Fact finding

[BananaramaNananana]

Anyone had to do this on their own? Just spent £47k on prep, solicitor & barrister on a FF which then turned into a 3 day case management/directions hearing and FF adjourned until later (can't go into why). Absolutely no money left (spent nearly £200k including VAT so far) bar small amount left on solicitors/barrister tab as they reduced their fee as not attending the last 2 days which were cancelled. I'm stuffed aren't I? Ex has QLR helping above & beyond official duty plus court advocates and has got away with so much.

Anyone managed all prep on their own and then for 5 day hearing whilst working full time & child care?

Sorry to be dense but is this almost £200k for a divorce with more work left to do? How on earth is it costing so much? Is this how much money I would need if I ever got divorced? I'm shocked!
I don't have any advice but hopefully my post at least bumps this for you!

No, divorce doesn't normally cost anything like this much. I presume there is a lot of money at stake.

Likely OP is referring to Children Act proceedings which not infrequently involve finding of fact hearings. And yes, costs can be as much as OP’s for cases where the hearing lasts a number of days.

Yes not even on divorce and not much to fight over moneywise. It's children act proceedings. I've part acted as a litigant in person. Long drawn out proceedings with ex constantly making applications and court having another hearing etc Thought I'd made it home with the last of my money (pension draw down and loan) for a fact find for barrister and a couple of days for solicitor but no, I was backed into a corner to allow another allegation in at the last minute. Judge adjourned FF but used existing court dates for directions and case management. Still have to pay barrister for time booked although has said she's asked her clerk to reduce the fee for the unused 2 days. No money left at all and yet a FF now later in the year. I had budgeted for FF because everyone seems to say you really need a barrister for this but rug pulled from under me.

This is why I always avoid court at all costs 😳

What exactly are you applying for?

Unfortunately no doable where you are the respondent.

just to confirm I'm respondent currently with lives with order. Ex on bail.

I may have to represent myself for fact finding. I am not legal trained. I am finding this whole experience highly traumatic. The costs quoted from my solicitor were what you’ve spent. The whole thing is utterly wrong. I had to put solicitor to one side. I am struggling to get pro bono help. Judge recently couldn’t care less. I really empathise. It’s not a level playing field if you do it yourself. But then if the evidence is there then effectively the judge should see it. Honestly I think it’s doable but that’s because I cannot see a different way out of this yet

Thanks, Darkershadeofpink. Not looking forward to it but no other option it seems. I just wonder how many of those who have self represented at a several day fact find saw the result they hoped for. Unfortunately, evidence can be twisted as I've seen so it boils down to he said, she said on the day. And acting as a LIP you find you get missed out of things and court forget to send you paperwork and orders vary from what you agreed at court.

I am sorry. I have had exactly this. The judge reads his papers but not mine. Orders and directions made but not reflected in the paperwork. Everything about my life twisted. Asked by judge recently to breach the terms of the NMO - seems sighted on children but not me, my family. I would try to get a free barrister if you can.

I don't know anywhere we can get a free barrister! Someone suggested I apply for legal aid today. Most people just don't realise that you can't get it if have an interest in a property which the ex won't vacate/sell. I guess it's quite a wide spread situation nowadays.