Solicitors fees for what??

[Newbegg]

Would anyone know if this is the process for solicitors. Basically I got some advice a year ago from a solicitor, which cost £306. One consultation, 2 emails. This hasn't been paid yet as I wasn't 100% of the future. Now I'm in a position to proceed & pay the outstanding balance. Basically they won't proceed until O/S is paid and further £500 retainer paid upfront. This, for me, single parent to two teens is a lot off money. Initially I wanted them to draft up a settlement order, but had been told previously, my ex would need one also, which I know he won't do. So am I just wasting my money at this stage. I just don't know what way to go forward. For info, I have tried numerous times to discuss with ex and there's absolutely no discussions from him. Thanks for reading, didn't mean for it to be so lengthy

You can't just not pay a bill op.

What was the deadline payment on the invoice? I expect you went over it.

They are not prepared to do any more work for you unless you pay up front as a consequence of not paying last time.

As a business holder, I would operate under the exact same conditions, for people who need chasing for payments owed.

@arethereanyleftatall thanks for your reply., I asked for my case to be left open after invoiced until I'd made a decision. Just figuring out is it worth spending another £500, for a one sided separation order.

Ah I see, my apologies, Id misunderstood. On that question then, I'm afraid I don't know what happens if the other party doesn't engage at all. Hopefully someone will be along to clarify.

They won't have liked waiting a year for their bills paid. They're a business with cash flow concerns...x

Quite normal for a solicitor to have a monthly retainer or to keep a balance in the client account.

I'm confused by what you mean by "a one sided settlement order"? If you mean a financial order, that sets out how you've divided the marital assets, you only have one of those. But both parties have to agree the contents and complete a form that indicates assets before the order and after the order.

I had to pay £1500 retainer to my solicitor. That covered a will (around £300) and most of the financial order - it's just been submitted to the court and my bill is about £50. I did the actual divorce myself online though (£583) - just waiting for court to approve the financial order and then I can push the button for the end.

I had to pay £60,000 in legal costs for divorce my ex who dragged the whole thing out for 5 years.

You can’t ask for work to be done and then wait a full year to pay your bill. They did the work so you needed to pay them in a timely manner. I’m surprised they’re willing to represent you at all.

You didn't pay the original bill from a year ago because you weren't certain of the future?? That's not how it works and I'm surprised they're happy to represent you at all tbh. Did you not receive multiple reminders?

@sparepantsandtoothbrush one invoice to close my file, which I asked to be left open. I wasn't aware of the process, when asked for further £500.

I'm a solicitor. Dealing with private clients can be a nightmare because they are more likely to delay paying for a long time. Solicitors' payment terms are normally 30 days, or immediately on presentation of invoice. Would you walk into a shop, take something costing £300, and expect it to be ok if you didn't pay for a year? No. There is no difference.

But you've still owed them £300 for a year? I'm baffled as to how they haven't chased that up!

In answer to your original query though, yes it's normal to pay a retainer. I've had to pay a retainer and then each month I get another invoice with them predicting how much the next month will cost and I have to pay that in advance. It's painful and I know my ex is hoping I just give up but I've come too far now

@Elektra1 no I wouldn't dream of it. I was only invoiced in February. Thanks for your reply,

It's August now. That's 5 months.

Yes, that's correct.

The invoice was for work done so had to be paid, and was likely due in March. What a strange mindset to think you could decide when to pay.

With mine I didn't get five months to pay but since I paid all bills the minute I got the email, if they did more work I suspect , they'd wait a bit if I spoke to them.

Pay up and then speak to them about a payment plan.

Yes, that's correct 😂🙄

My divorce was 30k I had to pay them 2£k a month retainer and the balance when the house was sold. Nothing was done till they had the money

I wonder what you get for £30k? Many are not suitable for a DIY divorce. My friend spent thousands. My other friend submitted the D8 herself.

Pay the bill.
don’t pay anymore just now
go to ADVICE NOW link at top of page and read. Then read again. All the booklets that apply to you.
you can do most of work yourself to divorce. Yep, there are a few things you need a solicitor for like the legal drafting of consent order. But if you and ex can agree the costs are low. Don’t waste anymore money on solicitors until you know EXACTLY what tasks you need the, to do, and can state this clewrly to them.

ADVICE NOW guides will take you through divorce petition (you do NOT need any solicitor for this- no one does any more). They will take you through child arrange,ents. And they will take you through the various ways to get a financial agreement. The guides explain FAIR SETTLEMENT which is crucial to understand what a realistic settllement might include for you both. They will explain how to do your own (and ex to do his) legal financial disclosure (forms E and D81).

our ENTIRE legal bill and court costs came to £1500 in 2021. We just need solicitor to legally draft the consent order. You do NOT both need a consent order, you agree, write a non legal draft version, then give it to ONE of your solicitors to turn into legal draft, for courts to seal (approve) . BOTH of you should ideally consult a solicitor even for a minimum 45 mins once draft is written. Courts like to see both parties have taken legal advice - it not mandated though, it just makes is less likely courts will question an uneven split of assets if that applies.

obviously if you can’t agree, or you don’t trust his legal financial disclosure, then solicitor will need to be used - and costs will mount rapidly. £200 + VAT per hour is not unusual - that includes every second the solicitor is even picking up your file, thinking about your file, or listening to you letting off steam. It is much better to instruct them specifically just on tasks you can’t do

read up on ADVICE NOW- link in header at top. Also the government web site on divorce is very good too.

Bloody hell, we spent combined £1500 in 2021 - how on earth did your bills go up to that?

@Dartwarbler thank you for your reply, there is lots of useful information here.

Well I don't blame them, you can't just not pay for services you have already had and then expect them to keep letting you do more without putting money on account.
I'm going through a divorce and I had to put £750 on account and I paid my bill for my first appointment.