DIVORCE COSTS

There are 3 aspects to the break up of a marriage : 

1) The divorce itself which brings the marriage to an end. 

2) The settlement of matrimonial property referred to as Ancillary Relief. 

3) The arrangements for the children. 

Ancillary Relief and Children

Work undertaken for ancillary relief and disputes over children are charged solely on a time basis since it is not possible to anticipate how and when the matter will conclude either by eventual agreement between the parties or by court order. Please see  Terms of Business  for details of how time is charged. These two matters are entirely separate legal from the Divorce itself. 

Where there are children in the vast majority of case the arrangements for residence, contact, and maintenance will have been agreed between the parties and will not require to be dealt by a court application so costs are avoided. 

In some cases property is not in issue where for example there are no matrimonial assets or any value and the parties finances are so simple and no claim needs to be made. But in most cases this is an area of dispute. 

It goes without saying that the longer that property or children disputes go on the more it will cost.