The Ministry of Justice will implement increases to various court and tribunal fees in the UK, including those pertaining to family proceedings. This adjustment aims to align fees with inflation, with the change effective from 1 April 2025.
The majority will see a 3.2% increase
The fee adjustments encompass 171 specific charges, with the majority experiencing a 3.2% increase. This reflects the Consumer Price Index change from March 2023 to March 2024. A select number of fees will see a 13.5% rise to account for backdated inflation to March 2022. These increments are rounded to the nearest pound and are intended to cover the escalating costs associated with maintaining HM Courts & Tribunals Service, thereby reducing the financial burden on taxpayers.
What are the fee changes in family law?
The fee to apply for a divorce will increase from £593 to £612. Applications for orders determining child residency or contact will see a fee rise from £255 to £263. The cost to apply for financial settlements will go up from £303 to £313. For agreed orders requiring court approval, the fee will increase from £58 to £60.
Is there any support for low-income applicants?
To ensure access to justice, the Help with Fees scheme remains available for those with limited finances. Eligible applicants can receive partial or full remission of court fees. Finding the right family law solicitors London is essential when dealing with sensitive legal matters such as divorce, child custody, financial settlements, and prenuptial agreements.
With extensive knowledge of UK family law, experienced solicitors such as bridgelawsolicitors.co.uk/divorce-and-family-law-solicitors/london can provide expert guidance, ensuring fair outcomes while minimising stress.
Boosting children’s voices could help to relieve the backlogs in family court, according to a study late last year
What about applications submitted after this date?
These revised fees will apply to all applications received by courts on or after 1 April 2025. Applications submitted before this date will be subject to the current fee structure. The adjustments to fees, including those in family proceedings, are designed to reflect inflationary trends.
