Increase in Family Court Fees

As of 13th July 2026, family court application fees have increased. Many of these changes are modest, however, practitioners and litigants in person must be aware of these for divorce, financial remedy, and Children Act proceedings.

The ministry of Justice has confirmed that these changes form part of the courts annual review of court and tribunal fees. 170 fees have increased by 2.6%, reflecting inflation. Some fees have increased in larger amounts to account for accumulated inflation where previously, these fees had not increased in line with inflation. Four fees have been reduced where the cost of providing the service has fallen. The Government has stated that the additional income from the increase of fees will assist in funding HMCTS whilst continuing to support access to justice through the Help with Fees scheme.

Fee changes affecting Family Proceedings

The updated fees are contained within the revised EX50A which came into force on 13th July 2026.

The fee increases are part of the Government's continuing policy of updating court fees to reflect inflation and contribute towards the cost of operating HMCTS. Whilst the individual increases are unlikely to alter litigation, they reinforce the importance of advising clients on the estimated cost of proceedings. For family lawyers, ensuring case management systems accurately reflect the new fee structure will help avoid unnecessary administrative difficulties and delays.