Personal

Fixed Fee Divorce and Family Law Solicitors

Our divorce solicitors offer fixed fee divorce services depending on the simplicity of your separation.

SOLVING PERSONAL LEGAL MATTERS

We have carefully thought out and devised a range of fixed price services, including fixed fee divorce and children matters, which are designed to provide a cost effective solution to your situation. We are mindful of the need to keep costs to a minimum, and reduce the emotional and financial strain parties feel on separation. Our fixed fee services are detailed below.

General
Half an hour consultation advice	£150 + VAT*
Half an hour consultation advice and advice confirmation letter	£175 + VAT*
One hour consultation advice	£250 + VAT*
One hour consultation advice and advice confirmation letter	£275 + VAT*
Divorce	Fixed Fee
Level One - Applicant First half hour appointment with Solicitor. Whole Divorce, to include completion of Forms, issuing application and obtaining Conditional Order and ultimately Fianl Order. Only with full co-operation of spouse. (Does not include finances or children advice and unforeseen costs such as translation of marriage certificate, tracing of spouse, service of papers on spouse).	£650 + VAT* + Court Fees
Level Two First half hour appointment with specialist Solicitor who will assist you in completing the acknowledgment of service and will provide information in relation to the divorce generally. (Does not include any children or finances advice).	£175 + VAT*
Financial Matters in Divorce
Level One First half hour appointment with Solicitor. Drafting a Consent Order - no assets. We will not be involved in any negotiations or giving any advice about the agreement reached, as to whether it is fair or appropriate. We will draft the documentation in accordance with your instructions and provide this with information to enable you to proceed and lodge this at Court.Will include assisting to complete Statement of Information form.	£600 + VAT*
Level Two First half hour appointment with Solicitor. Drafting a Consent Order following agreement reached via Mediation or otherwise. Assisting with completion of statement of information. We will not be involved in any negotiations or giving any advice about the agreement reached as to whether it is fair or appropriate. We will draft the documentation in accordance with your instructions and provide this to you with information to enable you to proceed and lodge this at Court.	£800 + VAT*

Other Work
Change of Name Deed	£150+ VAT*
Parental Responsibility Agreement	£200 + VAT*
Preparation of Statutory Declaration or Officially required letter	£150+ VAT*

Fixed Fee Terms

The work stipulated in the different levels does NOT include the following:

Disbursements. These are any fees you have to pay out to any third parties, including, but not exhaustive - translation of documents, process server fees, Oath fees, Expert fees, valuation fees, or tracing fees etc.
*If required we will charge a fee of up to £15.00 plus VAT for each check to verify your identity.
Time spent in examination of documentation (prior to any court appointment, for example) (if level 5 Court appointment, this will only cover the original court application C100, and the Court Order). This does not cover perusal of documentation and an additional charge may have to be agreed with the fee earner.
Drafting documentation unless expressly stated in the relevant level.
Lodging documentation either at Court or with other Solicitors unless expressly stated in the relevant level.
Correspondence/telephone calls/emails either between the fee earner and yourself, or the fee earner and third parties.
Receipt of documentation/correspondence on your behalf.

If any examination or perusal, correspondence, drafting, advice, representation or advocacy is requested other than that provided for in the fixed fee levels, then this will fall under our Tailored Service and will be subject to a separate invoice.

Please note that all fees are payable in advance of the work being undertaken.

In the event of inconsistencies between the Fixed Fee Additional Terms as set out above, the Engagement Letter and the Forbes Solicitors Terms and Conditions of Business then the documents shall take precedence in the following order:

Fixed Fee Additional Terms
Engagement Letter
Forbes Solicitors Terms and Conditions of Business

Additional Information

Financing Divorce Proceedings

Depending on the complexity of your divorce or civil partnership dissolution case, it can be an expensive process, particularly if relations between partners has broken down to an extent where neither party can agree on a settlement and fair division of assets. Financing a divorce can, therefore be an issue for many people and the idea of spiralling legal costs can put some off the idea, keeping them trapped in unhappy situations.

At Forbes Solicitors, we want to demystify the costs surrounding divorce and civil partnership dissolution to help make an already difficult process less stressful and confusing.

Court Fees for Divorce Proceedings

Court fees, which the Petitioner - the person filing for divorce - pays are fixed in England and Wales. These amount to:

Court fee for filing your divorce or dissolution - £410.
Court fee for filing for a judicial separation if you do not want to formerly end your marriage or civil partnership for personal or religious reasons - £365.
Application for a consent order recording your agreed financial arrangements and making them legally binding - £50.
Application for a financial order asking the courts to decide how to divide your finances and other assets when you have been unable to reach an agreement - £255.

Different fees apply in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

If you are claiming certain benefits or if your income and savings are below a particular amount you may be eligible for help paying your court fees. Detailed information about this is available on the Ministry of Justice website.