How Much Does a Consent Order Cost in 2026? UK Price Guide

Consent Order Cost UK

If you are working out the consent order cost for your divorce or separation, the price tag can feel like a moving target. One firm quotes £499. Another quotes £3,000. A solicitor down the road tells you it depends. So which figure is right, and what are you actually paying for?

In this guide we break down every part of how much a consent order is in 2026, from the fixed court fee through to solicitor drafting costs and the hidden extras that catch people out. We compare the main routes side by side so you can pick the option that fits your situation, and we show you where mediation can keep the total bill down. By the end you will know exactly what a fair price looks like, and where to find an affordable consent order without compromising on quality.

What Is a Consent Order, and Why Do You Need One?

A consent order is a legal document, approved by a family court judge, that records the financial agreement you have reached with your ex-partner (Divorce Law Wiki’s consent order entry covers the law in detail). It covers things like the family home, savings, pensions, debts, and ongoing maintenance. Once it is sealed by the court, neither of you can come back years later and make a fresh claim against the other.

Without a consent order, your divorce only ends the marriage. It does not close the door on financial claims, even if you have already split everything. We have seen people get a letter from an ex-partner ten or fifteen years after divorce, asking for a share of a business, a pension, or an inheritance. A consent order prevents that. For most separating couples, it is the single most important piece of paperwork in the whole process.

For the full picture of how these orders work, what they cover, and how to apply, read our ultimate guide to a financial consent order.

How Much Is a Consent Order in 2026?

There are two parts to the total cost of a consent order: the fixed court fee, and the professional fee for drafting and submitting it. Let’s look at each.

1. Court Fee, £62

The court fee for submitting a consent order in England and Wales is currently £62. This is paid to HM Courts & Tribunals Service when the application is filed, and it covers the judge’s review and sealing of the order. Court fees usually rise each April, so it is worth checking the current rate before you apply.

If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for a fee reduction or exemption through the Help with Fees scheme. This can bring the court fee down to zero in some cases.

2. Professional Drafting Fee, £399 to £5,000+

This is where the price varies most. The drafting fee depends on three things: who is drafting it, how complex your agreement is, and whether the work is done on a fixed-fee or hourly basis. A simple clean break for a couple with no children, no property, and modest savings will sit at the lower end. A consent order involving multiple properties, a business, and pension sharing will sit at the upper end.

Consent Order Price Comparison: Fixed Fee vs Solicitor

Below is a realistic comparison of the main routes available in 2026, based on current market rates. Prices exclude the £62 court fee, which applies to every option.

The biggest jump is between the fixed-fee online services and the hourly-rate route. For most couples who have already agreed how to split their finances, the fixed-fee option gives you the same legal protection at a fraction of the price. The work is done by qualified family law solicitors, the order is drafted to court standards, and you know the total cost before you start.

Why Are Consent Order Solicitor Fees So Variable?

If you have phoned around a few firms, you have probably had quotes ranging from a few hundred pounds to several thousand. The variation comes down to how the work is priced and what is actually included. There are three common pricing models:

• Hourly rate: typically £200 to £400 per hour. The total bill depends on how many hours the work takes, including emails, phone calls, and any back-and-forth between solicitors. This is where bills can spiral.
• Fixed fee: one agreed price for the whole job. Most online providers and an increasing number of high street firms now offer this for straightforward cases.
• Hybrid: a fixed fee for the drafting, plus extras for things like pension sharing annexes, complex correspondence, or revisions beyond a stated limit.

A traditional high street solicitor working on an hourly basis can easily clock up six or seven hours on a consent order between drafting, taking instructions, exchanging emails, and dealing with the court. At £300 per hour that is £1,800 to £2,100, and that is before VAT. The same work on a fixed-fee basis is often a third of the price.

What Should Be Included in the Fee?

Before paying any provider, check exactly what you are getting. A proper fixed-fee consent order service should include:

• A solicitor-drafted consent order tailored to your agreement, not a fill-in-the-blank template.
• The D81 form, the statement of information that the court needs alongside the order.
• The Form A application where required.
• Clear instructions on how to file the application, or filing on your behalf if the service includes it.
• Handling court queries, in case the judge sends back any questions before sealing the order.

If a provider is not clear about what is and is not included, treat it as a red flag. The cheapest consent order price on the market is not always the cheapest in the end if extras keep getting bolted on.

When You Need a Premium Service Instead

Not every consent order is straightforward. Some agreements need extra care, and trying to squeeze them into a basic fixed-fee package usually ends with a rejected order or an unfair outcome. You should consider a premium service, costing around £2,000 to £3,500, if your agreement involves any of the following:

• Pension sharing or pension attachment orders: these need a separate annex and liaison with the pension provider.
• Business interests: shares in a limited company, a partnership, or self-employed assets need careful drafting and often a valuation.
• Spousal maintenance: ongoing payments need clear terms about amount, duration, and review triggers.
• Multiple properties: rental portfolios or holiday homes add complexity.
• Mesher or Martin orders: where one party stays in the home until a future trigger event.
• International assets: foreign property, offshore accounts, or non-UK pensions.

For complex situations, the extra cost is well worth it. A poorly drafted consent order can be unenforceable, leaving you exposed to future claims or disputes. Read about pensions on divorce if your agreement involves any pension sharing.

How Mediation Keeps Your Consent Order Cost Down

Here is something most people don’t realise. The drafting fee is only one part of the picture. The bigger cost, for couples who can’t agree, is the negotiation that has to happen before drafting. If you instruct a solicitor to negotiate a settlement on your behalf, the bill can run into tens of thousands. If it goes to court, even more.

Mediation is the way to keep that bill in check. A trained family mediator helps you and your ex-partner work through the financial decisions together, in a structured but non-adversarial setting. Once you have an agreement you are both comfortable with, you take that agreement to a solicitor for the consent order to be drafted. The solicitor’s job is then a simple one, which is why fixed-fee pricing works so well in this scenario.

A typical financial mediation case at Mediate UK takes three to four sessions and costs significantly less than even one round of solicitor negotiation. You can see our full pricing on the costs and payments page. The process starts with a MIAM, an initial assessment meeting where the mediator explains how it all works.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

Even with a fixed-fee service, there are a few extras that can catch people out. Be aware of:

• VAT: most solicitor quotes are exclusive of VAT, which adds 20%. A £750 quote becomes £900 with VAT included.
• ID and AML checks: some firms charge a separate fee for anti-money-laundering verification, typically £10 to £30 per person.
• Pension sharing annexes: an additional £200 to £500 per pension where pension sharing is involved.
• Revisions beyond a stated limit: some fixed-fee packages include only one or two rounds of changes. Further amendments can be charged extra.
• Fast-track or expedited service: usually an additional £100 to £300 if you need the order drafted in days rather than weeks.

Always ask for the all-in price including VAT and any anticipated extras. A reputable provider will give you a clear written breakdown before you commit.

Can You Get a Cheap Consent Order Without Cutting Corners?

Yes, but the word “cheap” needs careful handling. A £25 template that you fill in yourself is technically the cheapest consent order option available, but it carries real risk. Judges regularly reject poorly worded orders, even where both parties agree. If yours comes back from court rejected, you have to redraft and resubmit, which costs more time, more stress, and potentially more court fees.

A fixed-fee service – drafted by a legal professional – in the £399 to £750 range is the genuine sweet spot. You get the same legal protection as a £3,000 high street option, drafted by qualified family law solicitors, with the document signed off and submitted properly. The cost saving comes from efficiency, not corner-cutting. The work is standardised, the systems are streamlined, and the firm handles a high volume of similar cases.

Where you should not try to save money is on legal advice if you are unsure your agreement is fair. Even a one-hour consultation with a family lawyer to sense-check your settlement is money well spent. We offer legal advice packages from £250 plus VAT for one hour of a qualified solicitor’s time.

How Long Does a Consent Order Take?

Once both parties have signed, the order is submitted to the court along with the D81 form and the £62 fee. Court approval typically takes between four and ten weeks, depending on which court is dealing with it and how busy they are. There is no hearing for most cases, the judge reviews the paperwork and seals the order if everything is in order.

If the judge has questions or concerns about fairness, they may send it back for clarification. This is more common with DIY orders than solicitor-drafted ones, which is another reason the modest cost of professional drafting is usually money well spent.

Frequently Asked Questions