CHILD ARRANGEMENTS ORDER CASES- FAMILY LAW
We charge an hourly fee of £220-£350 plus VAT
We can also charge estimated fees for various tiers for instance in straight forward Child Arrangement Order cases we can charge:
Consultation: £200 plus VAT for 1 hour
From Consultation to the first hearing at court: £1500 plus VAT
Each hearing fee up to Final hearing: We will charge from £750 plus VAT to act as solicitors. To dialogue with the courts, the otherside and any relevant third parties. If we send counsel to attend court for you, they will charge from £1000 plus VAT depending on their lvel of aexperience and year of call. Delphine Akinsete’s fees will be £1200 plus VAT per 1 hour hearings and her and Barrister’s fees are from £2,000 plus VAT for a full day’s hearing. If we will charge you less than we have stated here, we will let you know. For more information on our fees and Barrister’s fees, please see https://
Charges for preparing bundle: From £400 plus VAT See https://
FINANCIAL MATTER – FAMILY LAW
In Financial matters cases we can hold on from collecting any money from you till we bring in money in your case. We can charge a percentage of what you get or an hourly fee. Feel free to discuss this type of funding with us. Note that our charges are not conditional on you winning your case especially if it goes to final hearing.
Our firm’s charges are not contingent upon you winning your case. We will tell you the chances of your success in your court case and try and settle it before it goes to court You are primarily liable for the charges. Even if the court orders someone else to pay your costs, you will have to pay in the first instance and may then be reimbursed when the funds clear from the person ordered to pay your costs.
In cases involving court proceedings, it is always difficult to predict the amount of time that will be spent since much will depend on the directions of the court, the number of hearings at court and the duration of those hearings, the attitude of the other person in your case and their solicitors, the volume and complexity of the documents disclosed and the time needed to prepare, travel and wait in court..
The following bands below indicate how much your fees will be. These are estimates only and can be more or less.
BAND 1 – up to £2000 including VAT and expenses | |
This band will apply if a financial settlement is concluded after disclosure on a voluntary basis and negotiation between solicitors without formal, court-based, financial remedy proceedings. This estimate assumes that after exchange of voluntary disclosure we are able to reach a settlement reasonably quickly through your spouse’s Solicitors. It assumes that your spouse is not untruthful when they disclose their finances on the Form E and that they are not generally obstructive. It also assumes there is no international element to the case that will require assistance of a foreign lawyer and that limited or no valuation evidence is required. If any of these elements are present, the costs are likely to be between £2,000 to £4,000 | |
BAND 2 – up to £4,000 including VAT and expenses | |
This band will apply either if matters are concluded through a voluntary process, but the case is more complicated, or if financial remedy proceedings are issued in order to achieve a financial settlement and are concluded part way through by agreement either at or before a financial dispute resolution hearing (FDR). This estimate assumes that there are no interim applications to deal with; for example, for maintenance pending suit (interim maintenance). If there are, we will give you an estimate of the cost of dealing with the interim applications separately. The estimate also assumes that input from an accountant is not required, that the other party is not untruthful in his/her disclosure and is not generally obstructive, and that there are no international legal issues that require the assistance of a foreign lawyer. This estimate does include the cost of a barrister being briefed to represent you at the FDR, if appropriate. We will discuss this with you at the relevant time. | |
BAND 3 – up to £17,000 including VAT and expenses | |
This band will apply if financial remedy proceedings are issued in order to achieve a financial settlement, and either (1) the case is straightforward, but requires a final hearing of no more than two days, or (2) the case settles before a final hearing but there are complex and time-consuming issues such as the need for accountancy evidence and/or other valuations, or interim hearings, such as maintenance pending suit. This estimate assumes that a barrister will be briefed to represent you at the FDR and at the final hearing. It assumes that your spouse is not untruthful in his/her disclosure and is not generally obstructive. It also assumes that there are no international legal issues that require the assistance of a foreign lawyer. If any of these issues are present, then we will advise you about the likely cost of dealing with them. | |
BAND 4 – up to £25,00 0 including VAT and expenses | |
This band will apply if financial remedy proceedings are issued in order to achieve a financial settlement, and require a final hearing of more than two days. This estimate assumes that a barrister or advocate will be paid with your funds, separate to our fees, to represent you at the FDR and at the final hearing, and that accountancy or other professional evidence is required. It assumes that your spouse is not untruthful in his/her disclosure and is not generally obstructive. It also assumes that there are no interim applications. If there is an interim application (eg, for interim maintenance) or a need to obtain advice from a foreign lawyer on any international issues, then we will advise you separately about the cost of dealing with this. | |
BAND 5 – over £35,000 including VAT and expenses | |
This band will apply if financial remedy proceedings are issued in order to resolve a financial settlement. It assumes that matters proceed to a final hearing of more than two days and that a barrister is briefed to represent you at the FDR and at the final hearing. It assumes accountancy or other professional evidence will be required, that there is significant non-disclosure by the other party and that [he OR she] is obstructive resulting in interim hearings to assure his/her compliance with the proceedings. It also assumes there may be international legal issues that require the assistance of a foreign lawyer. If we reach the point where it is likely that the costs will exceed this level, we will let you know in advance wherever possible and will then provide you with ongoing estimates as the case progresses. |
DISBURSEMENTS
These are not our legal fees, they are third party fees and you will need to pay your disbursements. How much Disbursements you pay will depend on the area of law that your case falls into. Examples of disbursements are:
LIKELY DISBURSEMENTS (THIRD PARTY FEES) IN FAMILY LAW CASES
Marriage and civil partnership proceedings
| Type of filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Filing an application for a divorce, nullity or civil partnership dissolution (fees order 1.2) | £593 |
| Filing an application for judicial separation (fees order 1.3) | £365 |
| Filing an application for a second or subsequent matrimonial or civil partnership order with permission granted (fees order 1.5) | £95 |
| Filing an answer to an application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order (fees order 1.6) | £245 |
| Filing an amended application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order (fees order 1.5) | £95 |
| Filing an application to start proceedings where no other fee is specified (fee order 1.1) | £245 |
| Filing a declaration as to marital status, parentage, legitimacy or adoptions effected overseas (fees order 1.3) | £365 |
Financial orders
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application for a financial order, other than by consent (fees order 5.4) | £275 |
| Application by consent for a financial order (fees order 5.1) | £53 |
Applications for injunctions – family homes and domestic violence
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application for a non-molestation order | No fee |
| Application for an occupation order | No fee |
Forced marriage and female genital mutilation protection order applications
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Apply to issue forced marriage or female genital mutilation protection order proceedings | No fee |
| Apply to amend, vary or extend a forced marriage or female genital mutilation protection order | No fee |
Children
The guidance on family court applications that involve children (CB1) provides more information on the types of Children Act applications and who can make them. A selection of the more common applications are set out in this section.
Applications under the Children Act 1989 (fees order 2.1)
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Any new applications under the Children Act 1989 to request permission to issue proceedings or for an order or directions to be made concerning the child or children, for example child arrangements order, prohibited steps order, specific issue order or special guardianship order (with the exception of applications for care and supervision orders which are issued by local authorities) | £232 |
| An application for an enforcement order under the Children Act 1989 or an order for compensation for financial loss, due to the breakdown of a child arrangement order | £232 |
| Application to revoke, amend, extend or take action following the breach of an existing Children Act 1989 enforcement order | £102 |
There are 2 instances in the family fees order where £245 is due (proceedings under the Children Act 1989 is not one of them):
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Filing an application to start proceedings where no other fee is specified (fee 1.1 of the family fees order) | £245 |
| Filing an answer to an application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order (fee 1.6 of the family fees order) | £245 |
Applications to issue new proceedings under the Children Act 1989 are defined as any application for an order where there are no proceedings for the child or children currently being considered by the court.
If proceedings under the Children Act 1989 are already being considered for the child or children, the application fee for applications within proceedings will be charged.
An application for enforcement should be made first with a fee of £232 and only thereafter an application for a breach with a fee of £102 can be made.
For more information see Applications within proceedings.
Maintenance orders
For details of the fees to apply for an order to enforce an order for the payment of money, see Family enforcement proceedings.
If you wish to vary an existing maintenance order, see Applications within proceedings.
Adoption
(Fees order 3.1 to 3.3)
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application for permission, or an order | £183 |
One child or multiple siblings filed together is one fee of £183. If filed separately, and at different times, then there is a fee of £183 each time.
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application for a placement order (section 22) | £490 |
One child or multiple siblings filed together is one fee of £490. If filed separately, and at different times, then there is a fee of £490 each time.
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Revocation of placement | £183 |
If you are issuing applications for siblings at the same time, you only have to pay one fee.
Children Act and adoption applications
There is only one fee where an application is made or permission is sought under 2 or more provisions of the:
- Children Act 1989
- Adoption and Children Act 2002
- Children and Adoption Act 2006
If the fees are different, the highest fee is paid.
Applications within proceedings
‘On notice’ or ‘with notice’ means the other party has been notified of the application, regardless of whether there is a hearing or not.
‘Without notice’ means the other party has not been notified of the application, regardless of whether there is a hearing or not.
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application on notice where no other fee is specified (fees order 5.3) | £167 |
| Application by consent or without notice where no other fee is specified, for example an application to vacate or adjourn a hearing (fees order 5.1) | £53 |
You do not have to pay a fee if you are applying to prevent the person:
- you have accused of abuse asking you questions at a hearing (EX740)
- who has accused you of abuse asking you questions at a hearing (EX741)
Appeals
| Type of appeal | Fee |
|---|---|
| On filing an appeal notice from a district judge, one or more lay justices (magistrates), a justice’s clerk or an assistant to a justice’s clerk, except appeal against decisions under the Children Act 1989 (fees order 6.1) | £125 |
| Of any provision of the Children Act 1989, except in relation to appeals for breach or revocation of an enforcement order (fees order 2.3 to 2.4) | £215 |
When filing an appeal notice for siblings at the same time, you only have to pay one fee.
Family request for service (fees order 15.1)
| Type of request | Fee |
|---|---|
| Request for service by a bailiff for any document | £45 |
| Request for bailiff service on an application for non-molestation, occupation, forced marriage or female genital mutilation orders made by the applicant or third-party applicant | No fee |
Other family fees including copy documents and costs
Copy documents (fees order 8.1 to 8.2)
If you ask the court to make copies of documents or provide a copy of a document already provided:
| Number or format | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 pages of any document | £11 |
| For every additional page after 10 | 50p |
| Documents provided on computer disk or other electronic format | £11 |
Family determination of costs (fees order 9.1 to 9.5)
| Type of request or appeal | Fee |
|---|---|
| Request for a detailed assessment where the party who files the request is legally aided or funded by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) | £94 |
| Appeal against a decision made in detailed assessment proceedings | £210 |
| Request to issue a default costs certificate | £65 |
| Request or application to set aside a default costs certificate | £110 |
Where the following applications are made, the fee depends on the amount of costs being claimed:
- Request for a detailed assessment where the party filing the request is not legally aided or funded by the LAA
- Request for a hearing date for the assessment of costs following an order under part 3 of the Solicitors Act 1974
| Value of the costs claimed | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to £15,000 | £335 |
| £15,000.01 to £50,000 | £675 |
| £50,000.01 to £100,000 | £1,005 |
| £100,000.01 to £150,000 | £1,345 |
| £150,000.01 to £200,000 | £1,680 |
| £200,000.01 to £300,000 | £2,520 |
| £300,000.01 to £500,000 | £4,200 |
| More than £500,000 | £5,600 |
Family enforcement proceedings
You can issue enforcement proceedings if the court has ordered someone to pay you a sum of money or to return your goods, property or land and they have not done so.
Method of enforcement as the court may consider appropriate (fees order 5.1)
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application in the family court for an order for such method of enforcement as the court may consider appropriate | £53 |
Order to obtain information from a debtor (fees order 12.1)
| Type of application or request | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application for an order for a debtor or other person to attend court to provide information | £54 |
| Request bailiff service of an order for a debtor to attend court for questioning | £100 |
