Nicola Williams & Co

Below is a comprehensive explanation of all our fixed fees for financial orders. This list applies to all cases where the net assets (excluding pensions) are worth less than £350,000 and the issues are not unusually complex and do not have an international element.

If you reach agreement part way through any stage we will calculate the cost according to the time spent on your case to that point. If this is less than the fixed fee you will pay the lower amount.

Stage 1 – Financial Disclosure

In all divorces the court will only make or approve clean break orders, property, maintenance, pension sharing or any other type of financial orders where each party and the judge him/herself has knowledge of the other person’s income, capital and pension provision.

This can be achieved in various ways. The most straightforward is where the couple are able to exchange the information themselves and agree how they are to be divided.Many people need some assistance and prefer to use a solicitor to negotiate with their former partner.Some people find a professional mediation service helpful.In contested proceedings the court sets out what documents must be exchanged, which forms need to be completed and when this should happen.

In all cases we deal with, we have to ensure that we have sufficient information to provide sound advice. We will provide you with a leaflet explaining the financial documents we need from you and why.

If you already have an agreement with your former partner we will use this information to complete the relevant court form when you ask the court to approve it (known as a Statement Of Information For A Consent Order). The court will expect us to have checked the information and this will reduce the likelihood of you having to attend a court hearing about your financial agreement.

The fee for preparation of a Statement of Information for a Consent Order is included in the preparation of the Consent Order itself below at Stage 3. Skip now to Stage 3 if you already have an agreement.

If you do not have an agreement we will organise the information into a format to send to your former partner or his/her solicitor to negotiate an agreement with them. The fee for this includes all routine correspondence, telephone calls and emails.
 
 Fee £700 to include:
 
Collating a detailed schedule of your, income, capital and liabilities
Contacting your spouse or his/her solicitor to arrange mutual exchange of information.
Providing you with copies of all documents received.

The fee does not include meetings, long advice calls, long advice letters or long advice emails

If you have chosen to use a mediation service they will charge you separately. Depending on your income mediation services such as Family Mediation Manchester will charge you between £132 per session and £300 per session. A session lasts 60 - 90 minutes. Your former partner will also be charged in addition according to their income. Legally aided clients will not pay for mediation. On average you will need three mediation sessions.

Stage 2 -Advice on Settlement
Once the exchange of financial information has been effected, you may need advice on making offers to settle. Consideration of your case and preparation of a written advice costs £250.

Stage 3 - Drafting Court Agreements

For an agreement to be legally binding it must be approved by the court after decree nisi. The court must have a draft agreement known as a Consent Order and a form setting out your finances known as a Statement of Information for a Consent Order.

We will prepare both of these for you. The fee is £500 and includes

Preparation of all necessary documents.
Submission to you and to your spouse/spouse's solicitor for signature.
Submission to court (court fee currently £45 also payable on top)

Applications for a Financial Remedy.

Where agreement cannot be reached (perhaps due to the non-cooperation of your former partner) you have the option to issue an application for a Financial Order.

Details of the fees charged for that process are as follows:

All routine correspondence, telephone calls and emails are included at each stage.

Up to and including FDA £2000

(excluding barristers/agency fees or other disbursements such as property valuations or any other fee paid to a third party).
 
To include:
 
Preparation of Form A
Service on mortgagee
Service on Respondent
Preparation of -
Form E
Form G,
Schedules of income assets and liabilities
Schedule of Issues
Chronology
Questionnaire
Attendance at hearing.
All routine correspondence, telephone calls and emails.
 

From FDA up to and including FDR £2500

(excluding barristers/agency fees or other disbursements such as property valuations or any other fee paid to a third party).

To include:
 
Instruction of experts (valuers/pension experts etc)
Preparation of replies to questionnaire
Review of incoming replies to questionnaire and follow up.
Updated schedules of assets, income and liabilities.
File reviews as necessary.
All routine correspondence, telephone calls and emails.
Attendance at hearing.

From FDR to final hearing. £3500

(excluding barristers/agency fees or other disbursements such as property valuations or any other fee paid to a third party).

To include all preparation for the final hearing including the instruction of counsel but not counsel's own fee

Meetings, long advice calls and emails.

All meetings, long advice calls and long advice emails or letters are charged at standard hourly rates set out in your terms of engagement.

If you reach agreement or your instructions cease part way through any stage we will calculate the cost according to the time spent on your case to that point. If this is less than the fixed fee you will pay the lower amount.

Online Divorce

What is an online divorce

Mediation

What is family mediation?

Mediation FAQ

Ancillary Relief

What is ancillary relief?
Ancillary relief FAQ
Role of the court
Flowchart

Separation

Separation FAQ

Don't forget Court fees apply to all applications to court. See here.