Can You Get Divorced Without a Solicitor? Work Out What You Actually Need

You can get divorced without a solicitor in England and Wales. The divorce process itself is now straightforward.

But there's a gap between "you can" and "you should." This guide walks you through your own situation and helps you spot exactly where you might get unstuck.

How to use this: Work through each section. Answer honestly. Where you see red flags, note them. You don't need to hire a solicitor for everything. But those red flags are where a McKenzie Friend costs far less than the mistakes they prevent.

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The Process Itself: Can You Actually Handle This?

Since April 2022, divorce in England and Wales follows a fixed timeline:

• Apply online through GOV.UK
• Court issues the application
• Wait 20 weeks (reflection period)
• Apply for conditional order
• Wait 6 weeks and 1 day
• Apply for final order (marriage ends)

Minimum time: six months.

The paperwork is straightforward. You answer questions about when you married, where you live, and whether the marriage has broken down. Court fee: £628 (or free if you qualify for Help with Fees).

Ask yourself:

1. Am I comfortable filling in online forms and following instructions?

• Yes, this part is genuinely manageable on your own
• No / Maybe - this is where a McKenzie Friend or solicitor saves you time

2. Do I have the time to track these stages over six months?

• Yes
• No - someone can handle this for you, but you still need to understand what's happening

3. Is my spouse cooperating, or am I applying on my own?

• We're applying jointly and we agree on everything
• I'm applying on my own because my spouse won't engage
• Something in between

If you're applying alone or your spouse is non-compliant, the process is still manageable, but you need to know the pitfalls. This is where support helps.

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The Real Problem: Your Finances

This is the gap. Many people think:

ASSUMPTION: "Once the divorce is final, everything is sorted."

REALITY: The divorce ends the marriage. Your financial claims against each other don't automatically close. Without a consent order (a court-approved settlement agreement), your financial claims stay open indefinitely. If you haven't settled by the time the divorce is final, you're negotiating from a weaker position.

And most people skip the settlement or get it wrong.

The mistakes that cost money:

Read through these. Tick any that apply to you.

• [ ] I haven't fully disclosed my finances yet. You both have a legal duty to disclose everything. If you skip this, you don't know what you're actually splitting. Hidden pensions, deferred bonuses, business loans, or assets in a spouse's name only surface later, when it's much harder to challenge.

• [ ] My spouse hasn't fully disclosed, or I suspect they're hiding something. If disclosure is incomplete, you're negotiating blind. Going it alone makes this very hard to spot or challenge.

• [ ] We haven't agreed what we're splitting, or I'm not sure the split is fair. "Fair" is complicated. A house might look like equal value on paper but have tax implications, maintenance costs, or mortgage issues you haven't factored in.

• [ ] I don't know what my spouse's pension is worth. Pensions are often the second-largest asset and are overlooked by about 58% of people handling divorce without help. You can catch up, but retirement planning is harder later.

• [ ] There's a business, self-employment income, share schemes, or deferred bonuses. These are complicated to value and to split. Most people underestimate what they're worth.

• [ ] We have property abroad, family trusts, inheritances, or investments I haven't accounted for. These change the calculation and may have tax consequences.

• [ ] I'm not confident I'd spot if the consent order I'm signing is wrong or missing clauses. Consent orders are legal documents. Missing words, unclear conditions, or sloppy language can leave you exposed.

• [ ] My ex is reluctant to disclose, or the conversation about money is tense. When finances are emotionally charged or someone's being evasive, doing it alone is high-risk. You need someone who knows what to push back on.

• [ ] I'm a victim of domestic abuse. Handling negotiation alone isn't safe. You need support and someone who understands the power dynamics.

• [ ] I simply don't feel confident making these decisions alone. Trust your gut. That feeling is data.

Ticked more than two boxes? This is where a McKenzie Friend saves you money.

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When DIY Divorce Actually Works (Be Honest)

DIY divorce is safe when all of these are true:

• [ ] The marriage is recent or very short (under a year together)
• [ ] You have no children
• [ ] You own no shared property, or the mortgage is almost paid off
• [ ] No significant joint debts
• [ ] Both of you have similar incomes or one is clearly higher and you're both comfortable with that
• [ ] No business interests or complicated self-employment
• [ ] Straightforward pensions, or none
• [ ] No family trusts, inheritances, or overseas property
• [ ] You've both fully disclosed your finances
• [ ] You genuinely agree on the split
• [ ] Your ex is cooperative and honest
• [ ] You have the time and confidence to learn the process

If you've ticked all of them: The divorce process is manageable. So is a basic consent order, as long as you both stay on the same page.

If you've left any unchecked: You need support. Don't do the rest without a second opinion.

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The Actual Cost of Getting Help vs. Not Getting It

Option 1: Full DIY (No Support)

• Court fee: £628
• Your time
• Risk if something goes wrong: You bear all the cost. A bad consent order, a missed asset, or unclear terms can cost thousands to fix later, if they can be fixed at all.

Option 2: DIY with McKenzie Friend Support

• Court fee: £628
• McKenzie Friend for specific tasks:
  • Financial review and advice: £300-£600
  • Consent order review and drafting: £400-£800
  • Full support through the process: typically £100-£300 per hour
• Your time (less, because someone's helping)
• Risk shared: A McKenzie Friend spots what you miss

Option 3: Solicitor-Led (Uncontested)

• Court fee: £628
• Solicitor fees: £1,000-£2,500 for straightforward, uncontested divorce
• Solicitor handles most of it
• Risk: Lower, because the solicitor carries professional responsibility

Option 4: Contested (Court Decides)

• Court fee: £628
• Legal costs: £3,000-£8,000+ each, depending on complexity
• Solicitor or barrister represents you
• Court decides the split

The sweet spot for most people: Get a modest review of the finances and the consent order before you sign (Option 2). It costs £700-£1,500 and prevents mistakes that cost ten times that later.

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The Decision: What Do You Actually Need?

Answer these questions honestly. Your answers tell you where to get help.

Before You Apply for Divorce:

Have you and your ex fully discussed money, and do you genuinely agree on what you're splitting?

• Yes, we've talked through it thoroughly
• Sort of. We've touched on it, but not deeply
• No. We haven't really discussed it, or we disagree
• [Describe what you've discussed so far]

If your answer is "sort of" or "no": Don't apply yet. Sort the money first. Once the divorce is underway, it's harder to go back and re-negotiate.

Have you both disclosed your finances fully and honestly?

• Yes. We have a complete list of everything we own, owe, and earn
• Mostly. We both know the big picture, but there might be smaller things we haven't mentioned
• No. I'm not sure my spouse has told me everything
• I haven't disclosed fully myself
• [Write down what you're unsure about]

If you're unsure: This is where a McKenzie Friend helps. They can guide what disclosure actually means and what you need to ask for.

During the Reflection Period (20 Weeks):

This is when you organise the finances and work out the fair split.

What do you own together or separately? List it:

• Property: [address, mortgage balance, estimated value]
• Savings: [joint accounts, your accounts, their accounts]
• Pensions: [type, value if known, provider]
• Business or self-employment: [describe]
• Debts: [mortgages, credit cards, loans, their amounts]
• Other assets: [car, investments, inheritance, trusts]
• Income: [yours, theirs, how often paid]

If you've left blanks: That's a gap. A McKenzie Friend helps you find the answers and value things you're not sure about.

Can you work out a fair split without help?

• Yes. I understand what we have, and I know what's fair
• I think so, but I'm not confident
• No. I'm not sure what's fair, or my ex and I disagree
• [Describe what you think is fair and why]

Unsure or disagreeing? This is where to get advice before you're locked into an agreement.

Before You Apply for the Conditional Order:

Do you have an agreed financial settlement in writing?

• Yes. We've written down what we're each getting
• No. We've agreed verbally, but haven't written it down
• Not really. We haven't actually agreed
• [Describe what you've agreed]

Without it in writing and formally approved by the court (via a consent order), it isn't enforceable. If your ex changes their mind, you have very limited options.

Have you both understood what you're agreeing to?

• Yes. We've both read it, understood it, and we're comfortable
• I understand it, but I'm not sure my ex does
• I'm not entirely sure I understand all of it
• [Write down what you're unsure about]

If either of you is unsure: Get a consent order reviewed by someone who knows what they're looking for. A small mistake in wording can cause problems later.

After the Final Order (Too Late to Easily Change):

Once the divorce is complete, your financial claims don't automatically close. But renegotiating becomes a formal court process. It's much harder and more expensive.

Have you sorted your finances by the final order?

• Yes. Consent order is approved and in place
• No. We're still negotiating
• We agreed verbally but haven't formalised it

If no or verbally only: Every week you wait makes it harder. Push to formalise before the divorce is final.

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What You Actually Need: A Practical Framework

Count how many of these you answered "no" or "unsure" to:

1. Are the finances straightforward and fully disclosed?
2. Do you and your ex genuinely agree?
3. Are you confident you've identified all assets?
4. Would you feel confident signing a consent order without a second opinion?
5. Is your ex cooperative and honest?

Answered "no" or "unsure" to:

• 0-1: You can probably handle this alone. A single consultation (£150-£300) is still good insurance.
• 2-3: Get a McKenzie Friend for a financial review and consent order check. Budget £700-£1,500.
• 4-5: You need more support. Either a solicitor for the negotiation phase, or a McKenzie Friend working closely with you throughout. Budget £1,000-£3,000.

If you've ticked "I'm not sure I even know where to start," that's a signal to get an initial consultation before you do anything else.

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What "Getting Help" Actually Means

"Getting help" doesn't mean handing everything to a solicitor. It means:

• Understanding your financial position
• Getting advice on what's fair
• Getting a second opinion on any agreement before you sign
• Having someone beside you who knows what to push back on
• Making the final decision yourself, with eyes open

The middle ground is where most people should be.

Either extreme goes wrong:

• Handling it entirely alone without knowing what you don't know
• Handing everything to a solicitor and not engaging with the numbers

The safest path: do the work yourself, but get a consultation or a review at the key decision points.

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Finding the Right Support

If your answers to the questions above show you need help, a McKenzie Friend is the middle ground between going it alone and hiring a solicitor.

A McKenzie Friend:

• Helps you understand the process
• Reviews your finances and spots what you might miss
• Explains the risks in any agreement before you sign
• Prepares court documents
• Can accompany you to court if you need it
• Costs a fraction of a solicitor

Bridge The Gap helps you find a McKenzie Friend in your area.

You can search by location, specialism, and what you need help with. All McKenzie Friends listed are independent and operate under the same law and ethical guidelines.

A free initial consultation is standard. Use it to:

• Describe your situation
• Ask exactly what support costs
• Find out whether they think you need ongoing help or a one-off review
• Decide if you're comfortable working with them

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One Last Thing

Yes, you can get divorced without a solicitor. The divorce process is designed for it.

But financial settlements are where people get unstuck. Getting help at the right moment costs far less than handling a bad settlement for the next ten years.

If you're unsure where you sit, a free or low-cost initial consultation clarifies exactly what you need.

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Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Court processes, fees, and law can change. Always check the latest guidance on GOV.UK and consult with a qualified legal professional about your specific circumstances.