Where negotiations have not been successful in dealing with any private law Child law issues and an application to the Court is the next step, for example to deal with contact. This fixed fee would assist with completing the Court application forms. The Court will have expected the parties to have tried to settle matters through mediation if appropriate, prior to the application being made.

What's included:

Initial meeting to discuss the issue and advise you on the available options

Preparing the application forms for you to issue them at Court

What's not included:

Issuing the application at Court

Serving the application on the other party

Court fees

Costs of travel to Court

Other professionals fees, such as a barrister

If you wish to apply for a Divorce or Dissolution of your civil partnership you are known as the Petitioner. Certain documents have to be completed and issued in the Court in order to apply for your Divorce or Dissolution. These include the Divorce or Dissolution Petition, Statement of Arrangements if you have children, application to the Court for a Decree Nisi following which you can apply for your decree Absolute which will end the marriage of civil partnership. This does not deal with any financial matters that need sorting out as a result of the relationship breakdown. Some law firms will only provide fixed fees for some aspects of the process so make sure that you understand what is included in the fixed fee price before committing. This fixed fee is for the preparation of the Divorce/Dissolution Petition ONLY. It does not cover any work in relation to dealing with any financial matter or issues with children.

What's included:

An initial meeting with you

Preparation of the Divorce or Dissolution Petition ONLY

What's not included:

Preparation of any supporting documents in order to apply for your Divorce or Dissolution

Issuing the divorce at the Court

Obtaining the Decree Nisi

Applying for the Decree Absolute

Court fees

Obtaining a copy marriage certificate if needed

Translation of any marriage certificate

Any issues with service of any documents on your spouse

Any negotiation or settlement of financial and property issues

Dealing with any child issues

Amending the divorce petition

Any costs associated with a contested divorce

If you wish to apply for a Divorce or Dissolution of your civil partnership you are known as the Petitioner. Certain documents have to be completed and issued in the Court in order to apply for your Divorce or Dissolution. These include the Divorce or Dissolution Petition, Statement of Arrangements if you have children, application to the Court for a Decree Nisi following which you can apply for your decree Absolute which will end the marriage or civil partnership. This does not deal with any financial matters that need sorting out as a result of the relationship breakdown. Some law firms will only provide fixed fees for some aspects of the process so make sure that you understand what is included in the fixed fee price before committing. This fixed fee is for the preparation of the Application for Decree Absolute ONLY. It does not cover any work in relation to dealing with any financial matter or issues with children.

What's included:

An initial meeting with you

Preparation of the Application for Decree Absolute ONLY

What's not included:

Preparation of any supporting documents in order to apply for your Divorce or Dissolution

Issuing the divorce at the Court

Obtaining the Decree Nisi

Court fees

Obtaining a copy marriage certificate if needed

Translation of any marriage certificate

Any issues with service of any documents on your spouse or civil partner

Any negotiation or settlement of financial and property issues

Dealing with any child issues

Amending the divorce petition

Any costs associated with a contested divorce

A Pre-Nuptial Agreement is a formal agreement entered into prior to a marriage or civil partnership which sets out who owns what at the time of marriage or civil partnership and how the couple envisage that those assets should be divided in the event of the breakdown of the relationship. Currently there is no guarantee that this type of agreement would be honoured by the Courts of England and Wales, in the event of divorce. However the Courts are now begining to consider them provided certain legal requirements are honoured including the fact that each person must enter the agreement voluntarily, each person must give full and frank disclosure of their assets, each person must have taken independent legal advice and the agreement must be signed at least 21 days before the date of marriage or civil partnership. This fixed fee service would be suitable where you have both already reached an agreement concerning your finances and property and how they would be divided in the event you seperated in the future. It will not include further advice or negotiation.

What's included:

Advice whether the agreement reached is reasonable (with no sight of supporting financial documents)

Advice whether Court is likely to approve the agreement reached

Drafting the proposed Pre-Nuptial Agreement

What's not included:

Negotiation with the other party

Consideration of any supporting financial documentation

Initial Advice for divorce, money matters or children issues not involving children’s services.

What's included:

Appointment to discuss your issue

Advice on the options available to you

What's not included:

Completing any forms

Dealing with any questions or letters from the other party or their representative

Filing papers at court

Court Fees

Dealing with any questions or request for further information received from the Court Office

Attending any Court hearing  

Preparation of a Deed of Separation when a relationship breaks down, where the division of your assets has already been agreed.

What's included:

Initial advice on the effect of your agreement

Preparation of the Deed

What's not included:

Negotiations with the other party.

If you wish to change your name officially you will require a Change of Name Deed

What's included:

Meeting you to take your instructions

Preparation of the Change of Name Deed

What's not included:

Sending the deed to any institution on your behalf

Further copies

If you have been successful in reaching an agreement concerning your finances, property and any children issues you have, with your spouse or civil partner, a consent order can be prepared and submitted to Court for approval. The person applying for the Order is the Applicant. This fixed fee will apply where there is a clean break between the parties so there are no longer term arrangements and the parties can separate their assets completely.

What's included:

Advice whether the agreement reached is reasonable (with no sight of supporting financial documents)

Advice whether Court is likely to approve the agreement reached

Drafting the proposed consent order

Drafting Court documents to enable an application for a consent order to be made

Corresponding with the other side

Corresponding with the court to obtain the order

What's not included:

Court Fees

Attending any hearing which may arise, for example the court requests a clarification hearing

Any work needed following an order being made to comply with/enforce the order made

Any work necessary to transfer or sell property or other assets either during the proceedings or after any order is made

When a marraige or civil partnership breaks down and the property and finances need to be divided the couple may need assistance negotiation an agreement. Once an agreement is reached then the Court has to approve that agreement in the form of a Consent Order. The Consent Order deals with the division of the property and finances of a couple on divorce or dissolution. The person who applies for the Consent Order to be approved by the Court is the Applicant. As part of the process it may be necessary to complet Form E which is a statement of all your finances and property that will be provided to the Court as part of the proceedings.

What's included:

Completion of a Form E confirming your finances

What's not included:

Negotiation with the other party as to how a fair division can be achieved

Advising you on any proposals that could be made or that have been received

Preparation of any draft consent order, if agreement is reached

Dealing with the other party to achieve agreement on the draft consent order, before applying to Court for approval

Court fees

Writing to third parties to obtain financial information, such as a redemption figure for a mortgage

Other expert fees eg surveyor, barrister

Other fees for provision of information Hearing attendance. These are very rare but the Court sometimes requests a Clarification Hearing Further charges may be payable if the financial information and property information is particularly complex or valuable