The breakdown of a relationship is never an easy time and calls for sensitive, professional advice to make matters as straightforward as possible. Coles Miller has one of the most experienced teams of Family Solicitors in the area.

Our team are either members of 'Resolution' and Members of the Law Society Family Law Panel, and hold to their code of conduct.

We aim to keep your costs to a minimum and will, whenever possible, attempt to achieve a settlement by way of a negotiated Consent Order [an agreement put into a court order to ensure your spouse keeps to the agreement in the future] rather than contested Court Proceedings.

We have developed a Fixed Fee Payment Plan for resolving financial matters in divorce to make this time as straightforward as possible for you. Part of its purpose is to address the difficult issue of costs, and how they can be funded, either by payment in advance or in monthly instalments. We offer a reduction in fees for both options and offer an exclusive credit facility from Barclays Bank to help you fund your case.

Background

The idea behind this payment plan is to guide you through the legal process with expert specialist advice from our Family Team at a highly competitive price.

We have devised this fixed fee payment plan for those who have reasonably straight forward financial circumstances. We only offer this payment plan where it appears that your circumstances are appropriate and reserve the right to decline instructions on these terms at our absolute discretion.

The Transaction Protocol was outlined by one of the leading High Court Judges in the year 2000 and aimed to set out guidelines that assist the resolution of the financial aspects of a divorce in the most cost effective manner possible and avoiding undue acrimony. The Solicitor's Family Law Association and the Law Society support the Protocol.

Funding the Costs

There are various ways in which you can pay for your case. You can budget for the fees by obtaining a credit facility; loan or credit card if required, to pay in advance or by paying in monthly instalments.

Payment in Advance

For those who are able to pay in advance either by credit card or by borrowing from family or a commercial loan, we will reduce our standard fees enabling you to make a substantial cost saving as detailed below.

Monthly Instalments

Alternatively, you can choose to pay in nine equal monthly instalments, whereby we will again reduce our fees and offer the following cost saving.

No matter which option you choose, to help ease the financial burden, we have joined forces with Barclays Bank to offer our clients exclusive access to a Professional Fees Loan facility purely to help pay your legal fees in Family Dispute matters.

In brief, the Barclays Professional Fees Loan will cover the fees of your case regardless of which payment method you choose - in advance or monthly instalments, but you will have to repay the funds lent to you no later than 24 months after signing the loan agreement or at the conclusion of your case, whichever is sooner. Interest is charged by Barclays on the sums you borrow. Repayments to Barclays can be made monthly or as one-off payment(s).

Please note the Professional Fees Loan scheme will not be suitable for everyone, and you will pay interest on the money Barclays have lent you. Leaflets provided by Barclays are available to explain more - should you need further information, please speak to the Solicitor dealing with your case.

Our Fixed Fee Payment Plan is offered on the basis that you will play your part by supplying information and documentation promptly.

Please note that if the fees you incur at the time your case is resolved are lower than those quoted in the appropriate stage of the payment plan, any difference between the fees you have incurred and payment plan price will be returned to you.

The fees in the payment plan are based on a specially reduced hourly charge rate of £120.00 per hour [standard charge rate is £150.00 per hour]. Our other fees are:-

Please take time to read these notes carefully. It is important that you understand certain background information and the Court process involved to appreciate the fee structure, and what you are paying for at each stage of the payment plan.

The Process

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Fees