Hiring a good solicitor is going to cost you money, but if this sounds painful, just pause for a moment to consider the long-term damage of instructing an ‘average’ one - or by trying to ‘saving money’ by doing things yourself. Failing to get the right legal advice will likely cost you time with your kids
Precious Time With Your Children
Let's start with the big one - particularly if you're a father. If you've recently separated from your partner and haven't yet got a formal arrangement in place to see your child(ren), it may only be a matter of time before things become difficult. One of the first casualties of relationship breakdown is often regular and predictable access to children.
Finances
If your ex-partner has hired an experienced solicitor, or even if they haven't, you may already be in a ‘damage limitation’ situation, i.e., having to respond to solicitor’s letters and/or demands from your partner regarding documents and/or possessions. A good solicitor will ensure that you end up with the best financial settlement that you could have hoped for.
Saving money by negotiating things yourself or by hiring the ‘cheaper option’ may well sound like you're saving money but experience tells us that in the longer term you may regret not finding the best solicitor that you can afford. There is also the pressure of representing yourself at a time when you are still adjusting to the fact that you are in the divorce process and already receiving correspondence from your ex-partner's solicitor.
There are times when saving money is a good idea - e.g. last minute holidays, 2-for-1 at the supermarket. Finalising a divorce settlement or agreeing child arrangements isn't one of those times.
Your Legal Bill
Solicitors have businesses to run and relationship breakdown is simply part of their everyday work. They will bill you for their services like any other organisation. During the divorce process there are lots of financial issues to think about and questions arise: how much can I spend? Which bank account can I take money from? How will I pay for things on a daily basis? When can I call my solicitor and how much will it cost? Solicitors’ bills are an unwelcome pressure in this scenario as are their hourly rates. At Advocate Family Law
we negotiate fees and billing on your behalf with a solicitor that you can trust.
We Do Not Give Legal Advice
We are not in the business of giving legal advice but we are in the business of helping people negotiate the tricky terrain of divorce by absorbing the pressures that legal process often brings. Advocate Family Law is designed to save people from making bad decisions and choices amidst one of life’s most traumatic experiences.
If you think that we can help you, book a free one hour call with us and we'll introduce you to solicitors you can trust.