £185,000 | £145,000 |
| Barrister (leading counsel) | £95,000 | £85,000 |
| Forensic accountant | £45,000 | £25,000 |
| Private investigator | £12,000 | - |
| Pension actuary | £8,000 | - |
| Various valuations | £15,000 | £8,000 |
| Court fees | - | £1,100 |
| Expert witnesses | £20,000 | £15,000 |
| Total each | £380,000 | £279,100 |
| Combined total | £659,100 |
(Note: He paid £150,000 towards her costs via legal services payment order)
Time taken
3 years
What happened?
Judge ordered a roughly equal division of assets. After 3 years and over £650,000 in combined legal fees, the outcome was close to what a sensible negotiation would have achieved in 6 months.
Scenario 6: The low-income family
Profile
- Married: 8 years
- Ages: Early 30s
- Children: Two (ages 3 and 6)
- Property: Renting council house
- Assets: No savings, small workplace pensions (maybe £10,000 each)
- Income: Combined £32,000 (both low-paid full-time work)
- Relationship: Domestic abuse (she’s leaving him)
What she did
Qualified for legal aid due to domestic abuse evidence (police reports). Got non-molestation order (free). Solicitor handled divorce and child arrangements. Applied for help with court fees (granted).
Cost breakdown
| Item | Her cost | His cost |
|---|---|---|
| Legal aid solicitor | £0 | N/A |
| His solicitor (if any) | - | £0-£3,000 |
| Court fees (fee remission) | £0 | - |
| Non-molestation order | £0 | - |
| Her total | £0 |
Time taken
9 months
Note
Legal aid made this possible. Without it, she couldn’t have afforded to leave safely.
What determines which scenario you’ll be?
Factors that keep costs low:
✅ Both parties want it over ✅ Assets are straightforward to value ✅ Roughly equal contributions/needs ✅ No allegations or blame ✅ Willing to use mediation ✅ Realistic expectations ✅ Organised with paperwork ✅ Limited correspondence
Factors that drive costs up:
❌ One party is hurt/angry and wants “justice” ❌ Complex assets (businesses, overseas, trusts) ❌ Large wealth disparity ❌ Disputed valuations ❌ Hidden assets suspected ❌ Allegations (abuse, addiction, infidelity) ❌ Unrealistic demands ❌ Inability to communicate
Cost comparison table
| Scenario | Combined cost | Time | Key factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple split | £604 | 4 months | No assets to divide |
| Amicable family | £5,196 | 7 months | Mediation worked |
| Property disagreement | £32,578 | 14 months | Settled at FDA |
| Business complication | £106,171 | 22 months | Forensic accounting needed |
| High-net-worth battle | £659,100 | 3 years | Full trial |
| Low-income with legal aid | £0 (her) | 9 months | Legal aid available |
How to estimate your costs
Step 1: Assess your complexity
| Factor | Low complexity | Medium | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | Renting, minimal savings | Family home, pensions | Multiple properties, business, overseas |
| Agreement | Fully agreed | Some disagreement | Major disputes |
| Children | None or agreed | Some discussion needed | Contested custody |
| Communication | Good | Difficult | Hostile/abusive |
Step 2: Choose your approach
| Complexity | Recommended approach | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Low | DIY or minimal legal help | £500 - £2,000 |
| Medium | Mediation + consent order | £3,000 - £8,000 |
| Medium-high | Solicitor negotiation | £10,000 - £25,000 |
| High | Court process (aim to settle) | £25,000 - £75,000 |
Step 3: Get proper quotes
Use these scenarios as a guide, but get actual quotes from solicitors for your situation. Most offer free initial consultations.
Get a cost estimate
Learn more →Next steps
Related guides
- How to reduce costs - Practical saving strategies
- Find a mediator - The most cost-effective route
- Find a solicitor - Get a personalised quote
- Legal aid eligibility - Check if you qualify