Family law costs and choosing the right first appointment

We believe you should understand your options and the likely costs before deciding how to move forward.

Every family is different, so we offer three ways to begin, depending on your circumstances and the level of advice and support you need. We will explain our fees clearly before any work starts.

Which first appointment is right for me?

Free 20-minute joint separation pathways conversation
If you are considering separation or divorce and would like help choosing the most appropriate way forward, we offer a free 20-minute separation pathways conversation.

This conversation is designed to help you explore the different ways family issues can be resolved, with a particular focus on non-court dispute resolution (NCDR).

One of our specialist family lawyers will explain the different approaches available and help you consider which may best suit your aspirations, your circumstances and the dynamics of your relationship.

We will speak with both of you, either together or individually, with the aim of helping you identify an appropriate pathway.

This is an introductory conversation to help you understand the different options available. We do not provide legal advice about your individual circumstances during this discussion or formally take you on as a client.

Free 30-minute individual initial meeting
If you already know that you would prefer individual legal advice at this time or feel that non-court dispute resolution is unlikely to be the right approach for your circumstances, we offer a free 30-minute initial meeting.

During the meeting, one of our experienced family lawyers will discuss your situation and give a broad overview of your legal options.

We can also explain the likely range of costs and timescales involved if you decide that you would like us to help you further.

Fixed fee individual initial appointment
If you need specialist legal advice from the outset, or would find it helpful to have advice confirmed in writing, we offer a comprehensive fixed fee initial appointment for £200 including VAT.

You will have a detailed meeting with one of our specialist family lawyers, who will consider your individual circumstances and provide tailored legal advice on your position, options and recommended next steps.

Following the meeting, you will receive written advice setting out the key points discussed and our recommendations.

This option may be particularly helpful if your situation is more complex, you have specific questions you need answered, or you would like detailed advice before making an important decision.

Video and in-person appointments
All three appointment options are available by video call.

You can also meet us in person at our offices in Margate or Canterbury. If you would prefer a video appointment, simply let us know when arranging your meeting.

Legal Aid for public and private children law and other public law family matters
We are contracted with the Legal Aid Agency, which means that if you are eligible to apply, you are eligible financially and you have a reasonable case, you might be eligible for legal aid, which would fund your family law case. Such funding might be entirely free, subject to either a recurring monthly contribution or a one off capital payment, or you might have to pay all of your funding back at the end of the case. Please view our Legal Aid page for further information.

Our family lawyers are widely known for their experience and expertise. Please call our Margate office on 01843 234000 to make an appointment or ask any questions. Alternatively, contact us using our online enquiry form.

Head over to our family law page to explore the breadth of services we offer.