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Does the applicant always have to pay for the court fees?
No. In most cases, the applicant pays the court fee; however, some couples agree to split the court fees between them, particularly if it is a joint application.
Helping our clients file their divorce papers is only one of the many family law services at Stowe Family Law.
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Can the applicant claim for the divorce court costs?
If you are the applicant or joint applicant you can apply for costs from the other person (respondent) by asking the court to order that the other party pays their legal costs relating to the divorce or request that the costs be divided equally, or just the court fee is shared.
However, it is necessary to make a separate application to the court to ask for a costs order, and for this reason, they are rarely sought.
If you are on a low income or in receipt of state benefits including Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Income-related Employment, and Support Allowance and Universal credit, you can apply to the court for help with these fees by completing an EX160 form “Apply for help with fees”.
Talk with a Stowe divorce lawyer if you need help either finding or filling out the form.
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How can the applicant claim for divorce court costs?
If the applicant wishes to apply for costs against the respondent, the best practice is to agree on costs before issuing the divorce application to the court.
If costs cannot be agreed upon at that stage, the applicant can include a claim for full costs in the application itself.
If costs are agreed upon at the conditional order stage, a ‘costs order’ can be made by agreement.
If costs cannot be agreed upon, the applicant can continue with their application for costs, and the court will decide.
The court will consider if the costs claimed are reasonable and look at the conduct of both parties before and during the divorce process.
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Does a respondent have to pay for divorce court costs?
If a costs order is made the respondent is under a legal obligation to comply and pay, and if there is a failure to do so, this could result in enforcement action being necessary.
It is strongly advised to try and reach an agreement on costs before the divorce is submitted to the court. The overwhelming majority of cases proceed undefended so no attendance at court is required in connection with the divorce, but the issue of costs may see attendance at court necessary.
Additional costs may also be incurred if complications arise in proceedings, such as when a spouse does not file the Acknowledgement of Service with the court.
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Can you get help with legal fees for a divorce?
It is possible to ask for government aid paid towards your legal costs.
Legal aid, as it is known, is available in certain circumstances such as:
- If you are using it for mediation
- If you have experienced domestic abuse in the last five years
- If you are at risk of homelessness
Unfortunately, while we are a specialist family law firm, Stowe Family Law does not have a contract with the Legal Aid Agency and is, therefore, unable to offer legal aid to our clients.
Please read our guide on legal aid for more information.
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Is it recommended to claim for divorce court costs? Or can it hold up the process?
If the respondent does not agree to pay towards the costs of divorce, it could cause unnecessary issues, which may increase costs and delays.
Therefore, it is best practice to reach an agreement regarding the cost of divorce before the divorce application is sent to the court.
Doing this can reduce the likelihood of the respondent challenging the issue of costs later on down the line.
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Can you deduct legal fees for divorce from tax?
In short, no: a divorce lawyer’s fees are not tax-deductible except in very specific circumstances.
As a family law firm, this is not our area of expertise; talk with your accountant to get a clearer understanding of how this works.
Are there any other costs to consider in divorce?
Divorce often has two cost elements: itemised court fees and the solicitor’s costs for negotiating a financial settlement and child arrangements.
It is difficult to forecast how much the solicitor’s cost will be at the outset. It depends on several factors, including the willingness of both parties to negotiate and the complexity of the family finances and proposed child arrangements, if applicable.
The majority of cases are resolved by negotiation, usually via solicitors, once the financial disclosure has taken place, with each party bearing their own costs.
Whilst it is possible to apply for a costs order in certain circumstances, the outcome of such an application cannot be guaranteed, and the usual course is that each party covers their legal costs.
If a settlement is reached, we recommend the terms agreed are recorded in a consent order. There is a Court fee of £59, which is often split between the parties.
How to pay for legal fees in divorce
The person filing for divorce will pay the £593 filing fee when the papers are filed. The way you pay depends on how you apply. It is a non-refundable fee.
If you would like any advice on who pays the legal fees in a divorce, divorce, or other family law issues, please contact our Client Care Team to speak to one of our specialist divorce lawyers.
We have local family solicitors in offices throughout the country, meaning there will be a Stowe lawyer for you no matter where you are based. Call today, fill in our online Contact Form, or request a call back at a time that suits you.
Request Free Callback
Submit your details, and we’ll arrange a free, no-obligation callback at a time to suit you. Please note that we cannot offer Legal aid.
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What our clients say
Joanna Newton is tough, knowledgeable and dependable, she listened to me and discussed my options with me. She advised me where I stood and what my rights and my ex-husband's rights were. She gave me trusted advice about my home and financial security. I would recommend Joanna without any reservations.
I was put in touch with Matthew (Matt) Taylor to assist me with my recent divorce matters. My case was far from straightforward and was contested by the other side at all levels: cohabitation duration, pre-acquired assets and marital assets in two countries. Matt was extremely helpful, responsive and proactive throughout the entire process, which was a long challenging one for me. Matt made it as easy and as smooth as possible with his professional and understanding approach. He explained everything to me in-depth, each step of the way, allowing me to completely understand what options I had. Matt always had my best interest in mind and was efficiency-driven throughout, making the process as time and cost-efficient as possible. Thank you, Matt, I would not have made it through the process without your professional help and personal touch.
Having trained as a barrister, Sebastian Burrows is able to conduct his own advocacy and does so very successfully and persuasively. Seb has built up a strong reputation in matrimonial finance matters, particularly when it comes to dividing pensions, litigating city bonuses and achieving top-class results in dividing property portfolios. His case analysis is clear and his instructions succinct and to the point. His natural affable charm is the icing on the cake of his considerable legal and practical knowledge. He is very able – a gifted litigator and strategist.
Claire Cleary provides specialist advice in complex and high net worth cases. Calm, focused and unflappable.
Jemma Slavin is a passionate advocate of her clients’ causes and knows each case extremely well. Jemma is alive to what the client needs from the legal proceedings and does all she can to help them achieve it.
Hollie Morgan is a stellar solicitor with a calm and friendly approach to her cases. She is extremely organised and has a high technical ability both advising and in advocacy. She specialises in all areas of family law and has experience with complex high value financial matters.’
I've recently used James Looi for a consent order and found him to be very personable and extremely professional with dealing with the case. He took the time to listen and understand and was very patient throughout the whole process. Thanks again, James!
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