Divorce & Finance

In most cases you and your former partner will each pay your own legal costs. However, in certain circumstances a court can order one of you to pay all the legal costs. This can be the case if the court believes that one partner was responsible for the breakdown of the marriage. Typically a divorce case will cost £550 + VAT together with the court fee (approx £550 NO VAT). The main thing that will put costs up during a divorce is where one or both partners are not willing to negotiate. It’s common for couples not to agree about the divorce settlement at first. But if you can’t agree at all, it will make the process more expensive for you both as it will require extra work for your solicitors.

A typical divorce takes between four and six months. However, every divorce is different and timings will vary according to the complexity of your case, and whether you both agree about things such as what should happen to your finances.

In England and Wales there is only one ground for divorce which is that your marriage has irretrievably broken down. To get divorced you must have been married for at least 12 months and be able to prove this ground using one of the following five reasons: Unreasonable behaviour, Adultery, Living apart for 2 years, Living apart for 5 years or Desertion. Whichever reason you use as grounds for divorce, it’s important to note that it doesn’t usually affect the financial settlement or between you and your former partner. Similarly it wouldn’t normally affect the future arrangements for your children.

For many people, meeting a lawyer for the first time can be a daunting prospect. Our solicitors understand this and offer a friendly service, where we listen to what you’re saying and work with you to get you the settlement you want. We’ll be honest with you about what will happen as well as giving a clear estimate of the costs involved. To book a first meeting with one of our experienced divorce lawyers, please call us on 0151 8 32 32 53 or contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

When you first meet one of our divorce solicitors they will want to obtain a clear picture of your case, including: The background of your marriage and the reason for separation Your finances If you have any children and how they may be affected Whether you have already agreed something with your ex-partner (we can advise on whether this is fair, but will listen to you about what you want to accept) Whether you have a prenuptial agreement in place This first meeting will normally take between 60 and 90 minutes. While you don’t need to bring anything with you, it can be helpful to bring a rough estimate of your property, debts, income and outgoings. If you’d like us to file a divorce petition on your behalf then we’ll also need your marriage certificate. We understand that this first meeting can be a lot of information to take in, so we’ll provide you with a written note of our advice after your appointment.