Proposal to increase divorce fee dropped

Proposal to increase divorce fee dropped

Posted by on Feb 6, 2015 in News

The government has scrapped its proposal to raise the amount payable to file a divorce petition from £410 to £750 following a consultation.

The proposal was highly criticised by respondents to the consultation. Some of the main criticisms included:

  • The consultation included no justification as to why the fee should be increased;
  • It is wrong to seek to obtain more profit from the breakdown of a relationship;
  • Such a high fee would discourage people from seeking a divorce, which may leave them trapped in an unhappy or abusive relationship;
  • Many would find themselves unable to pay the fee; and
  • As more women file divorce petitions than men, it would be discriminatory.

If you wish to receive advice about filing for a divorce, please contact us and we will be glad to talk you through the process.

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