FAMILY

INITIAL CONSULTATION

This is a 45 minute appointment via telephone or via MS teams  (whichever is preferable to you), with one of our family law specialists.

This includes:

• Discussion about your situation
• Providing overall advice and advice on the potential next steps to be taken, including the fees chargeable.
• An assessment about whether you meet the criteria for legal aid funding (where available)

This does not include:

• Any correspondence with third parties
• Completion of any forms or drafting any applications
• Further advice after the appointment. There is no obligation to continue to instruct us following this appointment. If you do choose to instruct us to deal with your issue, further payments will be required before work can commence.

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £100

VAT                                                                                                                             £20

Total                                                                                                                                    £120

If a letter is required confirming the advice that we have provided to you at this initial meeting an additional charge of £20 plus VAT (£24) is payable.

Payment Terms:

Payment is required in full before the appointment.

We also require evidence of ID in advance of the appointment.

DIVORCE/CIVIL PARTNERSHIP DISSOLUTION

PETITIONER (UNDEFENDED DIVORCE / DISSOLUTION):

This includes:

• Advice relating to divorce / dissolution issues
• Drafting the application for divorce, application for the conditional order, application for the final order and sending all documents to Court
• Completing a fee remission application if required
• Preparing an Application for bailiff service (if required) or preparing instructions to a process server to effect service on the respondent

This does not include:

• Any advice on financial, children or domestic violence issues
• Any Court or professional fees g. obtaining a copy marriage / civil partnership certificate, translation of certificate process service fees etc.
• Any additional application to the court e.g. for service of the proceedings on the respondent to be dispensed with

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £500

VAT                                                                                                                             £100

Disbursements (Court fee to issue proceedings*)                                   £593

Total                                                                                                                                   £1193

Payment Terms:

Payment is required in full before work can commence.

NB there may be further costs for external services / disbursements such as the Court fee for bailiff service, obtaining a copy or translation of your marriage certificate, advertising fees. These are payable separately in addition to the fixed fee and are dependent on the circumstances so do not apply to every case.

Additional legal fees are also payable if we need to apply to Court for deemed service or to dispense with service e.g. if your spouse does not reply to the divorce petition and bailiff service is not successful. The fixed fee for drafting such additional applications is £200 plus VAT of £40 and is payable at the time these services are undertaken. The court fee currently for any such additional applications is £155

RESPONDENT (UNDEFENDED DIVORCE /DISSOLUTION)

This includes:

• Advice in relating to divorce / dissolution issues
• completing the Acknowledgement of Service and sending to Court

This does not include:

• Any advice on financial, children or domestic violence issues
• Any Court or professional fees
• Any work carried out in relation to defended divorce proceedings – if you choose to contest the proceedings our fees will be charged at our prevailing hourly charging rate
• Any work carried out in relation to an application for a final divorce order in circumstances where that application is not made by the Petitioner

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £250

VAT                                                                                                                             £50

Total                                                                                                                                   £300

Payment Terms:

The fee is payable in full before work can commence.

If you wish to defend a divorce / dissolution application our fees will be discussed with you. These are payable at hourly rates.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

APPLICATION FOR AGREED FINANCIAL ORDER

Preparation of application for an agreed financial order and associated documentation required for such application (that is, statement of information form).

Obtaining completion and signature of documentation and submitting same to court for approval.

Fixed Fee                                                      £500

VAT                                                                 £100

Court Fee*                                                   £53

TOTAL                                                           £653

The fixed fee does not include advising you as to the merits of the proposed order and assumes that an agreement has already been reached with your former partner.

If it is apparent that agreement has not in fact been reached then additional fees will be charged at our prevailing hourly charging rate for work undertaken in conducting negotiations on your behalf

Payment Terms:

The fee is payable in full before work can commence

STAGE 1: NEGOTIATION WITHOUT COURT APPLICATION

Negotiating finances to include:

• Advice in by telephone, remotely or in the office relating to financial issues
• Correspondence with your spouse or their solicitor
• exchange of financial disclosure
• Proposals / counter proposals to try to negotiate a settlement
• Referral to mediation and help with mediation if required (separate fees for mediation which are paid directly to the mediation service)

This does not include:

• Any advice on divorce, children or domestic violence issues
• Preparation of any agreed order or financial agreement
• Any Court proceedings
• Any conveyancing or other work necessary to implement an order / agreement
• Any Court or professional fees g. property valuation fees, pension fees etc.
• Any maintenance pending suit or financial injunction applications
• Any Schedule 1 Children Act applications
• Any TOLATA applications

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £1500

VAT                                                                                                                            £300

Total                                                                                                                                   £1800

Payment Terms:

An initial payment of £1000 plus VAT is required before work can commence. Monthly payments will then be required on account at a minimum of £250 per month.

Stage 1 will terminate on earliest of the following:

• If there is no substantive response to correspondence sent to the other party or their legal representative within 2 months of that correspondence
• The other party declines an invitation to participate in mediation or negotiation
• The other party declines to provide/ does not provide comprehensive financial disclosure within 2 months of being invited to do so
• We receive your instructions to proceed with an application to the court
• An agreement is reached in relation to the resolution of financial matters
• You fail to provide us with instructions within 2 months of being asked to do so
• You fail to provide comprehensive financial disclosure within 2 months of being invited to do so

STAGE 2: FINANCIAL APPLICATIONS AT COURT

This stage covers the issue of the financial application to the first hearing dispute resolution appointment. This does not include representing you at the first appointment. Court representation is charged separately.

This includes:

• Preparing and issuing the court application if you are the applicant, and advising on the same if you are the respondent
• Drafting your Form E financial statement and advising you on the financial statement prepared by your spouse
• Arranging any expert reports e.g. valuation report or pension report
• Preparing the statement of issues, chronology, Form H costs estimate for the court, and sending all documents to Court
• Preparing the Court bundle if you are the applicant and approving the bundle if you are respondent

This does not include:

• Any advice on divorce, children or domestic violence issues
• Any conveyancing or other work necessary to implement an order / agreement
• Any Court or professional fees e.g. property valuation fees, pension fees, process

service fees, court fees

• Any maintenance pending suit or financial injunction applications
• Any Schedule 1 Children Act applications
• Any Trust of Land and Trustee Act applications
• Representation at Court (which is charged separately)
• Preparing an agreed order (consent order) in the event that settlement is negotiated after the proceedings are issued

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £1500

VAT                                                                                                                             £300

Court fee* – currently £275 if Applicant                                                      £275

Total                                                                                                                                   £2075

NB The fixed fee payable in full whether or not the matter proceeds to a conclusion and in particular whether or not you decide at any time not to  proceed further with the application. It is not refundable.

Payment Terms:

An initial payment of £1000 plus VAT is required before work can commence on Stage 2, plus the Court fee. Monthly payments will then be required on account at a minimum of £250 per month, with any remaining balance payable in full 14 days prior to the First Appointment at Court.

STAGE 3: FINANCIAL APPLICATIONS AT COURT

This stage covers work after the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment through to the Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing. Court representation is charged separately and noted below

This includes:

• Preparing your replies to your spouse’s questionnaire and considering / advising on their replies to your questionnaire
• Advice on the merits of making or accepting settlement proposals
• Preparing the statement of issues, chronology schedule of assets and Form H and sending all documents to Court
• Preparing the Court bundle and schedule of income, assets and liabilities if you are applicant, and approving the bundle / documents if you are respondent
• Arranging any expert reports e.g. valuation report or pension report
• Considering any further financial disclosure provided
• If an agreement is reached, preparing a draft consent order and submitting this to Court for approval

This does not include:

• Any advice on divorce, children or domestic violence issues
• Any conveyancing or other work necessary to implement an order / agreement
• Any Court or professional fees e.g. property valuation fees, pension fees
• Any maintenance pending suit or financial injunction applications
• Any Schedule 1 Children Act applications
• Any TOLATA applications
• Representation at Court (which is charged separately and set out below)

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £1500

VAT                                                                                                                             £300

Disbursements (to be added in as required)

Total                                                                                                                                   £1800

Payment Terms:

A payment of £1000 plus VAT is required before work can commence on Stage 3. Monthly payments will then be required on account at a minimum of £250 per month, with any remaining balance payable in full 14 days prior to the Financial Dispute Resolution Appointment at Court.

STAGE 4: FINANCIAL APPLICATIONS AT COURT

Steps from Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing

If your case has not settled at Stage 3 (the Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing), and is listed for further hearings, which could for example be an adjourned Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing or a Final Hearing, a further discussion will be held with you about our fees.

Such fees will either be charged at our prevailing hourly rate, excluding advocacy, which is charged separately and set out below, or a fixed fee arrangement, which will be discussed with you and tailored to the circumstances of your case.

We will not be able to proceed with further work following the Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing until we have discussed future fees and you have agreed to the same.

Payment Terms:

A payment of £1000 plus VAT is required before work can commence on Stage 4. Monthly payments will then be required on account at a minimum of £300 per month, with any remaining balance payable in full 14 days prior to the Final Hearing. We will require payment of your Barristers fees in full 14 days before the Final Hearing.

If the final hearing is adjourned for any reason, we reserve the right to charge for any further work conducted after that adjournment at our prevailing hourly charging rate.

FINANCIAL APPLICATIONS TO COURT

ADVOCACY / REPRESENTATION AT COURT

First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment                                      £350 plus VAT

Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing                                                       £850 plus VAT

Final Hearing (per day or part day )                                                            £1200 plus VAT

Other hearings –

Up to 1 hour                                                                                                         £300 plus VAT

Over 1 hour – for each hour or part hour listed                                        £250 plus VAT

e.g. hearing listed for 3 hours would be £750 plus VAT

Payment Terms:

We require payment in advance for all advocacy at least 5 working days before the hearing.

NB we cannot always guarantee that your case worker will be available to cover any particular hearing. In those circumstances we will attempt to book a barrister to represent you at that hearing. Please note however that the barrister will set their own fees and those fees may exceed ours. As a result we cannot guarantee that the fees referred to above will be the fees that you will be charged for any particular hearing and this only relates to our charges for advocacy and not the fees of external counsel.

Counsel’s fees are required at least 10 working days before the hearing.

FIXED FEE ARRANGEMENTS – TERMINATION

The agreed fixed fee is payable in full whether or not the matter is concluded either at that particular stage of the process, or at all.

We reserve the right to terminate the fixed fee arrangement at any time if in our view you are seeking to conduct the case in a manner which is unreasonable or if the continuation of our retainer would breach our professional and legal obligations and duties

PROFESSIONALS FEES / EXPERTS FEES

These costs are payable separately and will vary dependent on the expert type. We will provide you with full details of costs to be paid to external experts / professionals prior to any instructions being sent.

Payment Terms:

Experts / Professionals fees are payable separately. We will require payment of Experts / Professionals fees in full at the time of instruction. If they are called to give evidence at Court further fees will be payable.

*COURT FEES

The Court fees can be changed at any time by HMCTS. This is something outside of our control. Accordingly the Court fees referred to in our fixed fee breakdowns above are the current court fees.

If the court fee increases between our initial instructions and the submission of the proceedings to the court you will be required to provide additional payment in respect of any shortfall

CHILDREN ARRANGEMENTS

STAGE 1: NEGOTIATION WITHOUT COURT APPLICATION:

Negotiating arrangements for your children to include:-

• Advice
• Correspondence with the other parent, or their solicitor
• Proposals / counter proposals to negotiate an agreement
• Referral to mediation and help with mediation if required (separate fees for mediation which are paid directly to the mediation service)
• Drafting Contact Agreement / Parental Responsibility agreement

This does not include:

• Any advice on divorce, financial or domestic violence issues
• Any Court proceedings
• Any international elements or advice about removal from the jurisdiction
• Care proceedings, child abduction or enforcement of existing Court orders
• Any other professionals / expert fees e.g. GP or other medical report
• Any child maintenance issues
• Any Schedule 1 Children Act applications

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £1500

VAT                                                                                                                             £300

Total                                                                                                                                    £1800

Payment Terms:

An initial payment of £1,000 plus VAT is required before work can commence, followed by monthly payments of £250 plus VAT. If at any stage an agreement is reached before the payment terms above have lapsed the outstanding balance is payable in full at the point the agreement is ready to be signed.

If instructions to proceed to stage 2 are received before full payment is made the full balance is payable before any further work is undertaken at stage 2 or otherwise.

Stage 1 agreement will terminate on earliest of the following:

• If there is no substantive response to correspondence sent to the other party or their legal representative within 2 months of that correspondence
• The other party declines an invitation to participate in mediation or negotiation
• We receive your instructions to proceed with an application to the court
• You fail to provide us with instructions within 2 months of being asked to do so
• No agreement has been reached after a 3 month period.

STAGE 2: CHILDREN ACT APPLICATIONS TO COURT

If an agreement cannot be reached by negotiation at Stage 1, or you are sent Court papers which have been issued by your child(ren)’s other parent, this stage covers work from the issue of proceedings up to the first hearing at Court.

This includes:

• Preparing and issuing the Court application if you are the applicant, and advising on the same if you are the respondent
• Correspondence with the other parent, or their solicitor and advising you in the office
• Proposals / counter proposals to negotiate an agreement
• Preparing the statement of issues and chronology and sending all documents to Court
• Preparing the Court bundle if you are the applicant and approving the bundle if you are respondent
• If an agreement is reached, preparing a draft consent order and submitting this to Court for approval

This does not include:

• Any advice on divorce, financial or domestic violence issues
• Any international elements or advice about removal from the jurisdiction
• Care proceedings, child abduction or enforcement of existing Court orders
• Court fees, process servers fees or any other professionals / expert fees g. GP or other medical report
• Any child maintenance issues
• Any Schedule 1 Children Act applications
• Any interim contested hearings
• Representation at Court (which is charged separately and set out below)

You may be eligible for help with the Court fee under the Court fee remission scheme. This will be discussed with you and assistance provided to complete the application, if applicable, within the fixed fee quoted.

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £1200

VAT                                                                                                                             £200

Total                                                                                                                                     £1440

Court Fee*                                                                                                               £232

Payment Terms:

An initial payment of £700 plus VAT, plus payment of the Court fee is required before work can commence on Stage 2. Monthly payments will then be required at a minimum of £250 plus VAT per month with any remaining balance payable in full 14 days prior to the first hearing at Court.

STAGE 3: CHILDREN ACT APPLICATIONS TO COURT

If an agreement cannot be reached at Stage 2 the Court will make directions which have to be complied with and will list your case for another hearing. At this hearing the Judge will try and assist you to reach an agreement about what is best for your children.

This includes:

• Preparing your statement of evidence and the statement of any witnesses
• Correspondence with the other parent, or their solicitor and advising you in the office
• Proposals / counter proposals to negotiate an agreement
• Liaising with experts / professionals and instructing them to prepare reports
• Applying for police / medical and any other records directed by the Court
• If an agreement is reached, preparing a draft consent order and submitting this to the Court for approval
• Preparing the statement of issues, chronology and Court bundle if you are the applicant and approving the bundle if you are respondent

This does not include:

• Any advice on divorce, financial or domestic violence issues
• Any international elements or advice about removal from the jurisdiction
• Care proceedings, child abduction or enforcement of existing Court orders
• Court fees, process servers fees or any other professionals / expert fees g. GP or other medical fees, police disclosure fees, process servers fees
• Any child maintenance issues
• Any Schedule 1 Children Act applications
• Any contested hearings – such hearings are charged at Stage 4
• Representation at Court (which is charged separately and set out below)

Fixed Fee                                                                                                                  £1500

VAT                                                                                                                             £300

Total                                                                                                                                    £1800

Payment Terms:

An initial payment of £1000 plus VAT is required before work can commence on Stage 3. Monthly payments will then be required of £250 plus VAT with any remaining balance payable in full 14 days prior to the hearing.

STAGE 4: CHILDREN ACT APPLICATIONS TO COURT

If your case has not settled at Stage 3, and is listed for further hearings, which could for example be an adjourned Dispute Resolution Hearing, an Interim Contested Hearing, a Final Hearing, or a Fact Find Hearing, a further discussion will be held with you about our fees.

An interim contested hearing may be listed when the Court needs to decide where a child will live or when they should spend time with their other parent whilst the case is still going on pending further reports and monitoring.

A Fact Find Hearing is listed when the Court needs to decide whether allegations made by one parent against the other are proved. Usually after a Fact Find Hearing the case is adjourned for further reports to be prepared before being listed for a Disposal hearing. The Disposal hearing will be heard by the Court at a later date.

A standalone Final Hearing (sometimes called a “rolled up final hearing”) will involve the Court making decisions about any factual disputes and also deciding the long term arrangements for the children. Even though the hearing is termed a final hearing, the Court may still list another review hearing afterwards to see how things are going.

Final hearings and Fact Find Hearings usually take place over a number of days.

There may be more than one contested hearing i.e. a Fact Find Hearing followed by a Disposal Hearing, or an interim contested hearing followed by a Final Hearing and a Review Hearing.

The Court will hear evidence from witnesses and make final decisions. This stage of Children Act Proceedings is expensive because of the amount of work involved in preparing for contested hearings.

Such fees will either be charged at our prevailing hourly rate, excluding advocacy, which is charged separately and set out below, or via a fixed fee arrangement, which will be discussed with you and tailored to the circumstances of your case.

 We will not be able to proceed with further work until we have discussed future fees and you have agreed to the same.

Payment Terms:

An initial payment of £1000 plus VAT is required before work can commence on Stage 4. Monthly payments will then be required at a minimum of £300 plus VAT with any remaining balance payable in full 14 days prior to the Contested Hearing.

CHILDREN ARRANGEMENTS

ADVOCACY / REPRESENTATION AT COURT (EXCLUDING VAT):

Up to 1 hour                                                                                                  £  300 plus VAT

1 to 2.5                                                                                                           £  500 plus VAT

2.5 to 4 hours                                                                                               £  750 plus VAT

4 to 5 hours                                                                                                  £1000 plus VAT

Final Hearing (per day or part day )                                                     £1000 plus VAT

Payment Terms:

We require payment in advance for all advocacy at least 5 working days before the hearing.

NB we cannot always guarantee that your case worker will be available to cover any particular hearing. In those circumstances we will attempt to book a barrister to represent you at that hearing. Please note however that the barrister will set their own fees and those fees may exceed ours. As a result we cannot guarantee that the fees referred to above will be the fees that you will be charged for any particular hearing and this only relates to our charges for advocacy and not the fees of external counsel.

Counsel’s fees are required at least 10 working days before the hearing.

FIXED FEE ARRANGEMENTS – TERMINATION

The agreed fixed fee is payable in full whether or not the matter is concluded either at that particular stage of the process, or at all.

We reserve the right to terminate the fixed fee arrangement at any time if in our view you are seeking to conduct the case in a manner which is unreasonable or if the continuation of our retainer would breach our professional and legal obligations and duties

PROFESSIONALS FEES / EXPERTS FEES

These costs are payable separately and will vary dependent on the expert type. We will provide you with full details of costs to be paid to external experts / professionals prior to any instructions being sent.

Payment Terms:

Experts / Professionals fees are payable separately. We will require payment of Experts / Professionals fees in full at the time of instruction. If they are called to give evidence at Court further fees will be payable.

 *COURT FEES

The Court fees can be changed at any time by HMCTS. This is something outside of our control. Accordingly the Court fees referred to in our fixed fee breakdowns above are the current court fees.

If the court fee increases between our initial instructions and the submission of the proceedings to the court you will be required to provide additional payment in respect of any shortfall

NON MOLESTATION ORDERS / INJUNCTIONS

APPLICANT

We can assist you to obtain a Non Molestation Order which is a form of injunction to prevent a person associated with you from harassing, pestering, using or threatening       violence against you. Breach of a Non Molestation Order is a criminal offence.

This includes:

• Preparing and issuing the Court application, which can be done on an emergency basis the same day if the circumstances are so serious that you require immediate and urgent protection (subject to our availability and / or that of a barrister).
• Correspondence with the other party, or their solicitor and advising you in the office
• Drafting statements
• Preparing the statement of issues and chronology and sending all documents to Court for a return date hearing
• Liaising with experts / professionals and instructing them to prepare further reports / arranging for their attendance at Court
• Preparing the Court bundle
• Liaise with you to select a barrister to represent you at any contested hearing and prepare a brief to the barrister (barristers fees are payable separately)

This does not include:

• Any advice on divorce, children, or financial issues
• Occupation orders
• Court fees, process servers fees or any other professionals / expert fees g. GP fees, police disclosure fees, process servers fees
• Barristers fees
• Representation at Court (which is charged separately and set out below)

Legal Costs excluding advocacy / representation at Court                              £2000

VAT                                                                                                                                        £400

Total                                                                                                                                               £2400

Payment Terms:

An initial payment of £1000 plus VAT is required before work can commence. The balance is payable 14 days before the return hearing.

RESPONDENT

We can assist you to defend a Non Molestation Order.

This includes:

• Advising you on any Court application you have been served with
• Correspondence with the other party, or their solicitor and advising you in the office
• Drafting statements
• Approving the Court bundle and any preliminary documents
• Liaising with experts / professionals and instructing them to prepare further reports / arranging for their attendance at Court
• Liaise with you to select a barrister to represent you at any contested hearing and prepare a brief to the barrister (barristers fees are payable separately)

This does not include:

• Any advice on divorce, children, or financial issues
• Occupation orders
• Court fees, process servers fees or any other professionals / expert fees g. GP fees, police disclosure fees, process servers fees
• Barristers fees
• Representation at Court (which is charged separately and set out below)

Legal Costs excluding advocacy / representation at Court                          £2000

VAT                                                                                                                                    £400

Total                                                                                                                                           £2400

Payment Terms:

A full payment of £2000 plus VAT is required before work can commence.

NON MOLESTATION ORDERS / INJUNCTIONS

ADVOCACY / REPRESENTATION AT COURT (EXCLUDING VAT):

Up to 1 hour                                                                                                  £300 plus VAT

1 to 2.5                                                                                                           £500 plus VAT

2.5 to 4 hours                                                                                               £750 plus VAT

4 to 5 hours                                                                                                  £1000 plus VAT

Final Hearing (per day or part day )                                                     £1000 plus VAT

Payment Terms:

We require payment in advance for all advocacy at least 5 working days before the hearing.

NB we cannot always guarantee that your case worker will be available to cover any particular hearing. In those circumstances we will attempt to book a barrister to represent you at that hearing. Please note however that the barrister will set their own fees and those fees may exceed ours. As a result we cannot guarantee that the fees referred to above will be the fees that you will be charged for any particular hearing and this only relates to our charges for advocacy and not the fees of external counsel.

Counsel’s fees are required at least 10 working days before the hearing.

FIXED FEE ARRANGEMENTS – TERMINATION

The agreed fixed fee is payable in full whether or not the matter is concluded either at that particular stage of the process, or at all.

We reserve the right to terminate the fixed fee arrangement at any time if in our view you are seeking to conduct the case in a manner which is unreasonable or if the continuation of our retainer would breach our professional and legal obligations and duties

Professionals Fees / Experts Fees

These costs are payable separately and will vary dependent on the expert type. We will provide you with full details of costs to be paid to external experts / professionals prior to any instructions being sent.

Payment Terms:

Experts / Professionals fees are payable separately. We will require payment of Experts / Professionals fees in full at the time of instruction. If they are called to give evidence at Court further fees will be payable.

PRE-MARITAL AGREEMENT / POST-MARITAL AGREEMENT

A pre-marital agreement (often referred to as a prenuptial agreement) is a contract drawn up between you and your future spouse / civil partner before you marry or form a civil partnership. A post marital agreement is a contract drawn up after you have married or formed a civil partnership. Their purpose is to set out the agreement about how you would resolve financial / children matters in the event that you separate.

These agreements are not binding and can be overturned by the Courts, but on the basis that both parties have had independent legal advice, there has been full and frank disclosure and both parties have entered into the agreement freely and voluntarily, the Court would view the agreement as an important statement of evidence about your mutual intentions.

These agreements are chargeable at hourly rates and a quotation will be provided to you at the outset. The current hourly rates charged by our fee earners are detailed on the main family page. The costs will vary dependent on the assets involved and the complexity of the circumstances.  A full discussion will take place and fees will be agreed before work commences.

Payment Terms:

A deposit of £750 is required before work can commence. We will then agree a monthly payment schedule with you. Any remaining balance will be required in full at the date the agreement is ready to be signed.

LIVING TOGETHER AGREEMENT

This is contract drawn up between you and your future cohabiting partner which sets out the agreement about how you would resolve financial / children matters in the event that you separate and decide to live apart. It is drafted, agreed and signed before you move in together. These agreements are not binding and can be overturned by the Courts, but on the basis that both parties have had independent legal advice, there has been full and frank disclosure and both parties have entered into the agreement freely and voluntarily, the Court would view the agreement as an important statement of evidence about your mutual intentions.

Living Together agreements are chargeable at hourly rates and a quotation will be provided to you at the outset. The current hourly rates charged by our fee earners are detailed on the main family page.

Payment Terms:

A deposit of £750 is required before work can commence. We will then agree a monthly payment schedule with you. Any remaining balance will be required in full at the date the agreement is ready to be signed.

OVERSEAS MARRIAGE DECLARATION

Legal Costs                                                                                                   £100

VAT                                                                                                                  £20

Total                                                                                                                        £120

Payment Terms:

Payment is required in full at the time of completing the Declaration

CHANGE OF NAME DEED

Legal Costs                                                                                                   £100

VAT                                                                                                                  £20

Total                                                                                                                        £120

Payment Terms:

Payment is required in full at the time of completing the Change of Name Deed

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AGREEMENT

This includes:

• Preparation a Parental Responsibility Agreement for you
• Advice on how to have your agreement witnessed and how to register this

This does not include:

• Negotiation / correspondence with the other parent(s) – if this is required, please see our information on Children Act Proceedings

Legal Costs                                                                                                   £100

VAT                                                                                                                  £20

Total                                                                                                                        £120

Payment Terms:

Payment is required in full at the time of completing the Parental Responsibility Agreement

GENERAL

For anything not set out herein, our hourly rates are chargeable. A costs estimate will be provided to you at the outset of any such matter and payment terms agreed.

At the initial appointment an assessment of your eligibility for legal aid will be undertaken. Please note that legal aid funding is now extremely limited for family matters. We have information on our website about the circumstances in which legal aid is still available. If you are likely to be eligible for legal aid, we will confirm all the information you need to provide and arrange a further appointment to complete a legal aid application with you. There will be no charge for an appointment to complete a legal aid application but no further work will be undertaken until the legal aid has been granted.

We ask all of our clients to sign an irrevocable Notice of Acting in Person at the outset. If at any time our payment terms are not adhered to, and your account falls into arrears, we reserve the right to terminate our retainer with you and will not carry out any further work on your behalf until payments are bought up to date. In the event that Court proceedings are underway, we will file the Notice of Acting in Person with the Court and ask to be removed from the Court record as acting for you. We will not attend any Court hearings and you will be required to attend the hearings in person.

FIXED FEE ARRANGEMENTS – TERMINATION

The agreed fixed fee is payable in full whether or not the matter is concluded either at that particular stage of the process or at all.

We reserve the right to terminate the fixed fee arrangement at any time if in our view you are seeking to conduct the case in a manner which is unreasonable or if the continuation of our retainer would breach our professional and legal obligations and duties.

COURT FEES

The Court fees can be changed at any time by HMCTS. This is something outside of our control. Accordingly the Court fees referred to in our fixed fee breakdowns above are the current court fees.

If the court fee increases between our initial instructions and the submission of the proceedings to the court you will be required to provide additional payment in respect of any shortfall

We ask all of our clients to sign an irrevocable Notice of Acting in Person at the outset. If at any time our payment terms are not adhered to, and your account falls into arrears, we reserve the right to terminate our retainer with you and will not carry out any further work on your behalf until payments are bought up to date. In the event that Court proceedings are underway, we will file the Notice of Acting in Person with the Court and ask to be removed from the Court record as acting for you. We will not attend any Court hearings and you will be required to attend the hearings in person.