How to Divorce Without a Solicitor in England and Wales: A Complete Plain-English Guide

Hiring a solicitor to handle your divorce can cost thousands of pounds, but the law does not require you to use one. In England and Wales, you can apply for a divorce yourself using the online court system, and for many couples the process is far more straightforward than it might seem. This guide walks you through every stage in plain English, so you can decide whether going it alone is right for you.

Can You Legally Divorce Without a Solicitor in England and Wales?

Yes, absolutely. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor when you divorce in England and Wales. The courts actively support people who represent themselves, and the online divorce portal run by HMCTS (His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service) was designed with self-applicants in mind.

The process is called a DIY divorce or litigant in person divorce, and it works best when:

• Both of you agree that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.
• You have either already sorted out finances and children arrangements, or you are happy to deal with those separately.
• Neither of you has complex assets such as overseas property, business interests or significant pension entitlements that would need expert valuation.

Since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force in April 2022, divorce in England and Wales has been a no-fault process. You no longer need to blame your spouse or wait until you have been separated for two years with their consent. You simply state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and the court accepts that. This change has made DIY divorce considerably simpler for most couples.

If your situation involves disputed finances, domestic abuse, or a spouse who refuses to engage, you may still benefit from at least some legal advice. Solicitors in England typically charge between £150 and £400 or more per hour, so even a short consultation can run to several hundred pounds. However, for a straightforward divorce, going it alone with the right guidance is a realistic and cost-effective option.

For a broader overview of the process, see our complete guide to divorce in England and Wales.

What You Need Before You Start: Eligibility and Documents

Before you file your application, make sure you meet the basic eligibility requirements and have the right documents to hand.

Eligibility checklist:

• You have been married for at least one year.
• Your marriage is legally recognised in England and Wales.
• Either you, your spouse, or both of you are habitually resident in England and Wales, or one of you is domiciled here.

Documents you will need:

• Your original marriage certificate or a certified copy. If it is in a foreign language, you will need a certified translation.
• Your spouse's full name and last known address (or the name of their solicitor if they have one).
• Your own address and contact details.
• Payment details for the court fee.

It is worth noting that the court fee for a divorce application is currently £593 (correct as of 2025 to 2026). If you are on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a fee remission using form EX160, which means you could pay a reduced fee or nothing at all.

Once you have everything ready, the application itself is completed online through the HMCTS divorce and dissolution portal. You do not need to attend court in person for a standard uncontested divorce. The whole process is paperless.

If you are unsure about costs at this stage, our guide to how much divorce costs in the UK breaks down every fee you might encounter.

Step-by-Step: The Divorce Process in England and Wales

The divorce process in England and Wales follows a clear sequence of stages. Here is exactly what happens from start to finish.

1. Create an account on the HMCTS portal. Go to the official HMCTS online divorce portal and register. You will complete the application online, upload your marriage certificate and pay the court fee.
2. Choose sole or joint application. You can apply as a sole applicant (you apply, your spouse responds) or as a joint applicant (you both apply together). Joint applications are particularly well suited to amicable separations and remove the need for a formal acknowledgement of service from the other party.
3. The court issues the application. Once submitted and checked, the court issues your application. If you are the sole applicant, the court will serve the papers on your spouse, who has 14 days to acknowledge service online.
4. Apply for the Conditional Order. After a mandatory 20-week cooling-off period from the date of issue, you can apply for the Conditional Order (previously called the Decree Nisi). This is the court's confirmation that you appear to be entitled to a divorce. If applying jointly, both of you confirm you still wish to proceed.
5. Wait for the Conditional Order to be pronounced. A judge considers the application on the papers. You do not need to attend. The court will notify you once the Conditional Order has been made.
6. Apply for the Final Order. You must wait at least 6 weeks and 1 day after the Conditional Order before applying for the Final Order (previously called the Decree Absolute). This is the document that legally ends your marriage. If you do not apply within 12 months of the Conditional Order, you will need to explain the delay to the court.

The entire process typically takes a minimum of around 6 to 7 months from start to finish, largely because of the mandatory 20-week waiting period. In practice, many straightforward divorces complete within 9 to 12 months when accounting for court processing times.

Sole vs Joint Application: Which Should You Choose?

One of the first decisions you will make is whether to apply as a sole applicant or a joint applicant. Both routes end in exactly the same legal outcome, a Final Order that ends your marriage, but they work differently in practice.

Sole application means one of you (the applicant) drives the process. The other spouse (the respondent) is served with the papers by the court and asked to acknowledge service within 14 days. If your spouse ignores the papers or is difficult to locate, this can cause delays. However, a sole application does not require your spouse to agree or cooperate, it simply requires them to be notified.

Joint application means you both apply together from the start. There is no respondent, and no acknowledgement of service is required. Both of you must confirm at each stage that you still wish to proceed. This route is ideal when you are separating on relatively good terms and can communicate with each other.

Key differences at a glance:

If you are unsure which to choose, consider how likely your spouse is to engage with the process. If they are cooperative, a joint application is often smoother. If there is any doubt, a sole application gives you more control over the timeline.

Sorting Out Finances and Children: Do Not Overlook These

Getting the Final Order is only one part of separating your lives. Two areas that many DIY applicants underestimate are financial arrangements and children arrangements. Neither is handled automatically by the divorce application itself.

Financial arrangements

Your divorce does not automatically sever your financial ties to your spouse. Even after the Final Order, your ex-spouse could potentially make a financial claim against you years later unless you have a formal Financial Order (also called a Consent Order if you have reached agreement) approved by the court. This is true even if you have no significant assets right now.

Many couples reach their own informal agreement and never formalise it, which can leave both parties exposed. To make a financial agreement legally binding, you must apply to the court for a Consent Order. You can do this yourself, though the document needs to be drafted carefully. Our detailed guide on how to apply for a financial order on divorce in England explains the process step by step.

It is also worth using our free divorce financial calculator to get a clearer picture of how your assets and finances might be divided.

Children arrangements

If you have children under 18, you will need to agree where they will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. Most separating parents sort this between themselves without going to court, and the courts actively encourage this. If you cannot agree, you can apply for a Child Arrangements Order. For a full explanation of how these orders work, see our guide to Child Arrangements Orders in England and Wales.

Dealing with finances and children arrangements properly, alongside your divorce, protects you both in the long run.

What Can Go Wrong and How to Avoid Common Mistakes

DIY divorce is straightforward for most people, but there are some common pitfalls that can cause delays or create problems further down the line.

1. Missing the acknowledgement of service deadline. If you are the sole applicant and your spouse does not acknowledge service within 14 days, the process stalls. Make sure your spouse knows to expect the papers and understands they need to respond, even if you are on good terms.

2. Applying for the Final Order too quickly. Some applicants apply for the Final Order the moment the 6-week-and-1-day period has passed, without having a financial agreement in place. Once the Final Order is made, certain financial claims (such as a claim based on your spouse's pension) can become time-limited or more complicated. Consider waiting until you have a Consent Order approved before applying for the Final Order.

3. Using an incorrect or uncertified marriage certificate. The court needs an original or certified copy. Photocopies are not accepted. If your original certificate is lost, you can order a replacement from the General Register Office.

4. Getting the names wrong. Every name on the application must exactly match the marriage certificate. Any discrepancy can cause rejection and delay.

5. Ignoring pension assets. Pensions are often the largest asset in a marriage after the family home, yet many DIY applicants overlook them entirely. If you or your spouse has a significant pension, you may want to obtain a pension valuation and consider whether a pension sharing order is appropriate before finalising your financial settlement.

6. Assuming Scotland works the same way. If you or your spouse are based in Scotland, different rules apply. Scotland has its own legal system and its own divorce process. Our complete guide to divorce in Scotland covers these differences in detail.

How Much Does a DIY Divorce Actually Cost?

One of the main reasons people choose to divorce without a solicitor is cost. Here is a realistic breakdown of what you should expect to pay.

For a simple uncontested divorce with no financial order, the minimum you are likely to spend is around £593 to £606. If you add a Consent Order, which most people should, the total rises slightly but is still a fraction of what a solicitor-led divorce would cost.

By contrast, a fully solicitor-led divorce in England typically costs between £1,500 and £5,000 or more per person for an uncontested case, and significantly more if disputes arise. Solicitors charge between £150 and £400 or more per hour, and those hours can mount up quickly.

Clarity Guide is designed to give you the knowledge and step-by-step support you need to handle your own divorce confidently, from just £37. That includes plain-English explanations of every stage, template letters and practical checklists.

For more detail on all the fees involved, visit our guide to how much divorce costs in the UK.

When You Should Consider Getting Some Legal Help

Going it alone does not have to mean going it completely without support. There is a middle ground between full solicitor representation and doing everything yourself from scratch.

Consider getting at least some professional input if:

• You or your spouse owns a business, and you need to agree on how it will be valued or divided.
• Either of you has a defined benefit pension (such as a final salary scheme), which can be complex to value and divide correctly.
• There is a significant power imbalance in the relationship, particularly if there has been financial abuse or domestic abuse.
• You own property overseas, which may be subject to the laws of another country.
• Your spouse has instructed a solicitor and you feel you are at a disadvantage negotiating without advice.
• You cannot agree on the financial settlement and the matter looks likely to go to a contested hearing.

Even in these situations, you do not necessarily need full representation. Many solicitors offer a fixed-fee unbundled service, where they advise you on specific aspects of your case rather than handling everything. This lets you keep costs down while still getting expert input where it matters most.

You can also find free or low-cost guidance from organisations such as Citizens Advice, the National Family Mediation Service and Resolution (a professional body for family lawyers who commit to a non-confrontational approach).

For a comprehensive overview of all the self-help options available to you, see our guide on how to divorce without a solicitor in the UK.