Divorce is a relatively straightforward legal procedure providing it is undefended and care is taken to ensure that the forms are filled in correctly first time.

All documents we prepare are tailored to your needs and given final approval by Nicola Williams because getting it right first time is as important for us as it is for you and for the smooth progress of any divorce.

For undefended divorce we charge a fixed fee as follows:

The fee includes the following:

Drafting your petition and statement of arrangements for children (if appropriate) and agreeing the contents with you.

Issuing the petition and supporting documents at court (the court issue fee of £340 will be payable at this point.)

Following up the petition 14 days after issue to ensure that it has been served and acknowledged.

Keeping you updated as to progress regularly by letter/email/telephone.

Making application for the decree nisi once it is confirmed by your spouse that the divorce is undefended (you may have to pay £7 to another solicitor to swear your affidavit unless you take it to a court office where this can be done free of charge).

Making application for the decree absolute. (The court fee of £45 is payable at this point).

The above fees are for undefended divorce only. Undefended divorce means that either a) your spouse acknowledges the petition by sending back an acknowledgement of service indicating no intention to defend the divorce, or b) your spouse doesn't send the acknowledgement back but doesn't file a defence and/or cross-petition.

You will still need to prove that your spouse has received the petition even if no defence is filed.

Court fees are usually payable when issuing a petition, applying for a decree absolute or making an application for a financial order.

However if you have an income of £13,000 per annum or less you will pay no fee.

If your income is more than £13,000 per annum you may pay a reduced fee depending on your disposable income after deduction of certain allowable expenses.

Please ask whether you qualify when you are asked to pay a fee as we often do not have detailed income information from you when issuing divorce porceedings.

See further information on our court fees page.

Nicola Williams & Co is a specialist divorce and family law firm based in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, Greater Manchester. We are registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority under firm number 363881 as solicitors practising the divorce law of England and Wales. We are insured for £2,000,000 per case by Travelers professional risks. We are members of Resolution First For Family Law and are qualified mediators.