It’s becoming increasingly common to see internet advertisements promoting ‘cheap’ DIY
divorce packages, but if you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job
wait until you hire an amateur.
According to Money Helper, the average cost of a divorce in the UK is £14,561, so, the idea of saving money during the current economic climate has motivated some people to consider cheap DIY packages, but are they all they’re cracked up to be?
What is a DIY divorce?
A DIY divorce involves couples going through the stages of formally ending a marriage or
civil partnership without a solicitor, sometimes using a template discovered whilst browsing
the Internet.
Most of the DIY packages offer a simple, ‘quickie’ divorce for a payment of a few hundred pounds. They supply you with the requisite forms to complete and you do the rest.
According to The Law Society, between April and June 2022, neither party had legal
representation in 39% of cases. Whilst on paper it sounds like a good way of saving money,
there are some things that you should be aware of if this is something you are thinking
about. Remember, you need to go through the legal process to ensure that you are legally
divorced.
Benefits
Money – Obviously, the key benefit promoted by advocates of DIY divorces and dissolutions is the potential to save money. If you are completely confident that you understand how to meet the required standards, and are able to adequately assess all areas it affects this could work for you.
Time – DIY divorces have potential to make things simpler and quicker, but only if the person completing the forms has the appropriate level of knowledge and there are no added complexities. The more complications and considerations there are, the less quick and simple it is likely to be. It is unlikely to be straightforward if children and assets are
involved.
The pitfalls
● Hidden fees – It is not unusual for DIY packages to avoid mentioning additional costs
and fees you will incur, for example, court fees. Also, you should have a solicitor
draft the financial agreement to make sure it includes everything that it should and
provide adequate protections. There will of course be a charge for this.
● Delays – If forms aren’t completed in an accurate and timely manner, it can delay
proceedings significantly, and therefore will cost more in the end doing a DIY
divorce.
● Missing information – DIY divorces often overlook details such as the provisions
made if an ex-spouse dies without having made a will. After a divorce, an ex-spouse
will have no rights to any estate. Similarly, the right to a share of any pension will
also cease, hence why it is important for professionals to be involved to ensure
future provision is not overlooked.
● Disagreements – If you are handling the divorce yourselves, there is a distinct
opportunity for clashes of opinion, based on the emotions and needs of each
individual. This can impact the whole family.
On balance
There may well be aspects of the divorce application that you can complete yourself in
order to reduce your overall costs, but trying to go the whole hog alone is unlikely to reap
rewards unless you have a background in family law and are familiar with the technicalities.
Seek out some unbiased professional opinions before you decide to set off down the DIY
route and make sure you fully consider and prioritise the needs of any children from
