Separation and divorce when you have no money — fee waivers, legal aid and free help

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29

You can go through the family court without money

Many people assume family court is only for those who can afford it. It isn't. Multiple schemes exist to help people with no money access the family justice system.

1. Court fee waivers (EX160)

If you're on a low income or receive qualifying benefits:

C100 (child arrangements): £232 → potentially free
Divorce: £593 → potentially free
Financial remedy: £321 → potentially free
FL401 (protective orders): already free
Consent orders: £62 → potentially free

Apply using EX160: https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees

You qualify if:

You receive Universal Credit (with earned income below a threshold)
You receive Income-based JSA, ESA, Income Support, or Pension Credit
Your monthly income is below the threshold for your household size
Your savings are below £3,000 (or £16,000 on UC)

2. Legal aid

Available for:

Care proceedings (automatic for parents)
Domestic abuse protective orders (FL401) via the abuse evidence gateway
Private law children cases via the abuse evidence gateway
Family mediation (means-tested)
Check: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid

3. Free advice services

| Service | Contact | What they do | |---------|---------|-------------| | Citizens Advice | 0800 144 8848 | General advice, form-filling help | | Rights of Women | 020 7251 6577 | Free legal advice for women (family law) | | Support Through Court | 0300 081 0006 | In-court practical support, form help | | National DA Helpline | 0808 2000 247 | DA support and safety planning | | Men's Advice Line | 0808 801 0327 | Support for male victims | | LawWorks clinics | lawworks.org.uk | Free legal advice clinics | | Advocate | weareadvocate.org.uk | Pro bono barristers |

4. Low-cost options

Unbundled services: buy just the advice you need (see our unbundled guide)
Fixed-fee appointments: many solicitors offer a fixed-price first meeting
McKenzie friends: some are free, some charge modest daily rates
Mediation with the £500 voucher: reduces mediation costs for child cases

The honest picture

Going through family court without money is hard — the system is designed to be navigated with legal help. But it is possible: thousands of people do it every year, supported by free services, fee waivers, and determination. This site exists to help you do exactly that.

Official links

Help with fees: https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees
Legal aid: https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid
Find free advice: https://www.gov.uk/find-legal-adviser

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS or gov.uk.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.