FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR FAMILY LAW SOLICITOR

The first meeting with your family law Solicitor is very much a fact finding exercise to enable your Solicitor to advise you properly on the next steps. During that meeting you can expect to learn more about your options including what steps can be taken to reach a resolution in your case.

We appreciate that if you are seeking advice from a Family Law Solicitor, It could be a particularly emotional and stressful time for you and therefore I have put together a list of questions for you to ask your Solicitor to make the process that little bit easier:-

1. Are you qualified?

I would strongly recommend obtaining advice from a qualified practitioner such as a Solicitor or legal executive, and choose one who specialises in Family Law.

2. How much will my case cost?

Your Solicitor must provide you with an estimate, taking into account all of the aspects of your case.

Family Law solicitors usually charge on an hourly rate basis and can only give clients an estimate of what their costs might be. You will be required to make a payment on account of their costs so that they can start working on your case and provide you with an estimate of how much the case will cost you from start to finish.

The other option is a fixed fee scheme, which will give you the peace of mind that you will only be paying a set amount and you will know from the outset exactly how much your case will cost.

You should specifically ask if they offer a fixed fee or an estimate, whether it includes VAT, court fees or disbursements, and whether it has been tailored to your case or is just a general estimate given to all clients.

Although it can be difficult to give clients an exact quote in Family Law, we believe in transparency and give accurate cost information throughout your matter.

There are still some firms who offer Legal Aid to clients provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

3. How long will my case take?

It can be difficult to give clients this information, however your Solicitor should be able to give you a timeframe in which your case will be resolved. They should keep this under review as your case progresses and let you know if they think it will take longer than anticipated.

4. How will my case be resolved?

There are numerous ways of resolving your case, such as mediation, negotiation through solicitors, applying to court or dealing with it yourself with the help of a solicitor in the background.

5. How do you keep yourself up-to-date with the law?

This is very important. Family Law has undergone through many changes over the last few years and may do so in the future too.

It is imperative to invest in ongoing training and research to ensure clients are receiving the right advice. The impact of that on clients is huge – as you may be making life-changing decisions based on the legal advice you receive.

Our solicitors ensure that they stay abreast of any updates or any changes to the law to ensure we provide our clients with the correct and best possible advice.

We deal with all aspects of Family Law and offer affordable services which include fixed fee packages. Our charging system is transparent and we keep you informed at all times.

if you have a family matter you wish to discuss then do not hesitate to contact us today and speak to one of our experienced Solicitors.

Annie Rana

Solicitor