Question
Any of you have an idea as to how much the legal side of a divorce costs?

I’m embarking on the process (we haven’t been separated for more than a year) and we’ve divvied everything up so there is no goods/money/property to sort out (she’s got pretty much everything, I walked away (in the end) with a lump sum – not perfect but it was a small price to pay to get my dignity/self-respect back) – all we need to do is to make everything ‘official’

I’ve spoke to a couple of solicitors and they are (in my mind) making the process more complicated than I think it needs to be by suggesting that I’ve either been short-changed from the deal and I ought to go to the family court with proper representation and challenge for a more equitably division of chattels, or they suggest that my ex needs to appoint a family solicitor who they will deal with.

What I don’t understand, is why there is a need for 2 solicitors when we’ve already agreed everything and we just want to make formal the fact we’ve got our separate ways and we are both satisfied with the arrangement.

Or – is it possible to do this online without involving the legal vultures?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:26, 37 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

All lawyers will tell you that you need to have two solicitors,
That's because they have to act in the interest of their clients and they believe that doing it in that way is the best way to do it.

I went through a similar thing in my divorce.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:31, Reply)

I did my divorce myself
Relations with my ex had broken down to the point where we weren't speaking but the threat of getting expensive solicitors involved was enough to ensure she played fair.

I went to the registry office and requested the relevent forms, cited wife's unreasonable behaviour (you should cite at least six counts, I cited twelve!) and pay a fee of about £300 to get it sorted.

Job done.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:39, Reply)

You're devorced?
Bloody hell, you're not that much older than me, are you?
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:39, Reply)

26

(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:40, Reply)

more-or-less ditto, age wise.
Mind you, thinking about it, that's nearly a whole decade since I could legaly be married.

I donno, I guess it's because none of my mates (or myself) have gotten hitched yet, so I find it a bit weird... but everyone's situation is different.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:42, Reply)

Whoa...
That surprises me.
Not because you're hideous or anything, just the age thing.
( Cawl, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:42, Reply)

I'm not really divorced,
I was just lying online out of boredom.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:44, Reply)

Ah...
What if that's a lie too though?
( Cawl, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:45, Reply)

You'll have to ask my fiance

(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:45, Reply)

If she exists :\

( Cawl, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:49, Reply)

What a tangled web of lies I weave

(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:50, Reply)

I think I shall rename you
THE LIE-SPIDER
( Cawl, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:53, Reply)

*click*

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 12:08, Reply)

Hmm....
I was divorced at 29, my ex-wife is six years younger than me!
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:45, Reply)

Did you meet her while you were a teenager?

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:48, Reply)

Hahaha, no!
She was 17 when we met. I was 23.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:51, Reply)

I'm not sure to Troll or High Five that, to be honest.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 12:00, Reply)

Whichever you prefer really
I was a knob for getting married, but I wouldn't be who I am if I hadn't.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 17 Jun 2009, 12:15, Reply)

He's better looking though
.
(TheColonel, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:42, Reply)

Plus I hear that.... |-----------------9 inches-------------|, if you know what I mean, wink wink.
You should totally tap that.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:43, Reply)

*taps*
*awaits reply*

EDIT: *Considers knocking*
(TheColonel, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:44, Reply)

I do have a massive penis gonz
thanks for letting offtopic know.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:52, Reply)

Maybe the latter
But remember, your solicitor works for you, so they should do what you say.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:33, Reply)

gaz Rswipe
I think she's worked in family law before.

I'll have a word with my family law friends and see if I can find out for you though.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:33, Reply)

Agreed
WHS above - the lawyer is being paid for by you and thus where there is a decision to be made, irrespective of his advice, you should take it.

If there's no animus in the divorce (are there kids?) you might be able to do it yourselves at your local court.
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:35, Reply)

No kids.
One of the many many many issues we faced.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:43, Reply)

A mate of mine
was in the same positon. Just wanted to make it all formal. He did it himself.

www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/divorce/index.htm

Shows you here how to go through the various stages. It took him a while to do, but no longer than it would've if he went via a solicitor. He paid the court fees direct to the courts himself, they sorted out the paperwork. All in all I think he had to fill in about three forms and that was it.

He got his decre absolute through a few weeks ago without ever going to a solicitor - he, like you, had already sorted everything out with his ex and just wanted to get on with his life.
( SpankyHanky, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:37, Reply)

Same here...
...although I'd recommend both parties signing a document finalizing the deal to pre-empt any claims later down the line.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:40, Reply)

I am friends with a couple who are getting divorced where nothing is being contested.
They both have their own solicitors and it's going to cost them about a thousand pounds each.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:39, Reply)

Maybe this?
www.divorce-online.co.uk/services/diy_divorce/divorce_and_consent_order.asp

Never been divorced or owt but worth a look? At least then you can approach the solicitor with a bargaining chip.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:40, Reply)

It's because a soilicitor/laywer/whatever can not work for two opposing parties, I don't even think the same firm can.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 11:40, Reply)

Similar to PJM
Didn't get a solicitor involved, got the necessary forms from the Court, cited irretrievable breakdown and paid about £300.

If the break up is reasonably amicable it can be done with minimum hassle and cost. Don't go through a solicitor if you can help it.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 17 Jun 2009, 12:51, Reply)

Avoid a solicitor if you can - you can pick the forms up from WHSmiths, I believe
I had to get a solicitor when I split from my ex, it cost me around £1,000 and here I am nearly three years on without anything sorted at all.
No divorce papers.
No financial settlement.
Nothing.

Why?

Because he comes from an extremely wealthy farming family who have the best accountants in the South East...so he is (on paper) worth nothing.
I don't want to take every penny he's got but walking out of a marriage of ten years with nothing but your clothes and the kids isn't fair. I left behind my home, my career (I'd given up working full time to have the children and to work for his company, unpaid), not just my marriage.


Bitter?
At times.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 13:26, Reply)

Having met you and your kids I think you got the better deal : )

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 14:13, Reply)

Thank you
I think you're right but a little money to make life easier would be good.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 14:53, Reply)

Suggestion: stick PMJ out there as a rent-boy
and watch the money roll in.
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Wed 17 Jun 2009, 18:43, Reply)

My parents shared 1 attorney and split the cost.
But you can get all the paperwork to do it yourself for a significantly lower cost than hiring an attorney.

The only thing of value I actually have to add is that you'll want to ask around your area about which Judge your divorce will be in front of. I say this because one of the Judges that handles divorces in my area really hates DIY divorces and things never go well for the DIYer in his court. However, the other Judges in the area are fine with the DIY thing.
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Wed 17 Jun 2009, 18:47, Reply)