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PAYING FOR DIVORCE

4 replies

muffintop · 17/04/2007 14:13

In Dec 04 split with husband as he was carrying on - went to see a solicitor who told me I was entitled to legal aid. I subsequently bought my husband out and remortgaged my property (mortage about £55,000) - as a result was no longer entitled to legal aid and my costs were tagged onto the end of my mortage. At this point I was divorced but wanted a final document drawn up to say that if I came into money (my parents have some properties) he would be not entitled to claim on anything.) My solicitor then told me I was a private client and asked for £200 before she would continue. I paid this (borrowed it because have no spare money!) and she asked me to pay £100 towards her costs. I told her that as a single parent to 2 small children, working 3 days and week and running a house I could not afford this money. She told me that apart from the order everything was nearly finished. I had not heard from her for month and contacted her on numerous occasions as I wanted this finished with. I received a bill for £500 in which she said I would not be sent a copy of the final order until I paid her. I wrote back and said that I did not have that sort of money and offered to pay £25 a month. She has declined this and said I can pay £250 over 2 months. There is no way I can pay this and I just wondered that as I have offered to pay my bill (albeit in small amounts) I am still trying to pay her. I do not have that sort of money unless I pay on a credit card which I do not want to do. So can anyone tell me if this is acceptable and should she accept this. Sorry its so long but happy to hear any responses.

OP posts:
Mumpbump · 17/04/2007 14:20

Contact the court in which the proceedings were filed and see if you can get a copy of the order directly from them.

Freckle · 17/04/2007 14:30

Agree. Contact the court directly and ask for a copy of the final order.

When you became a private client, did you receive a letter from your solicitor setting out precisely what her terms and conditions were? How much she charged per hour? What that fee covered, etc.? Because, if you didn't, she has failed to comply with fairly strict rules governing solicitors.

Once you have a copy of the order, you could submit a complaint to the Law Society.

muffintop · 18/04/2007 08:48

She did send me a standard letter saying that I was a private client and the cost of each letter etc. She did ask me to pay for £100 a month towards cost but I am on a very tight budget with running and house, 2 kids and a mortgage and simply could not run to it, I am peed off with her because she said that as my divorce was final and only the consent order was left to do it should only cost around an extra £250 - her final bill just states x amount of letters, phone calls and faxes, it does not itemise all the correspondence.

I don't think the service I have received is worth the money she is now charging and I don't totally believe she has written done all she has said but of course I cannot prove this and if I ask her to send me copies she is only going to charge me more.

I did not know you could apply to the court separately so will do this, thanks for the replies.

OP posts:
Mumpbump · 18/04/2007 16:13

You can apply to have her bill taxed, ie. examined by a third party to assess whether it is justified, but if it is, you will end up paying for the costs of the assessment. Let us know how you get on with getting a copy of the order...

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