The Cost of a Family Law Consent Order in Australia
What does a consent order really cost?
One of the first questions separating couples ask is what a consent order will cost. The honest answer is that it depends on how you go about it. This guide breaks down the main components of consent order cost in Australia so you can budget with confidence and understand where your money actually goes.
The court filing fee
Every application for consent orders involves a court filing fee, payable to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia when you lodge your documents. This fee is set by the court and is separate from any legal costs. Reduced fees may be available in certain circumstances, such as financial hardship or holding an eligible concession card. Because these fees are reviewed periodically, it is worth checking the current amount before you file.
Legal drafting costs
The larger variable is usually the cost of preparing the documents. Traditional family lawyers often charge by the hour, which means the final bill can be difficult to predict, especially if there is back and forth over the wording. Fixed fee services take a different approach, giving you a single agreed price for drafting your application and orders. For a straightforward agreement, this can represent a significant saving compared with open-ended hourly rates.
Why doing it cheaply can cost more
It can be tempting to save money with a DIY kit, but a poorly drafted application can be rejected by the court, leading to delays and the frustration of starting again. Orders that are unclear or do not reflect what you actually agreed can also cause disputes later, which may end up costing far more to resolve. Investing in correct drafting from the start is often the more economical choice when you weigh up the true cost of a family law consent order in Australia.
Getting clear pricing
The best way to understand your costs is to get a clear quote before you commit. The Legal Drafter offers fixed pricing for drafting consent orders, so you know exactly what you will pay with no hourly surprises. To find out the cost of formalising your agreement, request a quote and we will set out your options.
Ways to keep your costs down
There are practical steps that can keep the cost of a consent order down. The biggest is reaching a clear agreement with your former partner before any drafting begins, since unresolved disputes and repeated changes are what drive legal costs up. Being organised with your financial information also helps, as it reduces the back and forth needed to prepare your application. Choosing a fixed fee service gives you certainty about the drafting cost from the outset, rather than an open-ended hourly bill that grows as the matter drags on. Finally, getting the paperwork right the first time avoids the extra cost and delay of a rejected application. Spending a little care up front on a correctly prepared application is almost always cheaper than fixing problems later, and it gets your orders finalised sooner.