Family court fees 2026: the full EX50 list
Court fees in family cases are set by the civil and family fees order and published on the GOV.UK "EX50" table. Below are the fees that matter to parents and separating couples, re-checked against GOV.UK on 5 October 2026. Fees change - always confirm on the live GOV.UK page before you pay.
Starting and running a case
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce / nullity / civil partnership dissolution | £628 |
| Judicial separation | £426 |
| Child arrangements, prohibited steps, specific issue (Children Act 1989) | £270 |
| Enforcement order under the Children Act 1989 (or compensation) | £270 |
| Revoking/amending/enforcing after a breach of an enforcement order | £119 |
| Financial order (other than by consent) | £321 |
| Financial order by consent | £62 |
| Any family application where no other fee is specified | £286 |
| Non-molestation order | No fee |
| Occupation order | No fee |
| Domestic Abuse Protection Order | No fee |
| Forced marriage / FGM protection order proceedings | No fee |
Appeals and other steps
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Appeal from a district judge / magistrates to a circuit judge | £146 |
| Appeal on any Children Act 1989 matter (except breach/enforcement appeals) | £251 |
| Application on notice (where no other fee specified) | £195 |
| Application by consent / without notice (no other fee specified) | £62 |
| Copies of documents (up to 10 pages) | £14 |
Enforcement of money orders
| Method | Fee |
|---|---|
| Attachment of earnings order | £39 |
| Charging order | £44 |
| Judgment summons | £85 |
| Third-party debt / garnishee order or receiver | £90 |
| Warrant of control | £117 |
| Order for information about the debtor (oral examination) | £63 |
Paying less: Help with Fees
You may pay nothing under Help with Fees (form EX160) if you receive certain benefits or pass the income test, and your savings are within limits: less than £4,250 in savings for fees of £1,420 or less, and a higher limit for larger fees, up to £16,000 (see the gov.uk EX160A guidance and our EX160 guide). Note the protection-order rows above are already free - HWF applies to the paid applications like the £270 C100 or £628 divorce. Our C100 guide walks the HWF route step by step.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to take someone to family court?
- For a child arrangements order the issue fee is £270. If you later need an enforcement order it is another £270, and action after a breach of that order is £119. Protection orders (non-molestation, occupation) are free.
- How much is a divorce in 2026?
- £628 to file the application, plus any financial-order fee (£321, or £62 by consent) if you need one.
- Do I pay the other side's costs if I lose?
- Family cases are generally costs-neutral - each side bears its own costs in Children Act and most matrimonial proceedings, save for exceptional conduct. Enforcement of money judgments has its own small fees (table above).
Source (checked 5 Oct 2026): GOV.UK EX50 - Fees in the civil and family courts (main fees), family court fees pages; GOV.UK - Get help with court fees (EX160 savings limits). Fees orders referenced as published. General information, not legal advice.