Costs

The first meeting will generally be on a fixed fee basis for the first hour, which will range from £125 to £250 plus Vat unless we advise otherwise (for example in circumstances where we have already had an initial phone consultation with you).  The exact fixed fee will depend on the seniority of the lawyer you meet with. Thereafter, if the meeting lasts for more than an hour, the remainder of the meeting will be charged in line with our usual hourly rates which range from £225 to £350 plus Vat.  We will advise of the fixed fee in respect of the first meeting and the lawyer's hourly rate in the pre-meeting email confirming your first meeting.

The first meeting can either take place face-to face or on Zoom/other video conferencing platforms. It is up to you as to what you prefer. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your first meeting when you call/message us to make your appointment.

Preparing for your first meeting

It’s helpful to email us a brief summary of your circumstances and your financial situation before the first meeting. This gives us some information before we meet you and enables us to focus on assisting you and assessing your case. Alternatively, you can complete an online questionnaire through software that we use called "Engage" - this can be helpful in enabling us to get more information from you both before we meet. We will provide you  with the option to complete this online questionnaire (it is entirely voluntary) when you contact us.

During the first meeting, we discuss options to resolve your case and the likely costs of our assisting you going forward.

We then provide you with a clear estimate of your likely costs. These of course depend on which option is followed.

For further information, you can read our blog 'How to make the most of your first meeting with your family lawyer'.

As your case develops, we will keep you updated on your costs position and will advise you if the initial estimate needs to be reviewed.

If we are assisting you in mediation, we will provide you with an invoice at the end of every meeting, so that you pay as you go.

If we are advising you (whether alongside mediation or in the collaborative process, the court process or otherwise), we will provide you with regular updates and will discuss at the outset how you will pay your costs (see Funding Options). We will also provide you with an invoice whenever you ask us to.

Fixed Fee options

We offer fixed fee options for certain types of work, including a fixed fee divorce package.

We also offer fixed fees if you wish us to assist you with particular aspects of your case or for drafting particular documents, for example in preparing a Pre-Nuptial Agreement or a Separation Agreement.

We also offer a pay as you go service for clients who are representing themselves, but need bespoke assistance with particular tasks.

We accept payments by card, cheque or bank transfer.

Please contact us on 01243 769001 if you wish to make a card payment or bank transfer.

Where people resolve matters out of court, whether through mediation or collaborative process, then they tend to pay their legal costs as they go.

If out-of-court settlement is not possible and a court application is necessary, where possible we also recommend that clients pay their costs on a regular basis during the course of the case.

However, there are times where this is not possible, if for example cash flow is tight or capital is tied up in a home. In those circumstances, we can discuss a range of funding options so that you are able to fund your case, for example borrowing from family or a personal loan.

We are registered with Level, Rhea and Ampla, legal funding providers, all of which offer legal funding loans to people who are unable to pay all of their legal costs during the course of the case. These firms and other legal funding providers offer legal funding loans which enable you to pay your legal fees out of the eventual settlement.

We appreciate that it can be very difficult for people to meet their costs, particularly in court proceedings where one party has the financial resources to meet their costs but is not willing to assist the other party in meeting their costs. We will therefore assess with you the options available to you, prior to the institution of court proceedings,  to ensure that you can benefit from representation in such a scenario.