Increase in Family Court Fees  

Towards the end of 2021, the Court Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2021 was introduced to increase Court fees by around 8% to come in line with inflation. This will be the first increase to certain Court fees since 2016.  

In this article our Divorce and Family Law Solicitor, Noelle Heath, explains what the increase in family Court fees mean for you.  

How Much is the Increase in Family Court Fees?

Under the new Court Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2021, the following increases have come into effect:  

  • The fee for filing a petition for a divorce, nullity or civil partnership dissolution has increased from £550 to £593.  
  • The fee for an application under the Children Act 1989 for a Child Arrangement Order, Specific Issues Order and other applications under the Children Act have increased from £215 to £232.  
  • Financial application fees have increased from £255 to £275.  
  • Fees for application for an agreed consent order have increased from £50 to £53.  
  • The cost of obtaining a copy of a document from the court has increased from £10 to £11.  

The full list of increases to family Court fees can be found on the Court Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2021.  

Additional income generated from the increase in Court fees will go towards the running costs of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).  

Seeking Help with Increasing Court Fees

You may be able to get help paying your court fees if you have little or no savings and if you either:  

  • Receive certain benefits  
  • Have a low income  

The Help with Fees remission scheme is in place to help people pay their court fees. The income threshold for Help with Fees has increased. For a single person not claiming benefits, the monthly income threshold has increased from £1,085 to £1,170.  

If you need expert legal advice about divorce, separation, or family matters, please contact our experienced Divorce and Family Law Solicitors on 033 3344 9600.  

Divorce & Family Law Solicitors

Morrish Solicitors is a long-established law firm providing a range of legal services across the country. We have an experienced team of Divorce and Family Law Solicitors who can support you with your matter. Our team specialise in all aspects of divorce and family law aiming to achieve a constructive and amicable solution for the whole family whilst keeping costs low and stress to a minimum.  

Our services include:  

Whatever your personal circumstances may be, we will take the time to understand your individual circumstances and will aim to achieve the best outcome for you. If you need help with any of the above matters, please contact our Divorce and Family Law team on 033 3344 9600 or simply email [email protected].  

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