Key Takeaways
- Every route to a consent order shares the same £62 court fee. The difference in cost is in how the order gets drafted.
- The routes run from a cheap DIY template, through fixed-fee online drafting, to a full solicitor service, each with a different trade-off.
- The single biggest saving comes from agreeing the split before any drafting starts, because that’s where legal time and cost pile up.
- The cheapest option isn’t always the safest. An order the court rejects can cost far more later, as can one with a glaring gap.
- If money is tight, ask about instalment or payment plan options as well as the headline price.
You’ve agreed how to divide things, and now you just need to make it official. The problem is the range of prices you’ll see. One website offers a consent order for a couple of hundred pounds. A high street firm quotes a few thousand. And you’re left wondering whether the cheap option is a false economy or an actual bargain.
It’s a reasonable thing to worry about. A consent order is the document that protects you from future financial claims, so it’s not somewhere you want to cut corners. The good news is there are several affordable routes, and the right one depends on how straightforward your situation is.
This guide runs through the main ways to get a consent order, from cheapest to most comprehensive, so you can see the trade-offs clearly. If you’d rather talk it through, Osbourne Pinner offers a free 30-minute consultation with a family law and divorce solicitor. You can also read our full guide to divorce financial settlements for the bigger picture.
First, the one cost that never changes
Whichever route you choose, you pay the same court fee. As of July 2026, the fee to submit a consent order is £62, paid to the court rather than to any solicitor or service. You can check the current figure on GOV.UK, as it could change in line with inflation.
If you’re on a low income or certain benefits, the Help with Fees scheme might reduce or remove it. Everything below is about the drafting cost that sits on top of that fee.
The routes, from cheapest to most complete
1. Drafting it yourself
This is the cheapest option on paper. You’ll find consent order templates online – some free, some for a small fee. If your finances are really simple and you’re confident dealing with the court, doing it yourself is possible.
But it carries the most risk. The court won’t approve an order that’s unclear, unfair or missing something. Needless to say, homemade orders are rejected more often than professionally drafted ones. A rejection means delay, and often more cost to put right, which can wipe out the saving.
2. A fixed-fee online drafting service
This is the middle ground most people land on, and it’s typically the best value. A regulated solicitor takes the agreement you’ve already reached and drafts it into a proper order for one set price. You get professional drafting without paying for lengthy negotiation, because the negotiating is already done. Our guide to how fixed-fee consent orders work explains exactly what this route covers.
3. Agree everything first, then have it drafted
As above, the biggest saving of all is a decision rather than a service. The more you and your partner settle between yourselves before a solicitor gets involved, the less there is to bill for. Some couples reach agreement through direct conversation, others through mediation. However you get there, arriving at the drafting stage with a clear agreement keeps the cost down. Our guide to how much a divorce costs if both parties agree goes into this in more detail.
4. A full solicitor service
This is the most comprehensive. For the right case, it’s also the best value despite a higher price. If there are pensions to share, a business to value or the finances are complicated, a full solicitor service makes sure nothing is missed and the order stands up. Paying more here can be far cheaper than a cut-price order that leaves you exposed to a claim years later.
Why the cheapest option is not always the most affordable
There’s a difference between the lowest price and the best value. And it matters here more than in most things. A consent order has one job: to draw a proper line under your finances so your ex-partner can’t come back for more later. If a bargain order doesn’t do that job, it’ll cost you far more than it saved. That could be because it was rejected or because it left out a clean break clause.
So, the honest answer to what’s the most affordable way? The cheapest route that still gets you an order the court will approve and that actually protects you. For most people with a straightforward, agreed settlement, that’s a fixed-fee drafting service. But it’s rarely a DIY template.
Sensible ways to keep the cost down
- Agree as much as you can before any drafting begins.
- Go in organised, with your financial information ready, so nothing drags.
- Match the service to your case. Don’t pay for a full negotiation service you don’t need, and don’t force a complex case into a bare template.
- Ask about instalment or payment plan options if paying in one go is difficult.
- Apply for Help with Fees if you are eligible, as the £62 court fee might not apply.
Talk to a fixed-fee divorce solicitor at Osbourne Pinner
If you’ve agreed your finances and want an affordable, properly drafted consent order, 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 can tell you honestly which route fits your situation.
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 the most affordable route for your circumstances. 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.
