Family Law Costs

Family Law – Range of Costs

The cost of each case will depend on the amount of work required.

We will assess clients for legal aid eligibility and represent clients under the Legal Aid Scheme, where eligible. All Legal Aid work is charged at fixed rates set by the government and we are happy to provide details of the rate upon request.

The private client charge rate for work relating to family law is currently £250.00 per hour plus VAT. We will advise you as to estimated costs in respect of your particular case at the start of the matter and we will provide updates as the matter progresses. All letters written (including emails) and telephone calls made and received are charged at £25.00 per item plus VAT whilst all letters received (including emails) are charged at £12.50 per item plus VAT.

VAT will be added at the national rate, currently 20%, to all fees charged by this firm.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Court fees, or travelling expenses. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Counsel’s fees estimated between £1,000.00-£1,500.00 (excluding VAT) per day (depending on experience of the advocate) for conducting a final Hearing (including preparation).

Travelling expenses are charged at 45p per mile plus VAT at the national rate, currently 20%.

Key Stages

The fees set out above will be charged for all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

• Taking your initial instructions, reviewing papers and advising you as to the law, facts and procedure

• Preparing bundle of documents or going through the court bundle prepared by the other party, considering the evidence and advising you as to the impact of the evidence on the progress of your case

• Preparation and attend at Final Hearing, including Instructions to Counsel, if appropriate.

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of the above are not required, our costs will be lower. You may wish to handle the case yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.

How long will my matter take?

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing your case is likely to take 6 to 8 months from the date on which proceedings were issued. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.