Home / Guides

Divorce guides

Every divorcd guide in one place, by stage and by topic. Each is written by Paige Thomson, checked against official sources and dated, so you know how current it is.

Free divorce tools and data

Calculators and current figures, free to use with no sign-up.

Divorce and family court fees 2026Every divorce and family court fee in one dated table, with form numbers and Help with Fees.Can I afford to leave?Add up a month on one income to see whether the money stretches. Nothing is saved.Divorce cost calculatorAnswer a few questions for a sourced estimate of what your divorce could cost.Divorce timeline calculatorEnter the date you apply to see the earliest date for each order and a realistic finish date.Compare fixed-fee divorce servicesOnline services, consent orders, mediation and fixed-fee solicitors side by side, with the total you would pay.Your divorce planAnswer a few questions for a personal step-by-step plan, checklist and dates. Free.Divorce and family court formsWhat each court form is for, how to fill it in and what it costs.Divorce terms explainedEvery divorce and family court term in plain English, including the old names.Family courts in England and WalesEvery family court with contact details, access information and local waiting times.UK divorce statistics 2026The latest official figures on divorce from the ONS and the Ministry of Justice.Family court waiting timesHow long divorces and family court cases are taking, updated each quarter.

Thinking about divorce

Thinking about divorce: where to start

The legal process

Separation or divorce: what's the difference?Informal separation, separation agreements, judicial separation and divorce compared.Separation agreements: what they cover and when to use oneWhat a separation agreement can cover, how far a court will follow it and when one makes sense.No-fault divorce, explainedHow no-fault divorce works, sole and joint applications, and whether it can be contested.Can you divorce in the first year of marriage?Why you can't apply for a divorce until you've been married a year, and your options in the meantime.Do I need a solicitor for a divorce?When you can do it yourself, when advice is worth paying for and the options in between.Separating when you're not married: your rightsWhat happens to the home, money and children when an unmarried couple splits up.Common law marriage: the myth and your real rightsWhy living together doesn't give you the rights of a married couple, and how to protect yourself.

Money and property

How much does a divorce cost?The court fees, what each route costs in total and how to keep the bill down.Getting organised before divorce: a checklistThe documents to gather, keeping them safe and protecting your right to stay in the home.

Wellbeing and support

Am I ready to divorce?How to tell doubt from a decision, what to check before you act and where to find support.

Going through a divorce

Going through a divorce: where to start

The legal process

How to get a divorce, step by stepApplying online, the 20-week wait, the conditional order and the final order.How long does a divorce take?The legal minimum, the latest court figures and how to avoid delays.Divorce in Scotland: how it worksThe grounds, simplified and ordinary procedures, fees and how money is divided under Scots law.Divorce in Northern Ireland: how it worksThe grounds, how long you must be separated, fees and the courts that deal with it.Divorce when you can't find your spouseHow to divorce when you don't know where your husband or wife lives, and what the court can allow.Ending a civil partnership: how dissolution worksApplying online, the fee and waits, money, children in same-sex families and LGBT+ support.

Money and property

Help with divorce court feesWho qualifies for Help with Fees, how much it covers and how to apply.Splitting money and property in a divorceWhat the court considers, financial disclosure, consent orders and clean breaks.Form E explained, section by sectionWhat the financial statement asks for, section by section, and what to gather first.Consent orders and clean break ordersHow to make a financial agreement legally binding, and why it matters even if there is little to split.Spousal maintenance: how it's decidedWhat the court weighs up, how long payments can last and why there's no set formula.What happens to the house in a divorce?Selling, buying out or staying put, your right to stay and the tax rules.Mesher orders explainedHow a Mesher order lets one parent stay in the home for a set time, and the risks for each of you.Pensions in divorce: how they are splitPension sharing, offsetting and attachment orders, and getting a valuation.Divorce over 50: pensions, the house and later lifeFinal salary pensions, the State Pension rules, maintenance after a long marriage, wills and support in later life.How much does divorce mediation cost?What a MIAM and mediation sessions typically cost, and the help available to pay for them.

Children

Support for dads going through separationParental responsibility, staying in touch with your children, child maintenance, housing, work and mental health help.Child arrangements after divorce or separationParenting plans, mediation, child arrangements orders and child maintenance.Applying for a child arrangements order without a solicitorHow to apply on form C100 yourself, from the MIAM to the first hearing.How to tell your children about divorceWhen and how to tell them, and what to say at different ages.

Wellbeing and support

Do I need a divorce coach?What coaches can and can't help with, and the questions to ask before you hire one.Dealing with a difficult ex during divorceCommunicating, keeping records, parallel parenting and the legal protection available.

Life after divorce

Life after divorce: where to start

The legal process

The after-divorce checklistYour will, pensions, insurance, name, tax, banks and the legal loose ends people forget.

Money and property

Rebuilding your finances after divorceA new budget, benefits and discounts, debt, your credit file and free money guidance.Divorce and benefits: Universal Credit and moreHow separating affects Universal Credit, Child Benefit and other support, and what to report.

Children

Co-parenting after divorceCommunicating with your ex, keeping arrangements working as children grow, and new partners.Christmas arrangements for separated parentsHow to agree who has the children over Christmas, and a plan you can both stick to.Taking children abroad after separationWhen you need the other parent's consent to travel, and what to do if they say no.

Wellbeing and support

Finding your confidence again after divorcePractical ideas for rebuilding confidence and wellbeing, and when to get extra support.Dating after divorceKnowing when you are ready, staying safe, spotting romance scams and introducing a new partner.

Need advice about your own situation?

Our guides are general information. We'll introduce you to two or three family solicitors, mediators or financial advisers near you who deal with exactly this. The introduction is free, and they'll tell you their fees before you agree to anything.

Get matched

Need urgent help? If you're in immediate danger, call 999. Samaritans are free, any time, on 116 123. Free domestic abuse helplines, open 24 hours: in England 0808 2000 247 (Refuge, for women), in Wales 0808 80 10 800, in Scotland 0800 027 1234 and in Northern Ireland 0808 802 1414. Men can call the Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327, weekdays.