Key Takeaways
- A clean break order ends all financial ties between you and your partner, so neither can make a future claim against the other.
- It’s almost always made as a consent order, which means the court approves it. The court fee is £62 from July 2026.
- On top of the court fee, you pay for drafting. A straightforward, agreed clean break is far cheaper than a contested case.
- The law itself encourages a clean break if it’s fair. That comes from section 25A of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.
- Even couples with little to divide benefit from one, because it’s the dismissal of future claims that protects you.
You want a clean break in every sense of the phrase. You’ve divided what there was to divide, and now you need the finances closed off for good. Crucially, this means no chance of your ex-partner coming back for more down the line. The question is what that costs, and whether it’s worth paying for when things already feel settled.
The honest answer is that a clean break order is one of the cheaper things in family law relative to what it protects you from. The cost has two parts, and only one of them changes depending on your case.
This guide explains what a clean break order actually is and what it costs, plus why it’s usually money well spent. If you’d rather talk your own situation 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 wider picture.
What is a clean break order?
A clean break order severs the financial ties between former partners completely. Once the court approves it, neither of you can make any further financial claim against the other, no matter how your circumstances change later. It can deal with property, savings, investments and pensions, and it dismisses any right to ongoing spousal maintenance.
It’s usually made as part of a consent order, which is the document the court approves when you’ve agreed your finances. The main difference is the dismissal clause: a clean break order specifically closes the door on future claims, whereas a plain consent order might leave some ongoing maintenance in place. For the basics of the order itself, see our guide to what a consent order is in divorce.
Why does the law encourage it?
This isn’t just something solicitors recommend. The law actively prefers a clean break wherever one can be achieved fairly. Section 25A of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 places a duty on the court to consider whether it can end the financial obligations between two people as soon as it’s fair to do so.
The goal here is finality: each person leaves with their share and their independence, and neither is tied to the other going forward.
So how much does it cost?
There are two elements to the cost, and it’s worth separating them for clarity.
Fixed court fee – paid to the court
The first is the court fee. As of July 2026, the fee to submit a consent order is £62. Put simply, this is how a clean break is approved. It’s paid to the court and is the same whoever drafts your order. You can check the current figure on GOV.UK, and if you’re on a low income or certain benefits, it’s worth checking if the Help with Fees scheme can reduce or remove it.
Drafting cost – paid to a solicitor
The second is the drafting cost, and this is where the number varies. A simple, agreed clean break for a couple with modest assets sits at the lower end. If there are pensions to share, a business to value or the finances are complex, it costs more. That’s because there’s more work to do and more to get right. A straightforward agreed clean break is far cheaper than a contested case that ends up before a judge.
Is it worth the cost?
For almost everyone, yes. Think of a clean break order as the cheapest form of insurance in family law. Set the cost against what it closes off: every future financial claim, permanently.
The cautionary tales are real. In one well-known case, an ex-partner brought a financial claim over two decades after the divorce. How? Because no order had ever been made to close it.
Inheritances, business success and even lottery winnings years after separation have all grounded claims where couples never got a clean break in place. However amicable it might be, a private agreement doesn’t protect you. Only a court-approved order does.
Do you still need one if there is nothing to divide?
This surprises people, but quite often the answer is yes. Remember, it’s the dismissal of future claims that protects you, not the size of what you’re splitting today. If you build up savings, inherit money or your fortunes change after the divorce, an ex-partner could make a claim against what you’ve have built since. A clean break order shuts that door for a modest, one-off cost now.
How to keep the cost down
- Agree the split between yourselves before any drafting starts, so there’s less work to bill for.
- Go in organised, with your financial information ready.
- Match the service to your case. A simple agreed clean break doesn’t need a full negotiation service.
- Ask about fixed-fee and payment plan options.
- Check whether you qualify for Help with Fees on the £62 court fee.
Talk to a fixed-fee divorce solicitor at Osbourne Pinner
If you want a clean break order drawn up properly for a clear price, our fixed-fee divorce solicitors can help. We’re a multi-office firm with solicitors in London (Piccadilly and Canary Wharf), Harrow and Manchester and we handle clean break and 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 what a clean break order would involve and what it should realistically cost in your case. 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.
