Step 3 – Settlement Hearing/ Financial Dispute Resolution stage

What is included?

• Dealing with any Orders and Directions made at the First Appointment Appointment;
• Drafting Replies to Questionnaires;
• Drafting any supplementary Questionnaires;
• Instructing and liaising with any experts such as Valuers, Actuaries or Independent Financial Advisers;
• Advice following the First Appointment hearing;
• Discussing settlement proposals involving you and drafting offers to settle;
• Briefing a Barrister to represent you at the Financial Dispute Resolution hearing, however we reserve the right to represent you at the Oxford, Reading or Swindon County Courts’. If the financial proceedings have been issued in another Court, we reserve the right to instruct a Barrister or a local Solicitor to attend on your behalf at an additional cost to you;
• The drafting of a Consent Order which incorporates the terms of agreement reached between yourself and your spouse, and the accompanying Statement of Information for a Consent Order (Form M1). We will also send these documents to the Court for approval.

What is not included?

• Court fees or any other professional fees that may need to be incurred, such as a Surveyors fees, Actuary’s fees, Solicitor Agents fees, Barrister’s fees or any fees payable to a third party;
• Advice on any dispute involving children or acting in Children Act proceedings;
• Advice concerning the dissipation of assets by your spouse;
• Advice with regard to divorce or separation matters;
• The cost of any extra applications that may need to be made during the Court process;
• Any conferences or meetings involving a Barrister or other experts.

The Cost?

The total cost for Stage 3 is £3200.00 + VAT which is broken down into the following instalments:

• Initial payment of £1000.00 + VAT to comply with the Orders and Directions from the First Appointment. To be paid within 7 days of the First Appointment hearing;
• Second payment of £1000.00 + VAT to consider documents received from your spouse and to prepare an offer to settle. To be paid within 7 days of receiving your spouse's full replies to a Questionnaire;
• Third payment of £1200.00 + VAT and Barristers fees (if applicable) 7 days before the Financial Dispute Resolution hearing, if settlement options have not been successful.