Our prices to attend court to advocate for you

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We charge an hourly fee of £220-£350 plus VAT to act for you in your Family Law matters.

Note that we open up different files for different heads of the family law. There are various heads of the Family Law. Some people instruct us to deal with just one head whilst some others instruct us to deal with all the family law heads.

If you instruct us to deal with one head of the family law, we will not deal with other aspects of your family law if they relate to other heads of the family law except you pay our legal fees for us to do so.

The various heads of the Family Law are:

  1. Divorce
  2. Child Arrangements Order
  • Non-Molestation Order
  1. Occupation Order
  2. Financial Settlement

Our legal fees always attract a payment of VAT at 20% on top of the quoted fee.

CHILD ARRANGEMENTS ORDER CASES- FAMILY LAW

We can also charge estimated fees to carry out a particular task or to deal with a particular aspect of your case. 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

For us to prepare your evidence, bundle of papers and get your case ready for court – From £1500 plus VAT depending on the amount of paperwork in your case, how many bundles have to be prepared for the court, whether these are electronic bundles or paper bundles, the complexity of your case and whether we need to instruct Counsel to attend Court to advocate for you.

Our fees are for us as Solicitors. Not all Solicitors advocate at court, as such you can instruct us to instruct Counsel/Barrister to attend court to advocate for you. We also reserve the right to ask you to use the services of Counsel whom we will instruct after you approve them.

Our Solicitor who deals with Family law cases is Delphine Akinsete, she has been a solicitor for 14 years. She advocates at the Magistrates and County Court. She also advocates before Circuit and High Court Judges in Family Law private cases.

For our fees to advocate at your family law hearings please click here https://delphinephilipsolicitors.com/prices-to-attend-court/

Charges for preparing bundle: This will depend on how much paperwork you have. The fees for preparing a bundle start at £400 plus VAT 

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.

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 always liable for the charges even if the court orders someone else to pay your costs. If the court ask the other side to pay your fees it will usually be at the end of a case. Notably the general rule in Family law is that both parties bear their costs, that there is no order made by the court for someone else to pay your costs. Therefore, you will always pay our fees in the first instance and may be reimbursed what you have paid when the funds clear from the person ordered to pay your costs.

In court proceedings, it is difficult to predict the amount of time that will be spent since much will depend on:

  1. the directions of the court;
  2. the number of hearings at court;
  3. the duration of those hearings;
  4. the conduct of the other person in your case and their solicitors;
  5. 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 plus 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 plus VAT.

 

BAND 2 – up to £4000 plus 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 £25,000 plus 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 will be briefed 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 (e.g., 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 plus 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 head of law that your case falls into. Examples of disbursements are:

LIKELY DISBURSEMENTS (THIRD PARTY FEES) IN FAMILY LAW CASES 

DIVORCE

  • Filing an application for a divorce– fees £593
  • Filing an application for judicial separation – fees £365
  • Filing an application for an amendment – £95
  • Filing an application to start proceedings where no other fee is specified – fee £245
  • Filing a Declaration as to marital status, parentage, legitimacy or adoptions effected overseas – fees – £365

 FINANCIAL ORDERS

  • Application for a financial order, other than by consent – fees £275
  • Application by consent for a financial order – fees £53

 APPLICATIONS FOR INJUNCTIONS FAMILY HOMES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE APPLICATIONS:

  • Application for a non-molestation order. – No fee payable
  • Application for an occupation order. – No fee payable

APPLICATION IN CHILDREN MATTERS

  • 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(ren) e.g., 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 only two instances in the family fees order where £245 is payable, Proceedings under the Children Act 1989 is not one of them. They are:

  1. On filing an application to start proceedings where no other fee is specified. £245
  2. On filing an answer to an application for a matrimonial or civil partnership 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(ren) currently being considered by the court. If proceedings under the Children Act 1989 are already being considered for the child(ren) the application fee for applications within proceedings will be charged.

Please note 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.

  • Application on notice where no other fee is specified – fees £167
  • Application by consent or without notice where no other fee is specified, e.g., application to vacate or adjourn a hearing – fees £53
  • No fee is payable when making an application on form EX740 and EX741 – Application and information needed by the court to consider whether to prevent (prohibit) questioning (crossexamination) in person.

APPEALS ON FILING A NOTICE OF APPEAL:

  • On filing an appeal notice from a district judge, one or more lay justices (Magistrates), a justices’ clerk or an assistant to a justices’ clerk, except appeal against decisions under the Children Act 1989 – fees £125
  • Of any provision of the Children Act 1989, except in relation to appeals for breach of or revocation of an enforcement order – fees £215

FAMILY REQUEST FOR SERVICE

  • 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 payable

FAMILY DETERMINATION OF COSTS – FEES

ON FILING A REQUEST FOR A DETAILED ASSESSMENT:

  • Where the party who files the request is legally aided or funded by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). £94 Where the following applications are made, the fee payable depends on the amount of costs being claimed:
  • Filing a request for a detailed assessment where the party filing the request is not legally aided or funded by the LAA; or
  • Request for a hearing date for the assessment of costs following an order under Part 3 of the Solicitors Act 1974 where the costs claimed are: up to

£15,000 £335

£15,000.01 – £50,000 ——————————–£675

£50,000.01 – £100,000——————————-£1,005

£100,000.01 – £150,000——————————£1,345

£150,000.01 – £200,000——————————£1,680

£200,000.01 – £300,000—————————–£2,520

£300,000.01 – £500,000—————————–£4,200

more than £500,000———————————–£5,600

  • 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

 FAMILY 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, you can issue enforcement proceedings. Method of enforcement as the Court may consider appropriate

  • 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

  • To issue an application for an order for a debtor or other person to attend court to provide information. £54
  • To request Bailiff service of an order for a debtor to attend court for questioning. £100

ATTACHMENT OF EARNINGS

  • Application for an attachment of earnings order (a fee is payable for each defendant against whom the order is requested). £34

CHARGING ORDER – FEES

  • Application for a charging order. (A fee is payable for each charging order applied for). £38

JUDGMENT SUMMONS – FEES

  • Application for a judgment summons. – £73

 THIRD PARTY DEBT ORDER

  • Application for a third-party debt or garnishee order/Appointment of Receiver. (A fee is payable for each party against whom the order is requested) – £77
  • Application for enforcement of a judgement or order – fees £100

WARRANT OF CONTROL FEES

  • Request for enforcement of a warrant at a new address – fees £30
  • Issue for a warrant of possession or a warrant of delivery – fees £119
  • To issue a warrant of control (recovery of a sum of money) – fees £100

 ENFORCEMENT IN THE HIGH COURT – FEES

  • Sealing a writ of control/possession/delivery £60
  • Request/application to register a judgment or order £60

SEARCHES – FEES

  • Search of the national central index of decrees absolute/final orders £65
  • Search of the national central index of parental responsibility agreements £45
  • Search of any specific family court or District Registry index of decrees absolute/final orders £45