Divorce or Dissolution Costs

Divorce or dissolution costs can vary. When petitioning for divorce or dissolution there are Court fees to be paid.  The main fees are £340 for issuing the petition and £45 for Decree Absolute/Final Order.  In addition each party may incur legal costs using a lawyer.

Petitions are based on fault-based allegations (adultery, desertion or behaviour) or non-fault based allegations (separation with or without consent).  Where a petition is not defended the usual approach is to split the costs, whereas if it is defended the "winner" usually recovers their costs from the "loser".  The only true winner in those circumstances is the lawyer, however if there were no ramifications then many more petitions would probably be defended.

For this type of work solicitors can be paid either on a fixed fee or hourly basis.  Most solicitors will insist on being paid on an hourly basis.  A fixed fee basis means that the solicitor is rewarded for getting the paperwork right in the first place and pays the price if they get it wrong.  An hourly rate basis means that the client is charged for all the work the solicitor does, which usually includes paying for anything they got wrong as well as what they did right.  It also means that the client has limited control over their final bill.

We offer fixed fees for all undefended petitions.  We can do this because we make sure we get the paperwork right in the first place.  With less than 1% of petitions actually being defended this allows our clients the security of knowing that their costs are limited no matter how much work is required.  We require an initial payment up front, which covers all Court fees, and then we do not get paid until we obtain decree absolute or final order.  If the client decides not to continue with the petition then our costs are limited to the fixed fee.

If you need our help,  either e-mail us anytime, or call 01404 861868.