Getting divorced or dissolving your civil partnership is difficult enough, emotionally and physically, without the added stress of not knowing how much it will all cost in legal fees. The economic situation in the country now and over the last few years has meant that people from all sections of society have found it more and more essential to control and budget for expenses in all circumstances.
And it's about to become even more uncertain for some, when the law relating to Legal Aid changes later this year. Many who would now be entitled to Legal Aid to assist with divorce costs will find that, after 1st April, that entitlement will be taken away.
With all of this in mind, local law firm Wake Smith LLP has decided to introduce a new charging structure for dealing with divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships. Since the 7th January 2013 clients have been offered a fixed fee package enabling them to know from the start what work will be done for them and how much it will cost. Clients will be able to tailor their needs for legal assistance more carefully, to know very clearly what their solicitor will be doing for them and, most importantly, in these uncertain and cash-strapped times, what it will cost.
Speaking on behalf of the partners at Wake Smith LLP, Lindsey Canning said "In my experience, whilst clients want the level of service they expect from us to be maintained, many also want much greater transparency and clarity when it comes to legal fees. The new schemes on offer will, I think, go a long way to addressing this and enable people who are going through a traumatic time in their lives to focus on the real issues they face rather than worrying about cost."
Some 1,200 divorces were granted in Sheffield County Court alone in 2012. Lindsey added "From the feedback we have had, our clients come to us attracted by our reputation for offering a high level of service and legal expertise. Not all of the cases we deal with would be suitable for a fixed fee arrangement but, going forward, we will be able to include, in our initial discussions with our clients, not only the legal help we can give them but also how best they can budget for the costs involved. I believe this will enhance our relationship with our clients and go a long way towards ensuring that our services and fees are tailored in the most appropriate way for them."
To find out more about the new fixed fee arrangements, please contact the family department by calling 0114 266 6660 and ask to speak with Lindsey Canning, alternatively you can reach Lindsey by emailing at [email protected].
