How are you paying for solicitor fees?

[OneDayIWillFly]

Hi,

I am going through a long, drawn out divorce following a 20+ year marriage. I had been with a group of solicitors and spent over £5k so far. They had done very little it terms of supporting me and I now had a new, more expensive but very good, solicitor so he is making sure everything is done properly this time (evidence provided etc.).

The thing is, I have been paying all bills on the family home (a big 4 bed detached house) and have both teen children. I hadn’t claimed CM as the house is mortgage free and I know stbx is still awaiting his share of the property (although he owns another house outright where he is living). I am also paying all costs for the kids - phones, school bus pass and living costs.

My son’s birthday is coming up and I had told him a reduced figure I’d be giving him (he prefers money). He kicked off and said ‘I bet you’re paying your solicitor more’ - which is true. A lot more!

I have most of the £5k on a credit card which I am paying back and this, on top of the prolong bill paying on the house and expensive teens (especially the girl) is draining me financially even though I earn the most.

My new solicitor has insisted I put a CM claim in which I have now done but I just wondered what the best way to go about paying for future solicitor bills (£275 an hour) and house selling/moving bills without affecting the kids! We have always had a nice life and standard of living.

Any ideas?

Now have a new solicitor not had!

I’m in a similar situation.

ive spent a fortune over the last 6 years. My solicitors have been very understanding, but ultimately bills need paying. I pay a set amount each month, and am slowly chipping away at it.

How far into the process are you? How complex is it? It is entirely feasible to act as litigate in person, if you research and put the work in. There is a lot of support and information online. That being said, if it is too complex and you don't feel that's appropriate you can look at other ways to minimise fees, ensure you ask solicitors all you need to in one email/call. Research yourself anyway so you know and understand what is coming next and how you want to progress, don't leave it all to the solicitor.

I had a charge out on my house to pay them from the proceeds of sale then I didn't have to worry about paying them monthly it was about 25k in the end

Over two years into the process now. I need a good solicitor as I won’t be able to sort this myself.

I had to borrow money from my parents in the end....£35k and have spent £12k of my own money. So lucky they could afford to support me because no way I could've covered this if not! We went all the way to 3 court hearings and an additional hearing for a non molestation order. My ex mostly represented himself which ended up costing me far more because my solicitor had to explain everything to him 5 times, he dragged and dragged it out because it wasn't costing him anything.

I took out a loan and got an interest free credit card.

It’s all done and dusted now - 2 sets of child arrangements proceedings and the divorce. Fortunately nothing to do with the divorce went through court hearings, but I did use a solicitor for it.

I stopped counting after I had spent over £30k….

With respect to standing of living, unfortunately, you have to accept that it will reduce.

Hope it all works out.

how do you get through a high conflict divorce with no legal aid, not able to work its odd to think that a partner whom decided it was over and in another relationship only a few weeks after moving house adding 40,000 to the mortgage to do so. he left but says i threw him out, he is in another relationship before he left and advertised it, moved her away far away yet controls al household bills which he removed from my account without even a discussion about it stole thousands from my account then removed his name from all bills .
how can it get away with this,
the thought of not having anywhere to live is completely devastating how can he claim he is single too. why won't he admit it, is he embarrassed about her or something its strange. he is a control freak though. so this is going to cost me a lot but worth it to get rid of him . how i am going to pay for it is rather puzzling

You need to start your own thread.

@offtherecord that sounds very difficult. Get an initial appointment withha solicitor first. Often they will give the first appointment free. Research all you can. There is a wealth of information online re acting as litigate in person.
I think, what you'll have to accept though, is that often things are unfair.
Get as much evidence as possible re finances. Have a water tight paper trail on him. The courts will take a dim view if its proven he has spent a lot of money post separation. However, it's sadly unlikely you'll claw it back. Time to protect yourself. As I said though, get an initial appointment first.