Ending your marriage
The divorce itself. CalmSplit, £159 per person.
Sorting your finances
Property, pensions, savings and debts. A separate process.

These two processes are connected but separate. Your divorce does not by itself decide who keeps what.

Divorce and debt

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

Debts are part of the financial picture and reduce what there is to divide. Legally, the person named on a debt remains liable to the lender. A court order can decide who pays as between the two of you, but it does not change your contract with the lender.

CalmSplit takes care of the divorce itself: you answer plain-English questions online and we prepare and manage your application to HMCTS for a one-off £159 per person. Your financial arrangements are handled separately.

  • The divorce ends the marriage. It does not divide your money or property
  • £159 one-off per person for the divorce, court fee paid separately to HMCTS
  • CalmSplit is a self-help platform, not a law firm. Independent solicitor referrals are available
CalmSplit fee
£159one-off, per person

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

Start your divorce free

No payment to begin. £159 one-off when you are ready to prepare your application. Court fees are paid separately to HMCTS.

See how it works

Joint versus sole debts

  • Joint debts: both of you are liable to the lender for the whole balance
  • Sole debts: only the named person is liable, but the debt still counts in the overall picture
  • Debts taken on for the family are usually treated as shared in the negotiation
  • Reckless or hidden spending can be taken into account

Practical steps

  • List every debt with balances and monthly payments
  • Keep payments going where you can, to protect both credit files
  • Record in your consent order who is responsible for what
  • Get free debt advice if repayments are unaffordable

Two separate processes

It helps to keep two things apart. Ending your marriage is a court process that follows a fixed timetable and does not look at your finances. Sorting your finances is about who keeps what: the home, savings, pensions and debts. You can run them side by side, but one does not automatically decide the other.

  • Ending your marriage: the divorce application, conditional order and final order
  • Sorting your finances: an agreement between you, and usually a financial court order to make it binding
  • CalmSplit's £159 fee covers the divorce itself, not a financial settlement

When to get advice

Consider independent legal or financial advice where there are pensions of real value, a business, complex property, significant debts, or where you are unsure whether what you have agreed is reasonable. CalmSplit can refer you to an independent solicitor. That does not change your £159 CalmSplit fee, and we do not take a fee for the referral.

Frequently asked questions

No. The divorce ends the marriage. Money, property, pensions and debts are dealt with separately, either by an agreement between you or by a financial order made by the court. Getting divorced does not by itself end financial claims between you.

Related CalmSplit pages

Start your divorce free

No payment to begin. £159 one-off when you are ready to prepare your application. Court fees are paid separately to HMCTS.

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Start your divorce – £159