How much does court cost?

[Lifechangesontheway]

How much does it cost to go to court to get a financial order?
my stbxh is making ridiculous offers which sees him take most of the assets. I’m not going to agree to it and see court as the only realistic option to a settlement.
if I go to court without a solicitor / barrister, will it be hideously expensive?
I have a low income and I am paying the mortgage and all bills on my own as he isn’t contributing despite still Living in the house.

Firstly keep a record of everything you’re paying. Is he working/earning?

You may be eligible for help with court fees if you’re on a low on income. Worth looking in to this.

It won’t cost anything if you don’t get advice but it’s very hard to do without any advice whatsoever. What assets are there?

Mediation is generally cheaper. You might be able to get funding for an hour or so, again depending on your income.

I don’t think he would attend mediation, he would likely just refuse.
he is earning very little as he is self employed and deliberately working only a few hours each week. He is basically earning enough to spend on the things he wants to spend on but not the things he should be paying towards, including his children.
there is some quite significant assets: family home, pensions and savings.
the savings are in his sole name, about £50k. Equity in the house is quite a lot and probably equal in monetary value as pensions. But the equity isn’t sufficient to split and buy two homes.
I think he is deliberately not working many hours so that he can argue that he needs a bigger share of everything as he won’t have enough to live on.
I really can’t be spending tens of thousands on solicitor fees as that will leave me unable to provide a stable home for the kids.

DH was LiP in court and the judge was brilliant. He explained the whole process and was very stern with his exW solicitor about her demands.

He will be expected to maximise his earnings. Working a few hours won't be looked upon kindly by the court.

You can do it yourself, be a Litigant in Person. I found Wikivorce very helpful, and got a lot of advice on here

Solicitors and barristers can be incredibly expensive. I know that first hand as I couldn't keep using one in my divorce. But it's not the only option you can use.
There are many resources you can use online that will help you and guide you through the process. Here's the one I used - https://iamlip.com/ I used it by myself and it really helped me but I know others who have used it just to lower costs by doing a lot yourself with the help of these guides and then having a solicitor do other things that you feel you cannot do.
Keep using mumsnet too for advice and also join some facebook divorce groups - there are a lot of people there in the same boat who can give you great and hep answer questions you may have.
Hope this could help xx

I found the most expensive thing was the toing and froing between solicitors for the financial order and my solicitor having to send countless chasing emails because Exh dragged his feet.

I got divorced before the no fault came in. But the final cost was triple the original quote because of the issue above.

You will need a solicitor to make sure the financial order is watertight for you and fair.

Have you had any legal advice at all, op?
If not, see a layer in the first instance.
A good lawyer will save you a fortune.

Total assets including pensions, savings and equity will be valued and split 50/50,initially.
If you're going to be looking after the children most of the time, the split could be more in your favour.

It could mean, as a basic example, he gets to keep his pension and savings while you keep the house.
It makes no difference if the savings are in his name. It counts as marital assets.

He will be expected to get a job. If it goes to court and the judge will see right through him.

And just because he’s making that’s unreasonable offers doesn’t mean he won’t relent once he knows you’re seeing a lawyer.

He may be trying it on.

My ex was like this and once he got a lawyer’s letter he appeared to back down.

Like your stbx, he quit his job too, hoping to get a maintenance package but he got nothing of the sort !

Edit: see a lawyer

I have spoken with a solicitor and had a free half hour. They charge £310 plus VAT for a more specific paid hours advice phone call. That hours charge is basically a whole weeks wages for me!
I will pay for advice on what I can realistically expect a court might award and then I will have to do everything myself. I am a fairly capable person but it’s very daunting. I’ve never been in a court room before.
i expect we will go all the way to court as we won’t agree. Our ideas of fairness are poles apart.
I know there will still be some costs involved but hopefully I can keep them to a minimum.
I have already paid the court fee for the divorce application (reduced by 50% because of my low income).
Time to put on my big girl pants.

You can do it!
There is lots of advice on here and wikivorce etc.

How did this all go? I’m in the same boat.

@Rainingcats24 we are currently going through court. Heading towards FDR hearing and I know it will go to final hearing because my ex is being completely unrealistic and is trying to ringfence all assets in his name and share all assets in my name. I am self representing. I represented myself in court through the first appointment. I’ve paid for one session of legal advice so far just to make sure that what I am offering is fair and reasonable. My legal costs to date are £400 and my ex who has a solicitor has so far spent £11000
I will need to get representation for the final hearing but I will self represent at the FDR.

I admire you so much for self representing, you are amazing. People waste so much on solicitors, I am wondering if I should do the same. My costs are already £1500 and his are £6k. He is also offering a ridiculous amount of 55% but I pay his costs which will encompass the extra!. He has done nothing on the house or with kids in ten years but has paid maintenance. He is trying to gaslight me about so much and make out he is dad of the year and has done loads!. It was such a mistake allowing him to stay on the mortgage because now we don’t have a home unless I fight him in court.