The average cost of divorce for couples in the UK has now reached £44,000, according to new research by life insurer Aviva.

Divorce now costs £21,979 per person, a 57 per cent increase since 2006 when the same survey found the cost to be around £14,000 each.

Even though the legal costs of divorce have dropped from £1,818 to £1,280 due to online divorce services, the cost of divorce has still soared due to child maintenance payments and the cost of moving house.

40 per cent of those surveyed said that they were worse off since their separation and 53 per cent of couples took longer than six months to settle their financial matters, with it taking on average 11.5 months.

29 per cent of couples tried to reach an amicable settlement so they could save on legal fees, but 10 per cent continued to live together – even though they  had effectively separated – because they couldn’t afford to move out.

Six per cent had put off divorce altogether because the costs were too great.

How Lawpack can help

Lawpack has teamed up with Divorce Online to offer a range of fixed-price online divorce services, so if you’re facing divorce, you can keep your costs at a set price. We have three types of service:

  • DIY Divorce packages: Qualified divorce experts will complete the divorce forms for you
  • Managed Divorce packages: All divorce forms will be completed and filed at court for you
  • Solicitor Managed Divorce package: Qualified solicitors will complete and file the divorce forms for you, plus all telephone calls and letters are included in the fixed price of £399.

Published on: August 24, 2014