05/02/2023
The Cost of Divorce?
“How much will it cost?” and “How long will it take?”, these are the questions most frequently heard by lawyers involved in divorce proceedings and, frustratingly for lawyers and clients alike, the answer is invariably uncertain. Recent changes in the law however have meant that, certainly in respect of cost, it should be easier to predict. If a client and lawyer together embrace the non-adversarial nature of family proceedings and strive to negotiate a reasonable and fair agreement, a spouse can be reasonably confident that the costs will be restricted to their own legal costs and that their share of the matrimonial “pot” will not be depleted by unnecessary or unreasonable legal fees incurred by the other party to the divorce.
Divorce is an extremely stressful experience and even in cases where the separation itself is amicable, emotions often run high when it then comes to sorting out the matrimonial finances. In such circumstances it is, understandably, easy to lose sight of the fact that every penny spent in legal fees is a penny less in the matrimonial “pot” and frequently it costs more to argue the point than the asset in issue is worth. Indeed it is not unusual for relations between the parties to have deteriorated to such a point that clients, whilst appreciating this point, say they would rather the lawyers had it than their ex husband or wife “get their hands on it”!
Lawyers who specialise in divorce are bound by a code of conduct placing a responsibility on them to minimise the costs and help the parties resolve matters by agreement if possible but it can still be an expensive and long drawn out process. Choosing the right lawyer is extremely important. You need to feel completely comfortable with your lawyer, know that they are experienced and have faith they will get you the best possible outcome. That’s why we always offer a free initial consultation with no obligation to take matters any further. We also offer a personal and totally flexible service, providing as much or as little help as you wish. Our services can be tailored to your budget and circumstances so that you can retain control over the costs. We have many clients who deal with a lot of the work themselves and just consult us on an ad hoc basis when they feel they need our expertise.
Contact us now for your free initial consultation at our offices in Ampthill, or by telephone you prefer.
