You've agreed the money — now make it binding
For couples who've already settled the finances between themselves: what's left to do, and roughly when.
If you and your ex-partner have already agreed how to divide everything — the house, the savings, pensions — the hard conversation is over.
What's left isn't negotiation, it's recording: turning what you've agreed into something the court will formally approve, so it can't be reopened or challenged later. Here's how that fits alongside the divorce itself.
Stage by stage
Haven't applied for divorce yet? That's fine — start at Day 0 below. Already further along — applied, or with a Conditional Order already granted? Skip ahead to wherever you actually are; you don't need to work through every earlier stage. Court fees below are correct as of August 2026 and change periodically — always check the current amount on GOV.UK before paying.
Apply for divorce
Either one of you (sole application) or both together (joint application), online via GOV.UK. Court fee currently £628. This starts the clock on the mandatory 20-week reflection period.
Acknowledgement of service (sole applications)
If one of you applied alone, the other must confirm they've received the application. This step doesn't apply to joint applications.
Know the paperwork: Form A, D81, and the draft order
Form A is still required, even though you've agreed everything — it's the application that opens your financial claim with the court. On the form, under 'Type of application', you tick 'yes' to confirm you're applying for an order by consent and attach your draft order and D81 to it — that's what tells the court no hearing is needed; it's a procedural step, not a sign of a contested case. Form D81 is a short statement of information filed alongside it. The draft consent order itself is the document that sets out exactly what you've agreed, in the wording the court expects — and it's the one that needs a professional's hand, since it must include specific legal wording (a clean break clause, correctly drafted pension sharing provisions, 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 meant it to.
Get your agreement checked and drafted
You've already agreed the figures — this stage is about making sure nothing's been missed (pensions especially) before it's locked in, then having the agreement properly drafted as a consent order. This can be ready to go well before the 20 weeks are up, so it's waiting when you need it.
Apply for the Conditional Order
This confirms the court sees no reason you can't divorce. It doesn't end the marriage — you're still legally married at this point. Typically takes a further 4–6 weeks for the court to process and pronounce.
Submit your consent order
This is where the drafted order, D81 statement of information, and Form A (ticked 'yes' for a consent application) you prepared earlier actually get filed together. Court fee £62 — correct as of August 2026, always check the current fee on GOV.UK before filing. A judge reviews it on paper — no hearing needed if both sides agree and disclosure is in order. This is the step that makes your agreement legally binding and closes off future claims.
Apply for the Final Order
This is the earliest point the Final Order can be made. Once granted — usually within 24–48 hours of applying — the marriage is legally over. Minimum total time from application to this point: 26 weeks and 1 day.
Final Order granted
The divorce is complete. If a consent order was sealed beforehand, the finances are settled and closed off too — the cleanest possible ending.
Why the order matters
It's worth resolving finances before applying for the Final Order, not after. If you remarry before your financial claims are dealt with, you can lose the right to apply for certain orders against your ex-spouse — sometimes called the "remarriage trap." Getting the consent order sealed before or around the same time as the Final Order avoids it.
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.
None of this is to say anything's wrong with what you've agreed. It's simply worth a final check before converting it into something binding — that's the whole point of doing it now rather than skipping straight to the paperwork.
You're unlikely to need everything below
Most people only need one or two of these, depending on how straightforward things are. Included so you have them to hand if you do.
Finding a McKenzie Friend
Bridge The Gap — A directory of McKenzie Friends supporting litigants in person, bridging the gap between legal procedure and public understanding.
Pension help
PODE.expert — Independent pension-on-divorce guidance, for when pensions need proper valuing rather than guessing.
Support and mortgage options
Help Network — Support for people going through separation and divorce, including mortgage capacity reports and options for buying alone afterwards.
Opening your financial claim (Form A)
Form A — Required even when you've agreed everything — you tick 'yes' under 'Type of application' to confirm it's by consent, and attach your draft order and D81 to it.
Recording an agreed settlement
Form D81 — The statement of information filed alongside a draft consent order once you've agreed terms.
Struggling with court fees
Get help paying court and tribunal fees (GOV.UK) — Fee remission if you're on a low income or certain benefits.
Mediation
Alliance Family Mediation — An option worth considering before or instead of a court application, where both sides are willing.
Solicitor support
Family First Solicitors — fees — For a sense of typical solicitor pricing, if you'd like advice or drafting help alongside your own.
The paperwork, explained
What's the difference between Form D81 and Form E?
They're for completely different situations. Form E is the full financial disclosure document — each party completes one independently, setting out all assets, income, pensions and debts with supporting documents like bank statements and valuations attached. It's used wherever structured disclosure is needed: for solicitor negotiations, sometimes for mediation, and definitely for court. Form D81 is a short four-page statement of information used only where you've already agreed the finances and are asking the court to approve a consent order — it gives the judge a snapshot of each person's capital, income, pensions and housing so they can check the agreed settlement is fair, but no supporting documents are required.
More help with the paperwork
For step-by-step guidance on consent orders and help with family court forms, visit our companion site Family Court Bridge.