Your Options And What They Cost
McKenzie Friend (affordable, with expert guidance)
Typical cost: Far less than a solicitor, on fixed fees so you know the price up front, no hourly billing and no surprises. See Our Prices. A McKenzie Friend lets you keep control of your case and your costs while having an experienced professional guiding you at every step: assisting you in preparing your application, position statements and witness statements, providing information when involved with Cafcass and for questions in the hearing, and sitting beside you in court providing assistance and taking notes. For most people this is the smart middle ground, the affordability of representing yourself without the very real risks of doing it alone and unguided. Learn about our McKenzie Friend service, or read our C100 form guide.
Solicitors
Typical cost: around £150 to £400 per hour, which adds up quickly on a contested case. Solicitors provide full legal services, from advice and paperwork to negotiation and court representation. Comprehensive, but the most expensive route, and costs can escalate fast in a contested dispute. Perhaps best reserved for genuinely complex cases.
Barristers
Typical cost: around £200 to £500 per hour, or a fixed "brief fee" for a court appearance. Barristers are specialist advocates, usually instructed by a solicitor, though some accept clients directly through public access. Likely best for contested hearings, appeals or complex legal arguments.
Representing yourself with no support (proceed with caution)
Typical cost: just the court fee, but the lowest price carries the highest risk. You are entitled to represent yourself, and for a genuinely simple, agreed matter it can be fine. But family proceedings catch people out: missed steps, a weak position statement, mishandled questions from Cafcass or in cross-examination, and decisions about your children that are hard to undo. People regularly get into serious difficulty going it alone without guidance. If cost is the reason you are considering it, a fixed-fee McKenzie Friend gives you that guidance for far less than a solicitor, which is almost always the safer choice.
Choosing a McKenzie Friend: what to look for
The McKenzie Friend role is unregulated. Anyone can use the title, with no requirement for experience, training or a track record, so quality varies enormously, and in a case about your children the wrong choice is an expensive mistake. Some McKenzie Friends are well meaning but inexperienced; some arrive with a personal grievance and an agenda of their own; many have no reviews or results to show for their work.
Before you instruct anyone, look for:
- Real, long-standing experience in the family courts, not just a few cases of their own.
- Genuine, verifiable reviews and recognised results.
- A calm, child-focused approach, not a personal crusade.
- Clear fixed fees you can see up front.
Family Law Decisions has supported people through the family courts for over 18 years with independent reviews, award-recognised work, and a consistently child-focused approach. We are here to assist you get the best outcome for you and your children in the circumstances. See our reviews and prices.
Get a fixed-fee quote, contact us or WhatsApp or call on 0800 140 4648
Court Fees
If you are on a low income or certain benefits you may pay a reduced fee or nothing at all through the Help with Fees scheme: gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees.
Legal Aid
Legal aid. Since 2013, legal aid for private family disputes (about children or finances) is only available where there is evidence of domestic abuse or a risk of harm to a child, and it is means tested. Check your eligibility at gov.uk/check-legal-aid.
FAQ
Q: How much does it cost to go to family court?
A: The first costs are typically mediation or the court application fee, although solicitor fees if used prior to court action can quickly mount up. Application Court Fee is £263 for a child arrangements, prohibited steps or specific issue order, £313 for a financial order on divorce, and no fee for a non-molestation or occupation order. Beyond that, costs depend on whether you use a solicitor, barrister, or the assistance of a McKenzie Friend, or represent yourself. Government help with Court Fees can reduce or remove the fee totally if you are on a low income.
Q: How much does a McKenzie Friend cost?
A: A McKenzie Friend costs far less than a solicitor. We charge fixed fees so you know the price in advance, with no hourly billing. See our prices for current figures.
Q: Is legal aid available for family court?
A: Since 2013, legal aid for private family disputes is only available where there is evidence of domestic abuse or risk of harm to a child, and it is means tested.
Q: Can I represent myself in family court?
A: You can, but family proceedings catch people out, and going it alone without guidance is where many get into difficulty. The safer affordable option is to represent yourself with a fixed-fee McKenzie Friend guiding you on the paperwork and at hearings, for far less than a solicitor.
Q: What is the court fee for a child arrangements order?
A: £263 (the C100 application fee), or less, or nothing, if you qualify for Help with Fees.
Q: Are McKenzie Friends regulated, and how do I choose a good one?
A: No, the McKenzie Friend role is unregulated, so anyone can use the title regardless of experience. Choose one with long-standing family court experience, genuine verifiable reviews, a child-focused rather than adversarial approach, and clear fixed fees.
