Family Law Fees

The costs of obtaining your divorce/dissolution if it remains undefended and all parties co-operate are part of our fixed fee scheme as follows:

If you are the Petitioner –

Fixed fee Petitioner 1 – £750 plus vat –

• Taking your instructions with regards to your divorce/dissolution
• Advising you of the procedure involved
• Preparing the necessary paperwork and submission to court
• Completing the matter by obtaining a Decree Absolute/Dissolution Certificate

Fixed Fee Petitioner 2 – £950 plus vat –

• Taking your instructions with regards to your divorce/dissolution
• Advising you of the procedure involved
• Preparing the necessary paperwork and submission to court
• Completing the matter by obtaining a Decree Absolute/Dissolution Certificate
• Taking your instructions with regards to any finances or children
• Advising you of your options for settling financial matters
• Advising you of the arrangements that can be made for the children
• Advising you of any preliminary protective steps that need to be taken

Fixed fee Respondent – £500 plus vat –

• Taking your instructions with regards to your divorce/dissolution
• Advising you of the steps you need to take when you receive a divorce petition
• Advising you of any costs implications

These fees are exclusive of disbursements i.e. payments that can be made on your behalf. Your disbursements are likely to include court fees, fees to obtain a certified copy of your marriage/civil partnership certificate or fees for someone to assist in serving documents upon your spouse/former partner.

Should you decide to consider defending proceedings, please note that the costs of a defended divorce/dissolution can be significantly higher and will be discussed if it appears relevant at any stage.

These are separated into 2 categories –

Fixed Fee Financial Matter – £750 plus vat –

• If you are able to discuss matters directly with your spouse/former partner or via a mediator and reach an agreement which you require to be converted into a Consent Order, then your costs will form part of our fixed fee. You will not receive any advice on the merit of the Agreement and the terms that you have agreed. You are responsible for any disbursements incurred in addition to the fixed fee and this is likely to be limited to the court fee for filing the consent order at court.

£200 per hour plus vat –

• If you require our assistance in providing your financial disclosure and assessing any financial disclosure provided by your spouse/former partner and thereafter in negotiating a settlement and incorporating the same into a Consent Order to be filed at court, then your costs will be charged at our hourly rate. Each letter/email sent is charged at 20% of the hourly rate and each letter/email received charged at 10% of the hourly rate. Your disbursements are likely to be the court fee for filing the Consent Order at court plus any additional fees incurred in obtaining expert valuations for any property, business or asset and any Land Registry or Company House search fees. If we agree it is necessary to obtain a barrister’s opinion then it may also include their fees. If we are unable to reach a settlement by negotiation and it is necessary to issue an application to court then your costs are likely to be significantly higher.

The above are estimates and, as matters progress, we will review costs and estimates accordingly. It is in both parties’ interests to ensure that the amount that they are spending on legal costs is proportionate to the value of the assets in question and this will be considered at every stage.

It is very difficult if not impossible to predict how these matters will progress and much depends on the nature and circumstances of each family and the breakdown of the same. There is no fixed fee for this service and all work is charged at our usual hourly rate of £200 plus vat. Each letter/email sent is charged at 20% of the hourly rate and each letter/email received charged at 10% of the hourly rate. All disbursements incurred are charged in addition to the hourly rate.

Fixed Fee Nuptial Agreements 1 – £1000 plus vat

• Taking your instructions and advising you of the implications of entering into an Agreement
• Preparing the Agreement for you
• Liaising with your partner and making any necessary amendments
• Finalising the Agreement

Fixed Fee Nuptial Agreements 2 – £750 plus vat

• Reviewing an Agreement already prepared
• Advising you of the terms contained therein
• Advising you of the implications of entering into an Agreement