Managing your legal costs in divorce proceedings
The start of the new school year in September often brings new clients to our door seeking advice on how to progress a divorce. Here are our ‘top tips’ on how to adopt a constructive approach and keep your legal costs at a manageable level:
1. Get advice. Take advice from an experienced family lawyer to work out the parameters of the dispute, the way a court is likely to look at the situation and the likely outcome. It will help to set realistic expectations. In terms of arrangements for your children, you will need to consider carefully what is in their best interests. In terms of finances, you will need to think about an outcome which is fair to you both.
2. Take your time – don’t rush to litigation. Divorce is hugely stressful and legal costs can spiral very quickly. It is important to take stock and think about the best way to progress discussions and reach a consensus. In our experience those who rush to court often heap more pressure and costs on the whole family at a time when that can least be tolerated.
3. Be forward looking. It’s hard not to look back and analyse what went wrong in the marriage, but the court will focus on the future. Legal costs increase dramatically where one party (or both) tries to punish the other and wants to litigate based on principles or to seek revenge with little regard for common sense and pragmatism.
4. Get your paperwork in order. It’s easy to allow personal admin to fall to the bottom of the pile, but getting on top of your paperwork and checking what bank accounts you have, your mortgage details and your pension value will help you to give up to date information to your solicitor. This will assist them in advising you more comprehensively from the outset.