Decision support
One Lawyer vs DIY Divorce
Addresses: We agree on everything — do we even need a lawyer?
A DIY or online divorce is the cheapest upfront option but carries the highest long-term risk — informal financial agreements aren't legally binding without a court-approved consent order, meaning claims can be reopened years later.
Getting divorced itself — the legal ending of the marriage — can be done online without a lawyer, and for many couples that part is genuinely straightforward.
The risk sits with finances. An informal agreement about how you split money, property, or pensions has no legal force unless it’s formalised into a consent order approved by the court. Skip that step, and either of you can bring a financial claim against the other later, sometimes years down the line, even after the divorce itself is finalised.
Fixed-fee advice exists precisely for couples in this position: you don’t need full representation, just enough legal input to make your agreement actually stick.
Related: Fixed Fee Divorce Advice