From Monday 21st March, the cost of getting a divorce in the UK will rise by 34%, as the Ministry of Justice raises its fees.
As The Guardian reports, the increase has sparked anger among family lawyers, who argue the new amount is far higher than the cost of the legal procedure.
The increase is from £410 to £550, and is to boost funding for the justice system which may face cuts following the latest budget.
Divorce lawyer and chair of family law organization Resolution, Jo Edwards said:
“Divorce is … a necessary part of the legal process to bring a relationship to an end. Whether people mediate, negotiate their own outcome or go to court, they have to pay the divorce petition fee. The actual cost of the administrative process has been shown to be £270, meaning that at new rates the MoJ is making a profit of more than 100% – in effect, levying a divorce tax.
“The 34% increase may lead to people unable to afford the fee remaining legally and financially tied to their former partner long after the relationship has ended.
Read the full story here.
See also:
The Divorce Code of Thailand
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