An informal agreement isn't enough
Without a financial order sealed by the court, either of you could still make a financial claim against the other — even years later, even after you've both moved on. A sealed consent order closes those claims off permanently.
Prefer to work through this yourself first?
The Journey, Stage by Stage
Haven’t applied for divorce yet? That’s fine — start at Day 0 below. Already applied, or further along — Conditional Order already granted? Skip ahead to wherever you actually are.
Apply for Divorce
Either sole or joint application online via GOV.UK. Court fee £628 (correct as of August 2026 — check GOV.UK for the current amount). Starts the mandatory 20-week reflection period.
Acknowledgement of Service
Sole applications only — the other party confirms they've received the application. Does not apply to joint applications.
Get Your Agreement Drafted
Have the consent order professionally drafted during the reflection period — ready to file the moment it's needed.
Apply for the Conditional Order
Confirms the court sees no reason you can't divorce. Takes a further 4–6 weeks to process and pronounce. The marriage is still legally intact at this point.
Submit Form A, Your Consent Order & D81
Issue Form A (the financial application — court fee payable, correct as of August 2026, always check GOV.UK for the current amount) together with the draft consent order and D81 statement of information. A judge reviews it on paper — no hearing needed if disclosure is in order. This is the step that makes your agreement legally binding.
Apply for the Final Order
Earliest point the Final Order can be made. Once granted (usually within 24–48 hours), the marriage is legally over. Minimum total time: 26 weeks and 1 day.
Understanding the Paperwork
Form A — The Application You Still Need
Form A is the application for a financial order. Even when you've agreed everything between you, you still need to issue Form A to start the financial proceedings so the court can seal your consent order. It's filed alongside the draft order and the D81 statement of information.
Form D81 — Statement of Information
A short statement of information about each of your finances, filed alongside the agreed draft consent order so a judge can check the settlement is reasonable before approving it. The D81 isn't the application itself — that's Form A — it's the information the judge needs to assess fairness. No hearing required if everything is in order.
The Draft Consent Order
The actual document setting out exactly what you've agreed, in the precise wording the court expects. It must include a clean break clause, correctly drafted pension sharing provisions, and formal dismissal of future claims. Get the wording wrong and a judge can query it, send it back, or approve it without it actually closing off the claims you intended.
Timeline: Weeks 0–20
Get your agreement checked and properly drafted as a consent order during the mandatory 20-week reflection period — so it's ready to file as soon as the Conditional Order is pronounced.
After the Conditional Order
Submit your consent order and D81 after the Conditional Order is pronounced (court fee: £62, correct as of August 2026 — check GOV.UK for the current amount). A judge reviews it on paper — no hearing needed if both sides agree and disclosure is in order.
The Remarriage Trap
If you remarry before your financial claims are dealt with, you can lose the right to apply for certain orders against your ex-spouse. Get the consent order sealed before or around the same time as the Final Order to avoid it.
Before It's Drafted — Two Things Worth Checking
It's much easier to raise these now than after the order is sealed — once it's approved, reopening it is difficult.
Pensions
Was this factored into what you agreed? Pensions are very often the most valuable thing either of you owns — sometimes worth more than the house — and they're easy to leave out of an agreement built around cash and property, because there's no cheque changing hands to make you think of them.
Fair, Not Just Equal
If the split was equal on paper, that's not automatically the same as fair. It's worth a quick sense-check against things like age, income going forward, and what each of you will actually need — before, not after, it's locked in.
Common Questions
Bridge the Gap — Further Reading
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This page provides general legal information only and is not a substitute for legal advice. Always consult a qualified solicitor before taking action. Divorce Navigator is a McKenzie Friend service and does not provide legal advice or representation.