Cheapest way of getting a divorce?

MummyJenny_2

Hi, I am just looking for some general advice really.

I seperated from my husband in 2008 so it's defiantly dead. Have a new partner and we are now expecting our second child together.

Really want to get it sorted but we really don't have much money. I have read up about it and found I can do it without a solicitor. However the Court fee to even start a divorce is £410! Anybody know how much I can expect to spend overal?

We have no property or anything to complicate things so should in theory be fairly straight forward. I am not entitled to legal aid as my partner earns a decent wage but that all goes on Mortgage etc and is pretty much all accounted for.

If I were to ask my ex to contribute towards it, do we have to arrange that between ourselves and him pay me? If so I think there is little chance of him doing it :-(

I would be grateful of any help.

RAS

Download the documents from the courts web-site, fill them in and get your ex to sign them. Go for divorce on the grounds of 5 years separation.

You only need the cost of the court fees. Re the financial settlement if you had no assets at the time of separation and no assets now ask you ex to agree to a clean break based on neither party making any payment to the other. Assuming you have no children with the ex that would be pretty much it.

browneyedbazzi

As above - the only necessary costs of a divorce are the court fees. If you aren't eligible for relief from the fees would your ex be? If so it may work out better for your ex to initiate the divorce.

If neither of you are eligible for relief from the court fees, then it's worth asking if the ex would be willing to contribute towards the fees. I split the costs of fees with my ex....otherwise you'll just have to save up and foot the bill.

MummyJenny_2

Thank you. I do have 2 children with him, but we have arrangements in place. He sees them once every 2 weeks. His choice but I am happy with that.

We haven't been separated for 5 years yet but can do it on the grounds of 2 years as long as he agrees.

I have been trying to find out if he is eligible for legal aid/reduced court fees but he is rubbish at getting back to me with the info.

I have messaged him again yesterday and today to arrange to talk about it but no reply as yet - surprise surprise!

chipmunk

Since April 2013 Legal Aid (Legal Help) no longer exists for divorce matters. Go to the Justice.gov.uk website and look for Fee Remission (Form EX160) and information on whether it might be available for you/your husband (you would need to know his financial circumstances though which it sounds like he is loathe to divulge !). The court fees for a divorce are currently £410.

tea_lover

2008 was more than 5 years ago.

warwicktiger

The solicitors fees for my divorce were about £1200 on each side, and that with a financial settlement already agreed, so all property sorted and no children involved. I wish I could have done it myself looking back!

Voyager2002

RAS wrote: »

Download the documents from the courts web-site, fill them in and get your ex to sign them. Go for divorce on the grounds of 5 years separation.

You only need the cost of the court fees. Re the financial settlement if you had no assets at the time of separation and no assets now ask you ex to agree to a clean break based on neither party making any payment to the other. Assuming you have no children with the ex that would be pretty much it.

The forms include a bit where you can ask for your ex to pay the fees: if he doesn't want to do so then he has to give a reason! I would imagine that this would give him a little encouragement to find out whether he is eligible for a fee waiver and let you know.

hazyjo

We did ours ourselves and it was in the hundreds (probably the £410 as above, although I thought there was another later smaller fee). I forget now exactly how much. No kids though. Did have to pay for a separate financial agreement.

Jx

poorlittlefish

I am doing things myself too, although I did get some free initial advice from a solicitor. I'm fortunate that my husband was agreeable to splitting the costs, so he's paid me his half already. We've paid the £410 court fee, plus we're going to get a clean break consent order drafted, which will be £60 plus £45 to file it at the court. If there are arguments over custody of kids, division of property etc then you'd do well to get a solicitor, but otherwise there's really no need.

babymoneyblagger

sorry to hijack thread but can anyone help with the EX160 form for a divorce - applying Remissions 1 and on Q2 it says about part of couple contrary interest do I tick that one?? thanks