Consent Order Cost UK — Family Court Fees 2026

You've agreed on the children's arrangements — where they'll live, the contact schedule, how holidays are split. Now you want that agreement to be legally enforceable, not just a handshake that falls apart at the first disagreement. That's what a consent order does, and the good news is it's one of the cheapest parts of the entire family law process.

The Court Fee

Filing a consent order for child arrangements costs £62. That's the standard court fee for a consent application under the Children Act 1989 — you're asking the court to approve and formalise an agreement both parents have already reached, not resolve a dispute.

For comparison, a contested C100 application (where the court decides for you) costs £270. If you can reach agreement through negotiation or mediation and file a consent order instead, you save the £270 application fee and avoid the months of hearings that contested cases involve.

If you're on a low income, the court fee may be waived through the Help with Fees scheme (Form EX160). Qualifying benefits like Universal Credit (with annual earnings under £6,000) or Income Support grant an automatic full waiver, provided savings are below £4,250.

Solicitor Costs

The court fee is £62, but most parents also pay a solicitor to draft the consent order in the correct legal format. A family court judge reviews the proposed order against the children's welfare and can refuse it if there are unresolved concerns — so professional drafting is worth the investment.

Typical solicitor costs for a consent order:

• Fixed-fee drafting service: £300–£500 for a straightforward child arrangements consent order. The solicitor converts your agreed parenting plan into legal language, ensures it meets court requirements, and handles the filing.
• Hourly rate solicitor: £150–£400/hour, with a simple consent order typically requiring 1–3 hours of work. This route is more expensive but allows for bespoke provisions.
• Online legal platforms: Some services offer consent order preparation for £200–£400, though you should verify they use qualified family solicitors rather than template-filling services.

All in, a consent order typically costs between £362 and £562 (court fee plus solicitor) — a fraction of the £3,000–£15,000 that contested proceedings can run per party.

What the Judge Reviews

Filing a consent order isn't rubber-stamping. A district judge reviews the proposed order to satisfy themselves that the arrangements serve the children's welfare. The judge considers:

• Whether the arrangements are in the child's best interests under the welfare principle
• Whether both parents have genuinely consented (not been coerced)
• Whether the provisions are clear enough to be enforced
• Whether there are any safeguarding concerns that the agreement hasn't addressed

In the vast majority of cases, the judge approves the consent order on paper — neither parent needs to attend court. Occasionally, the judge raises queries or requests amendments, which the solicitor handles by correspondence.

If the judge has concerns about the children's welfare, they can refuse to make the order and direct Cafcass to investigate. This is rare for straightforward consent orders, but it does happen — particularly if the proposed arrangements seem to disadvantage one parent's relationship with the child without good reason.

What to Include in a Consent Order

A consent order for child arrangements should cover:

Living arrangements. State clearly which parent the child lives with, or whether it's a shared "lives with" arrangement.

Contact schedule. Be precise: "The child shall spend every alternate weekend from Friday at 5pm until Sunday at 6pm with Parent B" is enforceable. "The child shall have regular contact with Parent B" isn't.

Holiday arrangements. How Christmas, Easter, half-terms, and summer holidays are divided. Specify who has the child on Christmas Day versus Boxing Day, and whether this alternates annually.

Handover arrangements. Location, time, and any conditions (e.g., school pickup to avoid doorstep exchanges).

Communication provisions. When and how the child contacts the other parent during their time away — scheduled video calls are common.

Travel abroad. Whether each parent has automatic consent for trips up to one month (which a "lives with" parent already gets under Section 13, provided the trip does not conflict with court-ordered contact time or a contrary restriction), or whether specific restrictions apply.

Review mechanism. Many consent orders include a provision for annual review or a specific date to revisit arrangements as the children grow older.

Can You Do It Without a Solicitor?

Technically, yes. There's no legal requirement to use a solicitor for a consent order. You can draft the order yourselves, file it with the court, and pay the £62 fee.

In practice, DIY consent orders have a higher rejection rate. Judges look for precise legal language, proper welfare considerations, and enforceable provisions. "The children will split their time fairly between both parents" won't survive judicial scrutiny. You need specific days, times, and contingencies.

If budget is the primary concern, a middle approach works well: draft your parenting plan yourselves using structured templates, then pay a solicitor a fixed fee to convert it into proper legal format. You're paying for their drafting expertise, not for hours of negotiation.

What Happens If Someone Breaks the Order

A consent order is a court order. Breaching it has real consequences. If one parent stops following the agreed schedule, the other can apply to the court for enforcement. Potential outcomes include:

• A warning (for a first breach)
• Unpaid community work of up to 200 hours
• A fine
• Compensation for missed contact (make-up time)
• In serious or repeated cases, a transfer of the child's living arrangements

The enforcement application itself costs £270 — and the court takes breaches seriously, particularly if they're deliberate and unjustified.

For a complete walkthrough of drafting your parenting plan, preparing it for conversion into a consent order, and navigating the family court filing process, the England Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes templates, checklists, and worked examples.

See more England guides →