How do people manage to pay for divorce

[Blahandmeh]

I was given roughy outline by local law firm and while I was preparing myself for 5-6k bill I was given much higher figure. This is just to warm me what costs could be but I’m left wandering how people actually manage to pay out that sort of money while also staying afloat post split. I work part time and have 2 small kids, equity in jointly owned home and little bit of savings. Post split I would have to rely on child maintenance and UC 🙁

If you are amicable and can agree between you it won't be expensive. Start claiming your UC now and you'll get the actual court costs free, saves around £5-600. I used wikivorce, cost £400. But, we were reasonably amicable and came to an agreement re house, business and kids between us. If things are going to be awkward and you need a solicitor, then yes, it's expensive!

Agree with PP, if it’s amicable it’s not expensive. We paid similar costs and agreed everything between us. Assume it’s only costly if you can’t agree.

I’m still paying mine off six years later..

Try to negotiate and compromise so you can agree most of it between you.

arguing and fighting is what racks up costs

going forward you’ll have to work full time, as well as have cms and possibly uc

We were fairly amicable but went through mediation to help. We got a discount due to discussing the children in our sessions as there is a grant available.
We then paid a few hundred for a draft financial consent order.
We paid for a solicitor to go through it and properly sort all the financial forms as I didn't want to risk getting it wrong.
All in, we probably paid less than £2k but could have done it cheaper on our own.
I knew I'd be the one doing all the forms and sorting everything and I just didn't have the capacity mentally to do it.

@Freeflight what is the grant? I'd really like to do mediation but can't afford it

I done it myself after seeing how expensive it was. Googled DIY divorce and followed step by step guide. Read the divorce lawyers blogs with pro tips. This is only applicable if you are in agreement in terms of assets split.

@Helpagirlout222 it's the Family mediation voucher scheme. If you were to go through mediation then your mediator should know about it. The voucher is up to £500 and can be utilised to pay for sessions where children are discussed. It's run by the government and it did reduce our mediation costs.

"The case types specified below are eligible for a mediation voucher:

a dispute/application regarding a child
a dispute/application regarding family financial matters where you are also involved in a dispute/application relating to a child
It is important to remember that mediation is only an option when both people agree to take part in it, so you and the other person will need to agree to mediate"

Did it myself too and I agreed finances between us in that I didn't want anything.
Paid £600 myself and sorted the (minimal) process at each stage EXH didn't contribute anything. Worth it though to be able to put it to bed.

Hi, OP. Hope you don't mind us popping our head round the door to let you know about this AMA we're doing on Monday:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/5224878-ama-on-divorce-financial-separation-and-co-parenting-with-amanda-bell

Might be useful if you have anything you need to ask!

We’re pleased to announce that Amanda Bell, Co-Founder of affordable divorce platform SeparateSpace, will be doing an AMA this Monday (9th December) covering divorce, financial separation and co-parenting.
Before founding SeparateSpace, Amanda was a Legal 500 recommended family lawyer at a market leading London law firm. She helped hundreds of clients sort out their finances and parenting arrangements following separation. Amanda now leads SeparateSpace - an online platform created by experts across law, finance, therapy and psychology to provide affordable support through divorce