Separate well with one lawyer – finalising your agreement

You’ve come to an agreement for your divorce or separation, what next?

If you have already reached an agreement as a couple about the outcome you would like to achieve on your separation or divorce, either together or in mediation, then we can offer you a cost effective, fixed price service to convert that agreement into a binding court order.

There are three different packages we offer to help you draft your agreement. We can decide together which is the most appropriate option for you depending on the complexity of your situation.

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How do I decide which package I need?

We will work with you to help you decide which option best suits your situation, but the below summary is a helpful starting point for understanding what each package covers.

Package 1

This is likely to be the best option if your financial situation is straightforward, you have been in mediation, your mediator has given you both legal information about your situation, you have reached an agreement, and your mediator has drafted an open financial statement and a memorandum of understanding that you can send to us. This includes one initial meeting for each of you but no joint meetings. 

Cost: £1,750 each plus VAT (£3,500 plus VAT in total).

Package 2

If your financial situation is slightly more complicated, this is likely to be the best option. For example, you may need a pensions on divorce expert (PODE) – usually a financial adviser or actuary – to work out the required percentage pension share. The PODE's cost will depend on the number of pensions and how many questions we advise you to put to them. PODEs usually cost between £1,900 to £3,200 plus VAT. Our package includes one initial meeting for each of you and one joint meeting. 

Cost: £2,500 each plus VAT (£5,000 plus VAT in total) and any experts’ fees.

Package 3

This is likely to be the best option if you have reached an agreement in mediation and there are some details that need to be ironed out, and/or if you have reached an agreement yourselves without the help of a mediator or a lawyer. This package also includes the work we will do to obtain an expert report from a PODE if necessary. The PODE's cost will depend on the number of pensions and how many questions we advise you to put to them. PODEs usually cost between £1,900 to £3,200 plus VAT. Our package includes one initial meeting for each of you and two joint meetings. 

Cost: £3,750 each plus VAT (£7,500 plus VAT in total) and any experts’ fees.

More complicated financial circumstances?

If your financial circumstances are more complicated, then contact us and we will provide you with a bespoke fee proposal. We will need you to provide us with a summary of the agreement that you have reached and a summary of your financial situation. This is because it is likely that additional advice and/or documents will be required before your agreement can be recorded in a binding court order. Having the full picture means we will then be able to offer you certainty on costs.

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The process

Please see our diagram below to see how our service works. Click here to view a full size version of the flowchart.

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Why choose us?

We are recognised as one of the leading teams of family and children lawyers nationally for family dispute resolution outside court. Our team of family and divorce lawyers includes highly trained mediators, collaborative practitioners and arbitrators. This means that we are uniquely placed to work with you in whichever way will best assist you to achieve your objectives, whether you both work with one of our lawyers together or need to proceed in a different way.  

Our specialist family law mediators are very experienced in working with separating couples and with children, so have the skills and expertise to assist your family. With offices across the country, we are likely to be able to support you wherever you are. 

If you or your ex partner have connections to countries outside the UK, we have extensive experience working with international families and will understand what you need to consider. When needed, we can also call upon the expertise of our colleagues who specialise in other areas of law – for example corporate, real estate, and tax – to offer you legal advice tailored to your needs.  

Main contacts

We take time to understand what you are going through and know how to help you and your family. 

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