Divorce, do most solicitors offer first appointment for free?

[MadMommaMemoo]

I want to go and get some advice and start proceedings.

Will most solicitors give me advice for free at first and how much does it cost at each stage?

Would be really grateful for advice.

When DP got divorced, he had a first free meeting with a very nice solicitor who suggested that if there was no acrimony and disagreements about custody/finance, it would be much cheaper to DIY a divorce. You can download the forms online, I think DP did his through Tesco.
Nice solicitor did not charge for this advice either.

Tesco? Don't think they do that (yet!).
Some do eg my firm does first half hour free. It's enough to assess whether you have a need for legal advice and for you to consider the likely cost.
A divorce will cost around £1200-1500, with extra for money issues and children issues.

I am finacially dependent on my husband and have no income of my own, do you think I would qualify for legal aid?

For divorce, yes (unless you have savings of over £8000).

No I have no savings at all. Thank you resolution, appreciate the advice.

www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/diy-divorce-5906.aspx

I can't find the Tesco legal store now, so perhaps it doesn't exist anymore (or maybe it was all a dream...) but I can say for certain that DP and his ex did a DIY divorce and it cost much less. But, and its a big but, only a good idea if you know where you stand, what you are entitled to and its straightforward.

If you go on the public funding website you can find out in a couple of minutes whether you qualify. It's the legal services commission website, then go to Eligibility Calculator. You go to the Legal Help section.

Unfortunately if you have more than £100,000 worth of equity in the house you won't qualify.

We do a free half hour, but don't do legal aid. Not many firms do these days as it's not cost effective.

I'd suggest that if money is very tight and you can't get public funding, then spend what you do have on getting advice on the money side (ancillary relief) and do the divorce petition yourself as it's not massively complicated and the court provides guidance leaflets.

The court fees on the divorce are £340 on issuing the petition plus £45 for the decree absolute. I'd suggest that you claim those costs back (there's provision for that towards the back of the petition form).