Fixed Rate Ordinary Divorce in Scotland - £1,500 All Inclusive
Scotland's most transparent divorce service for families with children - No hidden fees, no hourly billing, just one fixed price
Our Fixed Solicitor Fees
Our fee: £932.90 + VAT
Plus court fees £265
Plus Sheriff Officer fees £115.52
How Long Will It Take?
3-4 months typically
If the case runs smoothly, the divorce decree should be obtained within 3 to 4 months
Time depends on various factors and court availability
Key Difference
For families with children under 16
Unlike simplified divorce, this process is designed for couples who have children under 16
The court requires confirmation about children's welfare arrangements
What Is an Ordinary Divorce in Scotland?
An ordinary divorce is the process used when you have children under 16 from your marriage. While it follows a similar path to simplified divorce, there are important additional requirements to ensure the welfare of your children is properly considered by the court.
The Key Difference from Simplified Divorce:
The main difference between this type of divorce and the Fixed Fee Simplified Divorce is that:
- Simplified Divorce: Cannot be used if there are any children under 16
- Ordinary Divorce: Specifically designed for couples with children under 16
Even if every detail has been agreed regarding the children, the court still requires confirmation in relation to the children's welfare. As a result, the procedure is longer and costs more.
The ordinary divorce process ensures that proper arrangements are in place for your children, including where they'll live, contact with both parents, and financial support. This additional oversight by the court is designed to protect children's interests during the divorce process.
Why Choose Divorce Scotland Over Other Firms?
❌ What Others Do:
- ❌ Charge by the hour (£200-400/hour)
- ❌ Surprise fees and outlays
- ❌ Lengthy 6-12 month processes
- ❌ Junior staff handling your case
- ❌ Push you toward court battles
- ❌ Hidden costs for emails and calls
✓ What We Do:
- ✓ ONE fixed price - £1,500 total
- ✓ All costs included upfront
- ✓ Fast 3-4 month completion
- ✓ Senior solicitors only
- ✓ Amicable solutions focus
- ✓ Unlimited support included
🏆 The Divorce Scotland Guarantee
If we can't complete your ordinary divorce for £1,500 total, we'll refund your fee
(Applies to standard uncontested cases)
Who Can Use the Ordinary Divorce Procedure?
To be eligible for this kind of divorce (Ordinary Divorce), you need to meet these requirements:
Essential Requirements
- You have children under 16 from the marriage
- You've been separated from your spouse for the required time period
- You must be able to show that your case falls under Scots Law
- Arrangements for the children must be addressed (even if agreed)
Separation Period Requirements
- 12 months separation: Your spouse will need to sign a consent form to agree to the divorce
- 24 months separation: No consent is necessary - you can proceed without their agreement
The separation period is counted from the date you stopped living together as a couple.
Important Note: If you don't have children under 16 and all financial matters are resolved, you may be eligible for the simpler and less expensive Simplified Divorce process instead.
Arrangements for Children
When divorcing with children under 16, the court needs to be satisfied that appropriate arrangements are in place for their care and welfare. This includes:
🏠 Living Arrangements
- Where the children will live (residence)
- How time will be split between parents
- Holiday and special occasion arrangements
- School and education decisions
💰 Financial Support
- Child maintenance payments
- Education costs
- Healthcare and additional needs
- Extracurricular activities
Even if you and your spouse have agreed on all arrangements, the court still needs to review and approve them to ensure they're in the children's best interests. This is why the ordinary divorce process takes longer than simplified divorce.
How We Handle Your Ordinary Divorce
When you choose our fixed-fee service, we take care of the entire ordinary divorce process for you:
Our Complete Service Includes:
- ✓ Professional preparation of all divorce paperwork
- ✓ Drafting arrangements for children documentation
- ✓ Liaison with your spouse's solicitor (if applicable)
- ✓ Submission to the appropriate court
- ✓ Handling all correspondence with the court
- ✓ Sheriff Officer service of papers
- ✓ Keeping you updated throughout the 3-4 month process
- ✓ Fixed fee of £932.90 + VAT (Total = £1,119.48)
- ✓ Plus court fees of £265 and Sheriff Officer fees of £115.52
- ✓ TOTAL COST: £1,500
What We Need From You to Get Started
To begin your ordinary divorce application, we'll need the following information:
📋 Basic Information
- Original marriage certificate
- Proof of identity
- Current addresses (yours and spouse's)
- Date of separation
- Details of any previous court proceedings
👶 Children's Information
- Full names and dates of birth
- Current living arrangements
- School details
- Proposed arrangements for residence and contact
- Any special needs or requirements
Don't worry about complex forms or procedures - we prepare everything for you and guide you through each step.
⚠️ Important: Financial Matters Must Be Addressed
While the ordinary divorce process handles arrangements for children, it's crucial to also address financial matters between you and your spouse. This includes:
- Division of property and assets
- Pension sharing
- Spousal maintenance (separate from child maintenance)
- Division of debts
Why this matters: Once your divorce is finalised, it becomes extremely difficult (often impossible) to make financial claims against your former spouse under Scots Law. We strongly recommend seeking legal advice about financial matters before proceeding with your divorce.
We can help you with a Separation Agreement to resolve these matters, or advise on the best approach for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The time a Fixed Fee Ordinary Divorce takes to complete depends on a number of matters and is more difficult to predict than the Fixed Fee Simplified Divorce. If the case runs smoothly, the divorce decree should be obtained within 3 or 4 months. Factors that can affect timing include:
- How quickly papers can be served on your spouse
- Whether your spouse responds promptly
- Court availability and processing times
- Complexity of children's arrangements
If you and your spouse cannot agree on arrangements for the children, the court may need to make decisions about:
- Where the children will live (residence orders)
- Contact arrangements with the non-resident parent
- Specific issues like education or medical treatment
In contested cases, the process will take longer and additional costs may apply. We can discuss options for reaching agreement, including mediation services.
Whether you need your spouse's consent depends on how long you've been separated:
- Separated for 12 months: Yes, your spouse must consent and sign the appropriate form
- Separated for 24 months: No consent needed - you can proceed without their agreement
However, even without consent to the divorce itself, your spouse will need to be involved in discussions about children's arrangements.
Our total fixed fee of £1,500 includes:
- Our professional fee: £932.90 + VAT (£1,119.48)
- Court fees: £265 (paid to the Scottish Courts)
- Sheriff Officer fees: £115.52 (for serving divorce papers)
This covers the entire standard process. Additional costs only apply in unusual circumstances, such as if multiple attempts at service are required or if matters become contested.
Yes, arrangements for children can be modified after divorce if circumstances change. However, it's best to get comprehensive arrangements in place from the start. Changes might be needed due to:
- Children's changing needs as they grow
- Changes in parents' circumstances
- Relocation of a parent
- Children's own wishes (especially as they get older)
Any significant changes should be agreed between parents or, if necessary, decided by the court.
If you don't have children under 16 but have other complications (such as complex financial matters, international elements, or disputes), you may still need to use the ordinary divorce procedure rather than simplified divorce. We can assess your situation and advise on the most appropriate route for your circumstances.
Get in Touch About Your Fixed Rate Ordinary Divorce
Please check your eligibility for Legal Aid here before contacting us because we do not offer Legal Aid
Contact Form
Fill in our contact form on this page or use the contact details to get in touch directly.
Our experienced family law team understands that divorce with children requires sensitivity and expertise. We're here to guide you through every step.
Contact Information
Phone: 0800 193 4525
Email: info@divorcescotland.scot
Main Office:
52 Main Street, Uddingston, Glasgow, G71 7LS
Our Other Locations
Glasgow South: 1 Spiersbridge Way, Thornliebank, Glasgow, G46 8NG
Glasgow Central/Westend: Woodside Business Centre, 4 Woodside Place, Charing Cross, Glasgow, G3 7QF
Edinburgh: 15 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JE
East Kilbride: Orbital House, Peel Park, East Kilbride, G74 5PR
Falkirk: 45 Vicar Street, Falkirk, FK1 1LL
Livingston: Fairways Business Park, Deans, 8 Deer Park Ave, Livingston, EH54 8AF
Stirling: Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen Pl, Stirling, FK8 2DZ
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