How Much Does a Consent Order Cost?

As a family law solicitor, I understand how important it is for you to have a clear understanding of the costs involved when going through a divorce.

Managing your finances is a separate process from finalising your marriage, and this can come with additional costs. So, how much does a consent order cost?

The cost of a consent order can vary depending on how complex your financial agreement is, whether you need the involvement of solicitors and the number of revisions required. Typically, you can expect costs to range from £400 to £3,000, including VAT.

Additionally, there is a £58 court fee to apply.

While it’s not a legal requirement to use a solicitor for drafting your consent order, I strongly recommend getting expert legal advice to ensure your financial agreement is fair and legally enforceable.

Using a service like ours, where the consent order is drafted by a qualified solicitor, provides peace of mind that every detail is legally sound and that your best interests are safeguarded for the future.

Can I Draft My Own Consent Order or Do I Need a Solicitor?

How much does a consent order cost with Divorce-Online?

For couples with straightforward financial arrangements, such as selling the family home and dividing the equity equally, our DIY consent order service costs just £499.

This fixed fee covers the drafting of a legally binding consent order by a qualified solicitor, ensuring your agreement is secure.

Our service can include details on spousal and child maintenance, debts, savings, property division, personal belongings, and more.

For those with more complex financial arrangements, such as businesses, overseas property, pension sharing orders, or inheritance concerns, we offer a comprehensive consent order service for £649 (more below).

This is significantly more affordable than the thousands typically charged by high-street solicitors.

What factors affect the cost of a financial consent order?

When seeking a consent order, several key factors influence the final cost.

Understanding these factors can help you make an informed decision and avoid unexpected expenses.

The Complexity of the Financial Agreement

The more complex your financial arrangements, the higher the cost of your consent order.

• Property Division: If you and your partner own a family home or other significant assets (such as rental properties), this will typically require more detailed documentation and legal scrutiny. Sorting out property division often involves valuations and more extensive negotiations, which can increase solicitor fees if legal advice or amendments are needed.
• Pensions: Pensions are one of the most commonly overlooked but critical parts of a financial settlement. Including a pension sharing order or splitting pension pots can add to the cost. Drafting pension orders involves more legal expertise and adds anywhere from £300 to £2,000 to the typical fee. The pension provider might charge a separate fee for implementing a pension sharing order.
• Child Arrangements: While child arrangements are often agreed upon separately, if they impact financial support or housing, this could add complexity to the consent order. Legal professionals may need to factor in child maintenance or additional provisions, which can increase costs, particularly if there are disputes over what’s fair.

For simpler financial agreements (e.g., no property or pension involvement), you are likely to save on legal fees.

In cases with no assets, a clean break order can be optimal so parties can properly move on without the thought of future claims hanging over them. A clean break is usually quicker and cheaper.

Contested vs. Uncontested Orders

Whether your order is contested or uncontested can make a significant difference in terms of cost and time.

• Uncontested Consent Orders: If you and your ex-partner agree on all financial matters, you can usually secure a consent order at a lower cost. Our fixed fee uncontested financial order services, ensures you know exactly what you will pay from the outset.
• Contested Consent Orders: Disagreements about asset division, pensions, or ongoing financial support can lead to contested financial proceedings. Costs rise significantly due to the back-and-forth negotiation, possible mediation, and extended legal involvement. Solicitors may need to draft multiple versions of the agreement, provide additional legal advice, or even represent you in court. These additional services increase fees considerably—sometimes by thousands of pounds.

In uncontested proceedings the court will simply review the agreement to ensure it is fair, making this the most cost-effective and straightforward option.

Amendments and Revisions

Finally, it’s important to consider whether any amendments or revisions will be needed after the initial draft of the consent order.

• Initial Revisions: Most services will include a limited number of revisions in their fixed fee. However, if significant changes are needed after the order is drafted, additional solicitor or service fees may apply.
• Ongoing Disputes: If either party changes their mind about aspects of the agreement or new financial issues arise, it can lead to further legal costs. It’s essential to finalise all details of the financial agreement before drafting the consent order to avoid these extra costs.

If you foresee disputes, it’s often wise to try mediation first. While mediation adds an initial cost, it can reduce legal fees in the long term by resolving issues outside of court.

How to reduce the legal fees you pay for a consent order

For couples looking to finalise their financial agreement without overspending, there are several strategies that can help manage and reduce the cost of a consent order.

Below are practical tips to help keep expenses in check while ensuring the legal agreement is both fair and thorough:

• Use Fixed-Fee Services – One of the best ways to avoid unexpected expenses is to choose a provider that offers fixed fees. A fixed-fee consent order service offers clarity on the total cost upfront, eliminating the risk of accumulating hourly solicitor fees.
• Achieve Mutual Agreement Early – The more you and your ex-partner agree on the financial settlement, the lower the costs will be. Disagreements, even over small matters, can lead to prolonged negotiations, increased solicitor involvement, and ultimately higher costs.
• Consider Mediation or Negotiation – For couples who find it difficult to reach a financial agreement, mediation can be a cost-effective alternative to drawn-out legal disputes. Mediation or negotiation allows both parties to agree without needing extensive solicitor involvement or court hearings.
• Limit Revisions and Amendments – Every amendment to a drafted consent order can increase your overall costs, especially if solicitors charge for revisions or consultations.
• Use Online Services – Online divorce services are a popular choice for those seeking cost-effective consent orders. These services provide lower costs compared to traditional solicitor firms while still ensuring your order is legally binding.

Before approaching a solicitor or service provider, sit down with your ex-partner to outline the key financial terms you both agree on.

The more you can settle independently, the cheaper the process will be.

Family Lawyers at Affordable Fixed Fee’s

Without expert legal advice, it’s hard to be completely sure that the financial agreement you’re signing truly protects your interests—not just now, but for years to come.

That’s why getting legal guidance from a qualified family law solicitor is one of the best steps you can take before drafting a consent order.

The ideal approach is simple: seek professional legal advice to understand your rights, then negotiate with your partner wherever possible to reach an agreement.

After receiving advice, Divorce-Online can help you finalise the process at a transparent, fixed fee of £499, providing an affordable alternative to traditional solicitor services, which can range between £1,200 and £3,000.

Since 1999, over 50,000 couples have trusted Divorce-Online to assist them with financial consent orders.

Our experience and straightforward service aim to give you peace of mind as you move forward with your financial settlement.