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8 Tips to Cut Your Divorce Costs

By Tim Bishop

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 19Dec2009 Word count: 585 Viewed: 387 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Good family law solicitors understand that not only is divorce very painful, but it can prove very expensive too. Apart from the fact that two households are more expensive to run than one, legal bills can escalate. However, if you follow these simple tips, you can help keep your legal costs down.

1. Prepare for your initial meeting.

If you intend to divorce your spouse, it will save your solicitor's time and your cash if you turn up at your first meeting with a brief written summary of your circumstances, and include the facts set out below. Your solicitor will then not need to spend time getting those basic details from you:

- Your full name and address.

- Your date of birth.

- The full name of your spouse.

- The names and ages of any children you may have.

- A rough summary of your family's financial position, including details of any property, its rough value and any debt outstanding on it, details of any pensions, savings, shares, endowment policies or other investments, and any other family assets or debts.

2. Obtain your marriage certificate.

If you plan to file for divorce, provide for your solicitor either the original marriage certificate or a certified copy obtainable from your local Registry Office.

3. Get hold of your own pension valuation.

A pension is often one of the family's largest assets. Your pension is taken into account when looking at family assets and considering how they should be split between the two of you. Your solicitor will always need an up-to-date valuation of your pension. A simple letter from you to your pension company asking for its current transferable value will save you money.

4. Get hold of your own financial documents.

When preparing to negotiate your financial settlement, your solicitor will need to see many documents. Ask your solicitor what is required in your case, but the list will probably include:

- A valuation of your house if you own it; we suggest you get hold of 3 (often free) market valuations from local estate agents.

- A mortgage redemption statement from your mortgage company.

- Bank statements for the last year.

- Your P60 and 3 recent payslips.

- Your latest credit card statement and redemption statements for any HP/loan agreements you may have.

- Details of any substantial asset you may own (e.g.shares, life insurance policy etc).

5. Complete Form E.

Form E is a very lengthy document required by the court in a set format listing full details of family financial position. By completing as much as you can yourself and by getting for your solicitor as much supporting documentation as you are able, you can reduce your legal costs. You should be aware that you must keep strictly to the various notes on Form E as to which documents are needed.

6. Promptly reply to any correspondence without being reminded.

Don't forget your solicitor will charge you for every letter and phone call they make so limiting them as far as you can will assist in keeping your bill down.

7. Ask your solicitor if there is anything else you can do yourself.

8. Make sure you choose a specialist and experienced family law solicitor.

Picking a solicitor who specialises in divorce and has plenty of experience should keep your bill down. Avoid solicitors, however cheap they may seem, who don't really know what they're doing - by picking someone without experience or family law specialisation you may end up paying a lot more in the long-term.

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