Key Takeaways
- A consent order carries a £62 court fee, plus the cost of having it drafted. The court fee is the same wherever you go.
- Fixed-fee drafting is usually the most affordable route when you and your partner already agree on how to split things.
- The lowest headline price isn’t always the cheapest outcome. A poorly drafted order the court rejects can cost far more overall, as can one that leaves gaps.
- Where things are genuinely simple, a clean break consent order keeps costs down and closes off future claims.
You’ve sorted out who gets what and the hard conversations are behind you. Now, there’s one more box to tick before you can properly move on. Then you start looking into consent orders and the prices make your stomach drop.
One firm quotes a few hundred pounds. Another quotes a few thousand. And you’re left wondering whether there’s a catch or you’re about to overpay for something that should be simple.
Both are fair worries. Money is often tight during a separation, and the last thing you want is to hand over more of it than you need to. The good news? If you and your partner already agree, there are genuinely low-cost, fixed-fee ways to get a consent order in place.
This guide walks through what a consent order actually costs in 2026, where the savings are real and where a cheap price can end up costing you. If you’d rather talk it through first, Osbourne Pinner offers a free 30-minute consultation with a family law and divorce solicitor. There’s no cost to understanding your options. You can also read our full guide to divorce costs for the wider picture.
What makes up the cost of a consent order?
Before you can tell whether a price is fair, it helps to know what you’re actually paying for. There are two separate costs, and only one of them is fixed.
The court fee
This is the fee you pay the court to review and seal the order. As of July 2026, it’s £62. This cost is set by the government, meaning it’s the same whether you use a solicitor, an online service or do it yourself.
If you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you might not have to pay it at all. The Help with Fees scheme can reduce or remove the court fee entirely, so it’s worth checking before you apply.
The drafting cost
This is where the prices vary so wildly. In short, it’s the cost of having the order written up properly so the court will accept it. This can be a few hundred pounds for a straightforward clean break, or more where there are pensions, a business or property to deal with. The drafting cost is the part you have some control over, and it’s where a fixed fee earns its keep.
So what does a low-cost fixed-fee option actually look like?
A fixed fee means you agree one price at the start and that’s what you pay, assuming your situation is as straightforward as it first appears. You’re not billed by the hour, so there’s no meter running every time you send an email or ask a question.
For couples who have already agreed the split, this is usually the most affordable and sensible route. You’re paying for the legal drafting and the court submission, not for lengthy negotiation, because the negotiation is already done.
Remember, fixed-fee drafting works best when things are clean. If you and your partner still disagree on the numbers, a fixed fee for a simple order won’t cover the back-and-forth needed to get you to an agreement first. Our guide to how fixed-fee consent orders work sets out exactly what is and isn’t included.
Is the cheapest quote always the best value?
This is the part worth slowing down on. A very low headline price can be a false economy, and here’s why.
The court doesn’t rubber-stamp consent orders. A judge reads each one and, crucially, they can reject it if:
- The the wording is unclear
- It looks unfair
- Something important has been left out
If your order comes back rejected, you’re looking at delays, more paperwork and often more cost to put it right. A rock-bottom online template that skips the detail can end up more expensive than getting it done properly the first time.
There’s also the risk of what a cheap order leaves out. A consent order is your chance to draw a line under the financial relationship. If it doesn’t include a clean break clause where you need one, your ex-partner could come back years later and make a claim, even after everything felt settled. That’s a glaring gap rather than a smart saving.
Forget about the lowest possible number. The aim is to find the lowest cost for an order that actually does its job. For a fuller picture of how the financial side fits together, see our guide to divorce financial settlements.
How can you keep the cost down practically?
There are real, sensible ways to keep a consent order affordable without cutting the corners that matter.
- Agree as much as you can between yourselves first. The more you have settled before a solicitor is involved, the less time is spent on it, and the more a fixed fee makes sense.
- Go in organised. Have your financial information ready. Delays and missing paperwork add time, and time is where cost creeps in on hourly work.
- Choose a fixed-fee service where your case actually fits it. Ask upfront what is included and what would trigger an extra charge.
- Apply for Help with Fees if you’re eligible. There could be £62 you don’t need to spend at all.
Where a case is truly simple and both parties agree, a clean break consent order is typically the most cost-effective outcome available, because it closes the door on future claims in one go.
When is a fixed fee not the right fit?
Honesty matters here more than a sale. A fixed fee is built for predictable work. Some situations just aren’t predictable, and forcing them into a fixed-fee box doesn’t help anyone.
A straightforward fixed-fee drafting service will not be enough on its own if:
- There are significant pensions to share
- You have a business to value
- Assets are held overseas
- You and your partner are some way apart on the numbers
We’re not saying the cost has to spiral. But you definitely need a clear conversation about pricing before anything starts, so there are no surprises.
A good solicitor will tell you honestly which camp you’re in. If your situation is simple, they should point you to the affordable route. If it isn’t, they should explain why and what the realistic cost looks like.
Talk to a fixed-fee divorce solicitor at Osbourne Pinner
If you and your partner have agreed how to divide things and want it made legally binding without overpaying, our fixed-fee divorce solicitors can help. We are a multi-office firm with solicitors in London (Piccadilly and Canary Wharf), Harrow and Manchester, and we handle consent orders at every level of complexity.
We offer a free 30-minute consultation with a family law and divorce solicitor, Monday to Friday, with no obligation. It costs nothing to find out where you stand and what your order should realistically cost. We do not offer Legal Aid.
Call us on 0203 983 5080, message us on WhatsApp or email [email protected] to arrange your consultation.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We always recommend speaking to a qualified solicitor for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
