A consent order is a legally binding court order that sets out how a divorcing couple's finances are divided — including property, savings, pensions and ongoing maintenance. It is approved by a court and is legally enforceable.
Without a consent order, either party can make a financial claim against the other at any point in the future — even after remarriage or years later. A financial settlement agreed informally without a court order is not legally binding. Many people discover this years after divorce when a new financial dispute arises.
A consent order is prepared by solicitors once a financial agreement is reached, then submitted to the court for a judge to approve. The court does not investigate the fairness of the terms in detail — it checks broadly that neither party is being significantly disadvantaged. Costs are typically £1,000–3,000 for straightforward cases using a solicitor.