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Many people assume that if they’re getting divorced, they’ll have to hire a lawyer or solicitor, but this isn’t necessarily the case, especially if their split is amicable.
The process of separating can be painful enough without having to worry about legal costs spiralling out of control. According to GOV. UK, typical rates for a solicitor range from £134-£398 per hour, depending on your location and the solicitor’s experience. Legal bills can quickly run into thousands of pounds.
The good news is that it is possible to divorce without lawyers and still benefit from professional support to help you agree on how to split your money, property, and other assets and work out your onward co-parenting arrangements, if applicable.
Here’s what you need to know.
If you’re looking to separate amicably, you can book a free, no-obligation initial consultation with our partners at amicable. They aim to help you end your relationship while remaining on good terms and avoiding the emotional and financial turmoil of traditional solicitor approaches.
How can I end my relationship without a solicitor?
Most people don’t want to get embroiled in lengthy and expensive litigation and provided you’re confident you and your ex-partner can be transparent and respectful, there is another route.
If your relationship is ending, and you need help dividing your money and property or making arrangements for your children, amicable is a trusted legal service for separation and divorce. Unlike solicitors, amicable works with couples and offers a fixed-fee service that includes VAT to help manage all aspects of separation so that you can agree on the best way forward for your family and your finances. Get in touch to explore how they can help you separate in a kinder, better way.
Unlike conventional divorce lawyers, amicable works with both partners to ensure the best possible outcome. The service is more comprehensive than mediation, as amicable prepares couples’ legal documents and manages the court process.
The exact services you’ll need will depend on your circumstances, but typically, you’ll benefit from up to four one-hour negotiation sessions so that you and your former partner can agree on how your money and property will be divided. You’ll also be supported through the legal process of divorce, including completing your financial disclosure for the court and with preparing your consent order which outlines your financial agreements. Once approved by the court, this then becomes legally binding.
If you’re not sure whether amicable is right for you, you can book a 15-minute consultation with one of their specialists free of charge to discover how they might help.
How do we work out arrangements for our children?
Working out the best arrangements for children is usually among most separating couples’ top priorities. Even if your children are in their teens and old enough to determine where they want to spend their time, legally a child can’t decide which parent they want to live with until they reach the age of 16.
Many separating couples think they’ll need to go through the court to make these arrangements, but this isn’t a requirement unless safeguarding issues are involved. Instead, you are free to work out how you want to co-parent and share parenting time with your children either together or with the help of a specialist such as amicable or mediation. If you want to, you can have your co-parenting agreements documented in a Parenting Contract to ensure you both adhere to what’s been agreed.
How much does amicable cost?
According to amicable, its service is typically more than ten times cheaper than going to court, a third of the cost of using a lawyer and half the cost of mediation. This is due to the fact it uses technology to keep costs down.
Fees (which include VAT) are fixed and transparent, and couples can spread their payments over several months using a flexible payment plan if they prefer not to make a one-off payment. Costs range from £210 for a simple divorce to £5,910 per couple if a more comprehensive service is required, for example, including negotiation of finances, childcare arrangements, and the divorce and consent order documents.
How long will the divorce process take?
Divorce rules changed in 2022, so that separating couples no longer have to provide a reason for their marriage breaking down. As part of the changes introduced with ‘no-fault’ divorces, a compulsory 20-week ‘reflection period’, also known as the ‘cooling-off’ period, was brought in.
Once a conditional order has been granted (previously known as a decree nisi), separating couples face an additional six-week waiting period. After court processing times are factored in, divorces will take a minimum of seven months to complete.
Finally…
Divorce doesn’t have to be traumatic and expensive. If you’re looking to separate amicably, book a free initial call with amicable to find out how they can help you navigate the emotional and the legal process of divorce, without involving solicitors.