At Ashtons Legal, we know that our clients want to have certainty about their legal costs. As a result, and where this is appropriate, we are able to offer our clients a fixed fee payment option instead of fees being based on a solicitor’s hourly rate.
Before deciding on fee options, we will discuss with you whether the fixed fee option is both appropriate and likely to save you money.
Fixed fee services
- an initial meeting with one of our family lawyers
- divorce
- financial aspects of a divorce
- marital agreements – nuptial agreements, separation agreements and agreements for unmarried couples
- children matters.
It may be that in some cases, due to changing circumstances, the original fixed fee option proves not to be the best way forward for you. We reserve the right at any stage within a fixed fee process to confirm that for identified reasons, the fixed fee process is no longer appropriate. We will be open and honest with you in reaching this decision and will discuss with you the cost implications and anticipated level of future costs before agreeing with you on a basis on which we will continue to work.
Our fixed fees in respect of the financial aspects of marriage breakdown and disputes about children are ‘packaged’ into stages. This is because these cases can be concluded or ‘settled’ at any stage within the process. If yours is a case that settles early in the process you will only have to pay the fixed fee costs up to and including the stage you have reached.
When court hearings take place, we will discuss with you whether it is appropriate for us to conduct those hearings for you or whether a barrister (Counsel) should be instructed. Wherever possible, we will endeavour to agree a fixed fee with you for attendance at court, whether a barrister is instructed or not.