How much will it cost?

[headdesk]

Me and my ex separated about 9 months ago, it's all very amicable and straight forward, I want to start divorce proceedings but have no idea where to start or how much it costs, I'm a student on a very low income. We have two children but have all access and things sorted between us so there would be no arguments about that and neither of us have property or money that would be an issue. We both just want to get this sorted. Any advice would be great.

Not much. You can do it on line even these days. It is important whatever way you do it that you have an agreed signed consent order over money even if it says you have no assets and agree a clean break with no maintenance paid by one adult to the other which is then sealed by the court. If that is not done then next year when you win the lottery or are on £100k a year he can come back and claim maintenance from you on the basis of the later windfall. (Scottish law is different - finances are assessed at date of separation). Make sure any consent order deals with any debts either of you have too.

I looked online and it looks so confusing. Some places are offering them for £100.... that can't be right? I tried to look at the forms and I don't understand them at all.

Have you been on the .gov website? You can download all the forms there and find guidance on completing them.

It costs £420 in total. I filed mine in June and will get my decree nisi next week!

You need to take or post two copies of the petition along with your marriage certificate and then the court takes over, sends one copy to your ex who has to send back an acknowledgement and then it goes to court for rubber stamping.

You don't need a consent order for children anymore and if there are no assets to split you can note this on the form.

My story is the same as the above poster really: used the .gov website and printed the forms, total cost was £410, I filed at end of June and my nisi will be pronounced beginning of September. We had no money/property/access to sort either it was all very straightforward. If you're low income and can't afford the fee there's a way you can apply for help towards it which is also explained on the gov website if you look for it.

am in process of doing the same think the form the previous poster is referring to is the E160A and cam be downloaded from the direct gov site

Yep same here. £410 which we halved between us. Went for unreasonable behaviour. Downloaded forms from gov website. Filled in using on line examples to help. I sent ex papers before so he saw it before came through post. I did go to a solicitor onCe just to hear about process etc but she said herself as an intelligent woman I didn't need her to do it for me as it was amicable etc as you say. Decree nisi being heard in October.

Even if you have nothing to split financially as you should still get a consent order done. If you don't and you later come into money they could have a claim.