Funding your case: Family law charges and fees
At Weightmans, we understand that our clients will want to know how much their case will cost.
That is why we give every client a tailored estimate right at the start of their case. This is prepared after a preliminary meeting with you, during which we will take details of your circumstances and your objectives.
We will provide an estimate of legal costs to cover each potential phase of work that we anticipate. It will be our objective to complete your case before all of those phases complete, but this is not always possible in every case. Should your situation change, we will discuss any legal costs implications with you.
The benefits of excellent representation
Every client and their situation is unique. We will work with you to understand your budget and the payment options that may be appropriate.
The importance of having excellent legal representation cannot be underestimated in terms of the overall value it will add to your case. We will do our best to ensure that not only do you have a strong team to support you, but also that you have the confidence that the cost will be manageable and will be worth the end result.
How are costs calculated?
Our work is usually charged according to your solicitor’s hourly rate which will be agreed with you at the outset of your case and which is based on the experience of the solicitor representing you.
If your case is being handled on a time spent basis you will be sent an invoice, usually each month, with a full breakdown of how the charges have been incurred.
We will also work with you to ensure that time spent on your case, and so the costs incurred, are managed efficiently.
Legal aid
At Weightmans we do not offer legal aid. All of our work is privately funded.
If you believe that you may be eligible for legal aid, you can check your eligibility at https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid/eligibility
Funding options
At Weightmans we are pleased to offer a range of different fee structures to suit our clients.
We recognise that not all of our clients have readily available resources to fund all of their legal costs.
We will explore various options with you that may include:
- Funding legal fees with assistance from family or friends — It is very important to discuss proposals to borrow from a non-commercial lender with your solicitor before entering into such an arrangement, to protect your interests and those of the person(s) lending you the funds.
- Borrowing using a personal loan or credit cards — Any funds borrowed from a commercial lender will be subject to the lender’s terms and conditions. In most situations, the funds borrowed will be factored into a financial settlement.
- Litigation loans — We have working relationships with a number of specialist external lenders who can offer an upfront loan to cover estimated legal costs. In such cases, although interest would accrue, the money borrowed would not need to be paid until your case is resolved, when it would be paid from your settlement.
- Seeking a contribution from your spouse or partner — In some circumstances, an application can be made to the court asking your spouse or partner to contribute towards your legal costs. This is called a legal services payment order application. If appropriate, we will discuss this option with you.