Fees
We believe that finding a solution when you separate should be easy, and that includes budgeting for costs.
Below you’ll find information about our packages and costs for uncomplicated cases. If you need a more bespoke estimate, or you would like other professionals to be involved, we’ll go through likely costs with you when we meet.
We will always try and remain as cost effective as possible. We review our fees annually, and new rates take effect on 1st January each year. We’ll always let you know in advance of any increase to your costs.
Separate Together
| When are fees payable? | |
| Initial assessments £150 per person | At the end of the meeting |
| First joint meeting, including summaries £540 shared between you | At the end of the session |
| Two further joint meetings of up to 4 hours in total, and including summaries £1,440 shared between you | At the end of the first of these sessions |
| Further joint meetings Charged at £360 per hour, payable between you and includes a summary of each meeting | At the end of each session |
| Preparing the Order Drafting the Order and meeting with you – we allow three hours for this and the minimum fee is £1200 to be shared between you | At the end of the session in which you finalise the settlement |
| Further work (meetings, letters/emails, preparation, telephone calls etc) is charged at our hourly rate of £360, shared between you | As and when invoiced, and payable on receipt of the invoice. |
Collaborative, Kitchen Table and Traditional Lawyer-led Negotiations
| When are fees payable? | |
| We apply an hourly rate when we act for you as a solicitor, whether it is on a traditional or collaborative basis. The hourly rate for our solicitors and legal executives is £250 plus VAT (£300) and the rate for our Directors is £275 plus VAT (£330). When we are acting for you both as your solicitor (for example because you have reached an agreement together) it should be a much more cost-effective way of having a lasting solution. When we act for you both, our hourly rate is £300 (plus VAT) for our solicitor and legal executives, and £325 (plus VAT) for Directors. It’s slightly higher as we will need to correspond with both of you, but we aim to make it much cheaper for you than having two lawyers. | In each of these cases we aim to help you budget for your legal fees, and so we invoice you monthly. Our invoices are payable upon receipt. |
Mediation
| When are fees payable? | |
| Initial individual appointments – £99 per person If you are eligible for legal aid, this will be free of charge for both of you | At the end of the meeting |
| First joint meeting, including summaries £450 – this is our minimum fee and covers a 90 minutes session. If your session is longer than that, we charge £150 for each half an hour or part. The fees are shared between you. If you are eligible for legal aid, this will be free of charge for both of you | At the end of the session |
| Subsequent further joint meetings £450 per 90 minutes session. If your session is longer than that, we charge £150 for each half an hour or part. The fees are shared between you, and includes a summary. If you are eligible for legal aid, all of your mediation fees will be covered. The ineligible person will have to pay for the second and subsequent joint meetings | At the end of the first of these sessions |
| Preparing the documents at the end Drafting the Memorandum of Understanding and Open Financial Summary – we allow one and a half hours for this and the minimum fee is £450 to be shared between you. If your agreement is more complex, we will let you know the likely fee in advance. Drafting the Parenting Agreement – we allow an hour for this and the minimum fee is £300 to be shared between you. More complicated arrangements may take longer to document, and we will let you know if this is the case. If you are legally aided your share of the fees for drafting these documents will be covered in full, | At the end of the session in which you finalise the settlement |
| The Mediation Voucher Scheme Designed to be used for cases that involve discussions about childrens arrangements, this scheme offers £500 towards the total costs. The scheme does NOT cover the individual meeting or the preparation of documents. | Any balance of fees over £500 will need to be paid at the end of the session. |
Arbitration
| When are fees payable? | |
Family Solutions offers a fixed fee for conducting a non-complex arbitration, of £2,500 plus VAT. The package includes:
For more complicated cases, please contact us for an estimate. | To be paid upon acceptance of the instruction and signed ARB1. |
Neutral Case Assesments
| When are fees payable? | |
| We have two packages for less complicated cases, depending on whether you opt for a hearing, or whether you wish us to consider the papers without a hearing. Option 1 In person or online hearing – £2,000 plus VAT. Includes:
For more complicated cases, please contact us for an estimate. | In both options, fees to be paid upon receipt of Agreement signed by both of you. |
Parenting Coordination
| When are fees payable? | |
| Participants in Parenting Coordination sign a contract which sets out how long we will work together. Family Solutions has two PC’s, who work as a team and you may work with us together or individually. When we work individually we charge £350 plus VAT per hour. If we are working together, then our fee is £450 (plus VAT) per hour. If you have support from other professionals (such as family consultants or psychologists) we will agree a fee together and you will pay them direct. | We invoice you monthly. Our invoices are payable upon receipt. |
Family Consultancy & Counselling
| When are fees payable? | |
| Readiness for Mediation | Included in your first mediation session fee |
| Readiness for all other solutions – £90 per person (individual appointments) | At the end of the appointment |
| Attending a joint mediation meeting with you both (90 mins) – £180 per session – this is the minimum fee and covers a 90 minute session. If your session is longer than that, we charge £65 for each half an hour or part. The fees are shared between you. | At the end of the session. |
| Individual counselling session (50 mins) – £120 per session | At the end of the session. |
| Couples counselling session (50 mins) – £180 per session, shared between you | At the end of the session. |
| Child inclusive mediation session – £120 per session, shared between you | At the end of the session. |
| Family or child centred counselling (50 mins) – £180 per session, shared between you. | At the end of the session. |
| Please note that sadly neither the Voucher Scheme, nor Legal Aid, covers therapeutic support |
