More than a month to hear back from solicitor re divorce. Is that right?

[smoothieooo]

After 2 failed attempts where I met with a solicitor then backed out from proceeding, I finally initiated divorce proceedings in a meeting with a solicitor on 30 April (quick back story: separated 3 years, ex pays all of the mortgage but not for much longer, 2 teenage sons, need to sort out the house situation).

I emailed her yesterday to ask when I might receive some initial paperwork and was told I would hear from her within the next seven days. I'm nervous enough about this whole process and this delay doesn't instill the greatest confidence!

Is this a reasonable timeframe?

Probably not, but it will be a symptom of either a caseload that is too large (caused by legal aid changes that make the work loss making unless you do it by the bucket full), or the fee earner has recently been on holiday and is now playing catch up.

How much are you paying?

Hourly rate of 195 plus VAT. If the whole thing goes smoothly, apparently it will cost between 3-6k. She wants 400 per month on account for now so has been sitting on my 400 quid since April...

I work in a law firm (corporate rather than family law) and can't imagine such a gap from initial meeting to follow up!

If it's going to take a further 7 days that would suggest that the work hadn't yet been dictated, and also suggests a large typing backlog. Unless she's just returned from holiday I'd want a quicker service than that for my money.

Wait until you see the client care letter and then evaluate whether you'd want to continue to instruct them. If you've already decided you'd rather go elsewhere you should tell them now. Given the time delay they may be prepared to waive their bill.

Thanks Collaborate I'll do that. It would have been more reassuring if, in her email yesterday she had apologised for the delay, but the fact she did not leads me to assume that it is her usual pace of work!

That is poor service. I would be looking elsewhere. In my firm we would never provide such a slow service.

It sounds appalling to me. I got email replies within a day when I divorced (used Withers). It was just like the reponses I give and get in the business law I practise.

Sorry to hear about the problems you are having. As others say there are a whole host of reasons that could be behind this delay. Clients who come to me (I am a McKenzie Friend and a volunteer at a charity that assists people with child matters) are sometimes disappointed by the level of service they receive.

I suppose it is inevitable to a certain extent as most people don't deal with the legal profession on a day to day basis.

However it is important to remember that your solicitor or barrister works for you. Shop around, ask for references and recommendations from friends. Divorces, etc. are a serious undertaking and you do not want to entrust serious matters to someoene you have little faith in.

Ironically in your case...divorces are usually easy (compared to some finance cases and the potential minefield of child matters). It's likely something you can do yourself with minimal assistance unless there is a lot going on.

Thanks all - I really appreciate your comments. I think the delay is pretty unacceptable but at the same time, am in no particular hurry to get this underway (am anticipating a rather painful few months)!

Luckily STBexH and I are on fairly amicable terms and it's just the shared property which needs to be legally sorted as the DC are teens.