Individuals involved in family law proceedings will face increased court fees, from 1 May 2024 – a development that may affect decisions on managing legal disputes related to family matters.

The scheduled changes include higher costs for various applications, including those related to child arrangements and financial orders.

Here is a breakdown of the court fee increases from 1 May 2024:

  • Child Arrangement Orders: Fees for applications will rise from £232 to £255.
  • Contested Financial Remedy Orders: The cost of applying for a contested order will increase from £275 to £303.
  • Financial Orders by Consent: For applications agreed upon by both parties, fees will climb from £53 to £58.
  • Applications Within Proceedings Without Notice: Fees for these applications will see an increase from £53 to £58.
  • Applications Within Proceedings on Notice: The fee for these applications will go up from £167 to £184.

During the consultation phase, there was a proposal to raise the divorce application fee from £593 to £652.

However, this proposed increase was ultimately deemed disproportionate and, as such, the fee for filing a divorce application will remain at £593.

These adjustments in court fees reflect a broader trend towards recalibrating the costs associated with accessing legal resolutions in family law.

Individuals planning to file applications in family court should prepare for these changes immediately and consider how they might impact their financial planning and legal strategies.

If you have any queries about how this change may affect your plans, please speak to our Partner and the Head of our Family and Relationship Team,  Alison Green by emailing alison.green@mackrell.com or calling +44 0207 240 0521.

 

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