Relationship Breakdown

We are able to advise on most aspects of family law (as it applies in England and Wales). In particular, we can assist you in relation to:

Divorce (see below)

Civil Partnership Dissolution (see below)

Relationship Breakdown for Cohabiting Couples

Claims under the Inheritance Act

This is where adequate provision has not been made under a will for family and dependents.

Financial Settlements

Adoption

Domestic Violence

Private Children Matters

Such as questions relating to to the residence of children following the separation of their parents or the amount of contact they will have with each of them.

Our fees

Undefended Divorce/Civil Partnership Dissolution

We charge £735.00 plus vat of £147.00 (total £882.00) to advise and assist you and to prepare the papers for an undefended divorce or civil partnership dissolution (in most cases). In addition to this a court fee of £612.00 has to be paid to start the proceedings unless you are entitled to a reduction because you are on a low income.

This estimate is based on an estimate of the amount of time which is likely to be spent on the matter, charged at our hourly rate of £245.00 plus vat of £49.00.00 (total £294.00).

Key Stages and what this fee includes:

This is a professional service and your matter will be conducted at all times by a qualified, experienced solicitor. Our fee includes the following:

Attending you by a Microsoft Teams meeting to take instructions
Confirming your instructions in writing including advice on the timescales/joint applications/costs
Informing the other party of your intention to apply for a divorce.
Submitting the application via the online portal
Advising you following receipt of the other parties’ response
Waiting for the requisite period of time until the next step can be taken
Applying to the court to ask for the papers to be considered by the judge
Hearing from the court with the date for the conditional order (formerly called the ‘decree nisi’) and informing you
Placing the matter on hold, pending finalisation of financial proceedings/expiry of the statutory waiting period
Applying for the Final Order (formerly called the ‘decree absolute’)
Sending a copy of the Final Order to you

What is not included in this fee:

Steps to prove that the other party has been notified of the divorce if they do not respond
Protracted correspondence with the other party (We will give you revised estimate if that arises, depending on the steps likely to be required).
Acting for you were the other party lives outside the jurisdiction of England and Wales
Representing you at a court hearing for any application relating to the divorce
Advice and other work relating to the financial aspects of the divorce
Advice and other work relating children
Advice and other work relating to domestic violence

Other fees and disbursements which might be required

Our fee to prepare the papers and assist you to apply for deemed or substituted service of the divorce papers if the other party does not acknowledge receipt £245.00 + vat of £49.00 (total £294.00 + Court fee to apply for deemed/substituted service.

Our fee to prepare the papers, and arrange for a process server to serve any papers £122.50 + vat of £24.50 (total £147.00) if we need to have the papers handed to the other party + Fee payable to the process server if the papers have to be handed to the other party personally (estimated £300.00 – £500.00 including vat

Other Matters

The above divorce/dissolution fee does not include advice and assistance with regards to a financial settlement, or issues relating to children, though we would pleased to assist you in relation to either or both of those matters in the usual way. With those types of matter, however, we are not able to give you a fixed fee as the cost would depend on the work involved. This can vary widely depending on what issues need to be addressed.

We offer an initial fixed fee consultation (£294.00 including VAT) where we would be happy to discuss your case and provide you with an idea of any likely costs. We can communicate, by telephone and email or by post as you wish. Please telephone or email us if you would like further advice about the services which we can provide and our best estimate of the likely costs