Divorce and Legal Services Payment Order

[Secondwivesbeware]

I just have to share this with all the women who are currently going through a divorce and thinking of representing themselves or maybe thinking of filing an application for a legal services payment order.

I am going through a divorce and I am representing myself. I filed for a legal service for my stbx to pay some or all of my legal costs.

My stbx is a Partner in KMPG and makes over £500,000 gross. I have just a two days hearing and I lost with costs awarded against me. He had a solicitor and a barrister to represent him. I represented myself.

I produced all the evidence to show that I could raise money in another way.

The judge took everything that stbx submitted as true among other things £18,000 pa for food and wine (he allegedly lives on his own) which judge thinks is reasonable.

I am beyond disgusted.

I just have to share this with all the women who are currently going through a divorce and thinking of representing themselves or maybe thinking of filing an application for a legal services payment order.

I am going through a divorce and I am representing myself. I filed for a legal service payment order for my stbx to pay some or all of my legal costs.

My stbx is a Partner in KMPG and makes over £500,000 gross. I have just had a two days hearing and I lost with costs awarded against me. He had a solicitor and a barrister to represent him. I represented myself.

I produced all the evidence to show that I could not raise money in another way.

The judge took everything that stbx submitted as true among other things £18,000 pa for food and wine (he allegedly lives on his own) which judge thinks is reasonable.

I am beyond disgusted.

why did u want him to pay for ur legal costs ?

I produced all the evidence to show that I could raise money in another way

That's what probably killed you. If you can raise the money to pay for your own legal costs then why would courts agree to a Legal Services Order? That he earns more than you would not be taken into account if you can pay your own way.

My ex applied several times for a Legal Services Order and was rejected every time. Reason was simple - she had assets (expensive jewelry) that could be sold to pay her own costs

why did u want him to pay for ur legal costs

It would be unfair for one partner to be disadvantaged if they can't afford representation whilst the other can afford solicitors and barristers.

Might sound silly that one pays the others costs, but logic is that if both partners have good representation it should be easier and quicker to reach an agreement without the need to involve courts. So the overall legal costs will be less.

Any financial assistance that one partner provides will be reflected in the final settlement so they will not be disadvantaged either.

Sorry I could not , missed the word “not”

I produce 2 letters from mortgage lenders and 2 from mortgage brokers to show I could not raise capital and 3 emails from loan litigation to say they could not lend me money. Still the judge said that it was not enough.

For divorce litigation

Still the judge said that it was not enough

Do you have assets of your own that could be sold to raise money for legal fees? If so then you would be expected to try and sell them.