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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

Original poster

Help with divorce fees when on benefits

13 replies

Moominmama79 · 18/07/2021 20:15

My ex and I have been separated for a year and I'm ready to start divorce proceedings. There's no finances or assets to sort, all that was done when I left him. We've also got an agreement in place between ourselves for DS. I've no idea where to start with proceedings but I have had a look an the government website and it says fees are £550. Does anyone know if this is all you pay? I'm also not working at the moment after losing my job before the first lockdown and wondered if I could get any help to pay the fees? Any advice gratefully appreciated

OP posts:
30degreesandmeltinghere · 18/07/2021 20:16

I paid as I went to each appointment.. We had no assets or dc and it did cost about 500 quid yes...
Also paid 94 for name change on our absolute date!!

Original poster
Moominmama79 · 18/07/2021 20:21

@30degreesandmeltinghere was that theought the government website or a solicitor? Sorry if its a silly question but I have no clue 🙈

OP posts:
30degreesandmeltinghere · 18/07/2021 20:23

Solicitor. Exh agreed to the terms of my application for divorce. Started in July. Divorced by end of September.

Shouldbedoing · 18/07/2021 20:27

If you are completely amicable and you truly believe that neither is hiding any assets, you could get a divorce for £550 court fees and £60 to rubber stamp your consent order (finances) This is if form filling doesn't faze you.
If you are a bit more nervous about making mistakes you can buy a 'managed divorce' package from wikivorce. You get a solicitor to double check. You are still eligible to pay the £550 & £60 above. Wikivorce offer a lot of advice and information on their website, for free.
If you are being stiched up in any way about pension sharing or asset hiding, it isn't advisable to DIY

Shouldbedoing · 18/07/2021 20:29

You need the agreement about DS and finances etc nailing down in a consent order or agreements can be challenged or ignored later

iloverock · 18/07/2021 21:10

www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees

Original poster
Moominmama79 · 18/07/2021 21:17

Thank you, I already looked at the link but it doesn't seem to say how much help I'd get. And it says help with court fees, is that separate from the £550 fee?

OP posts:
GiantToadstool · 18/07/2021 21:18

When i did it you dint need to pay to get your name changed if you're reverting back to your maidnen name. My local registry office helped me.

Shouldbedoing · 18/07/2021 23:58

The £550 is the court fee.

AutumnColours9 · 19/07/2021 00:34

Mine cost me 3000 but my solicitor let's me pay monthly and we needed an acturial report. Its still gruelling as a lone parent but I had no choice to keep the house. I think you can only get help if there has been DA. Apart from can get court fees paid if very low income.

ThankYouDebbie · 19/07/2021 03:38

We didn't use a solicitor at all. We got reduced mediation fees because my then DH was on benefits, ditto the court fee but that was 10 years ago and rules may have changed?

I used what we'd agreed in mediation to fill in the paperwork.

Original poster
Moominmama79 · 19/07/2021 07:47

I'm claiming benefits at the moment so I should be able to get some help. I'm hoping it will be straight forward as we have sorted finances etc already. We just want the divorce.
Thank you @Shouldbedoing that makes it a bit clearer Smile

OP posts:
Notebooksarefabulous · 19/07/2021 17:15

A friend told me that if you are on certain benefits the £550 fee is waived. x

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