Can I get a free divorce?

The CalmSplit fee is payable, but the court fee can be reduced or waived under the HMCTS Help with Fees scheme if you are on a low income or certain benefits.

Is a cheap online divorce as valid as a solicitor's?

Yes. The court applies the same rules to every application. What differs is how much help you pay for in preparing it.

Is a divorce prepared online legally valid?

Yes. The divorce is granted by HMCTS whether the application is prepared online or on paper. CalmSplit helps you prepare and manage the paperwork; the court issues the orders.

What if I change my mind?

You can get a full refund within 7 days of paying, as long as your application has not been submitted to the court.

Cheap divorce online

Written by CalmSplit Editorial TeamReviewed by Ramani GillLast reviewed 13 August 2026England & Wales

The cheapest divorce in England and Wales is doing everything yourself and paying only the £628 court fee. The next cheapest is a guided service: CalmSplit is £159 per person.

CalmSplit sits between doing it entirely alone and paying a solicitor by the hour. You get guided questions, checks and a prepared application without hourly fees.

£159 per person, one-off
No hourly billing and no per-letter charges
Help with Fees may reduce or remove the £628 court fee
Everything can be completed by one person alone

CalmSplit fee

£159one-off, per person

One-off CalmSplit fee. HMCTS court fees are paid separately to the court.

See what your divorce would cost

Free to start. You can check your route and your total cost before paying anything.

See how it works

The three ways to get divorced, by cost

Fully DIY: £628 court fee only. Cheapest, but you complete every form and manage every deadline yourself.
Guided online service: £159 per person plus £628. You answer questions, the paperwork is prepared for you.
Solicitor-led: commonly £3,000 to £10,000+ per couple, billed by the hour.

How to keep the cost down

Check whether you qualify for Help with Fees before paying the court fee
Apply jointly or agree in advance who pays, so the fee is not paid twice
Keep finances out of court by agreeing terms and applying for a consent order
Have your marriage certificate and both addresses ready to avoid rejected applications

Cheap should not mean risky

The most expensive divorce is usually the one that goes wrong. Rejected applications, missed deadlines and informal financial arrangements that are not made into a court order can all cost far more later. A guided service is inexpensive precisely because it reduces those risks up front.

What you would actually pay

Item	Cost
CalmSplit, sole applicant£159 + £628 court fee	£787
CalmSplit, both people£318 + £628 court fee	£946
Fully DIYCourt fee only	£628
Help with FeesDepends on income and savings	£0 - £628

Frequently asked questions

£159 per person as a one-off payment. The HMCTS divorce court fee of £628 is paid separately to the court, and you may be able to apply for Help with Fees.

Related CalmSplit pages

Divorce cost UKEvery fee explained, with a calculator.Fixed fee divorceOne price, agreed before you start.Divorce without a solicitorHow the self-service route works.

See what your divorce would cost

Free to start. You can check your route and your total cost before paying anything.

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