Court fees are charges you pay to the court at various stages of divorce and family proceedings. Unlike solicitor fees, these are fixed amounts set by the government.
Current court fees (2024/25)
Divorce and dissolution
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce/dissolution application | £593 |
| Amend a divorce application | £95 |
| Bailiff service of documents | £110 |
Financial orders
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Financial order by consent | £53 |
| Contested financial order application | £275 |
| Financial order (Schedule 1 - child maintenance) | £232 |
| Set aside a financial order | £275 |
Enforcement
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| General enforcement application | £119 |
| Attachment of earnings order | £119 |
| Charging order | £119 |
| Third party debt order | £119 |
| Warrant of control | £83 |
| Committal application | £119 |
Children proceedings
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Child arrangements order | £232 |
| Specific issue or prohibited steps order | £232 |
| Parental responsibility order | £232 |
| Special guardianship order | £232 |
| Enforcement of child arrangements order | £232 |
Domestic abuse protection
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-molestation order | £0 (no fee) |
| Occupation order | £0 (no fee) |
| Forced marriage protection order | £0 (no fee) |
Other applications
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Declaration of marital status | £365 |
| Application to prevent a marriage | £365 |
| General application (not listed above) | £53 |
| Appeal against a court decision | £275 |
| Request for hearing date | £119 |
When do you pay?
At the start
£593 - When you submit your divorce application online or by post. The application won’t be processed until the fee is paid.
During proceedings
£275 - If you apply for a contested financial remedy order (Form A). This is paid when you start financial proceedings.
£53 - For a consent order, paid when you submit the agreed order to the court.
After the divorce
£119 - If you need to enforce an order because your ex isn’t complying.
Total court fees: examples
Uncontested divorce with consent order
| Stage | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce application | £593 |
| Consent order | £53 |
| Total | £646 |
Contested financial proceedings
| Stage | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce application | £593 |
| Financial remedy application | £275 |
| (Final order by consent if settled) | £53 |
| Total | £868 - £921 |
Divorce with children dispute
| Stage | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce application | £593 |
| Consent order (finances) | £53 |
| Child arrangements application | £232 |
| Total | £878 |
Help with fees
If you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you may not have to pay court fees - or you may pay a reduced amount.
Automatic eligibility
You’ll pay no court fees if you receive:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit (with gross income below £6,000/year)
- Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
Income-based eligibility
If you don’t receive qualifying benefits, you may still get help based on income:
| Gross monthly income | Savings under £3,000 | Savings £3,000-£16,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Under £1,085 | Full remission | Partial remission |
| £1,085 - £1,245 | Partial remission | Partial remission |
| £1,245 - £1,405 | Partial remission | May need to contribute |
| £1,405 - £1,565 | May need to contribute | May need to contribute |
| Over £1,565 | Full fee payable | Full fee payable |
These thresholds are for a single person - they increase with dependants
How to apply
- Complete form EX160 - Help with Fees application form
- Provide evidence - Benefit letters, payslips, bank statements
- Submit with your court application - Or separately if applying mid-proceedings
- Wait for decision - Usually takes 5-10 working days
You can apply online at gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees or download form EX160.
Check if you qualify
Learn more →Tips for fee remission applications
- Apply at the same time as your court application
- Have all documents ready (speeds up processing)
- If your circumstances change, reapply - you might become eligible
- Fee remission applies per application - you need to apply each time
How to pay court fees
Online (preferred)
If applying through the online divorce service, you’ll pay by debit or credit card during the application.
By post
If submitting paper forms, include:
- A cheque payable to “HMCTS”
- A debit/credit card payment form (available from the court)
In person
Some courts accept payments at the counter, but many no longer have public counters. Check before visiting.
Payment reference
Keep your payment confirmation. If there’s any dispute about whether you’ve paid, you’ll need proof.
Fee refunds
Court fees are generally non-refundable. However, you may get a refund if:
- The court made an error
- You paid twice
- Your application was rejected before being processed
- You subsequently qualify for fee remission
You won’t get a refund simply because:
- You changed your mind
- Your case settled before a hearing
- The outcome wasn’t what you hoped
Fee changes
Court fees are reviewed annually and occasionally change. The fees on this page are current as of 2024/25. Major changes are usually announced in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add court fees to the divorce settlement?
Technically, you could ask for your ex to contribute to your costs as part of financial settlement negotiations. However, there’s no automatic right to this, and it’s often not worth arguing over relatively small amounts.
What if I can’t afford the fees?
Check if you qualify for Help with Fees (see above). If you don’t qualify but are struggling, some options:
- Ask a family member to help
- Wait until you can save the amount
- Consider a small personal loan (as a last resort)
Do both parties pay fees?
The person who makes each application pays the fee. So the petitioner pays the £593 divorce application fee. For financial proceedings, whoever submits Form A pays the £275.
Are fees different in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Yes. This guide covers England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different court systems with different fees.
Can I pay in instalments?
Courts don’t offer payment plans for fees. You must pay the full amount when you make your application.
Summary: minimum court fees
| Scenario | Minimum fees |
|---|---|
| Divorce only (no financial order) | £593 |
| Divorce + consent order | £646 |
| Divorce + contested financial order | £868 |
| Divorce + consent order + child arrangements | £878 |
Remember: these are court fees only. Solicitor fees, if you use one, are separate.
Next steps
Related guides
- Apply for divorce online - Government divorce service
- Solicitor fees explained - What lawyers charge
- Help with fees calculator - Check eligibility
- Find a solicitor - Get legal help