It seems that time of year now the Christmas Festivities and the pressures of spending 24/7 with family are over that divorce for many sadly seems high on the agenda.  If you are in a position where you are considering a divorce, we encourage you to talk to a good family lawyer such as at Asher Prior Bates and to be very wary of DIY Divorce solutions you may see online.  Please see the following blog for more information on Quick Fix Divorces.

Type Cheap, Online, Quick, Fast Track & DIY Divorces  into Google and you will find a variety of online services offering a cheap and quick solution to your divorce needs.  Prices start from about £17. Sound good?  Unfortunately, your cheap divorce package may cause you more issues than it solves.  Furthermore, what many of these sites and services neglect to mention, are the following:- 

  • The documentation they provide as part of their service is in fact freely downloadable from the courts website
  • The documentation can also be obtained from your local county court office free of charge

So why pay for these forms, if they are free?

Members of the public may find it tricky to complete the documentation due to complicated legal terminology.  The Court Fees currently set at £385 must also be paid, unless the petitioner is in receipt of specified benefits or has a low income. It is sad to say, but there is no such thing as a fast track divorce, even for celebrities!  All divorce proceedings will be subject to the same legislative requirements, which dictate that the procedures and timescales involved MUST be followed.

In all cases the divorce process will last at least 3 months and often tactical considerations will  delay the finalising of the divorce process by the way of a Decree Absolute for a variety of reasons. These internet sites too often fail to advise of any tactical issues that should be considered throughout the divorce process.  Plus advice is rarely given in relation to your associated financial and property matters.  If you haven’t dealt with the financial and property elements of the divorce, even after you are divorced these claims can last indefinitely.  This sounds unfair, doesn’t it and could mean many years after the end of your marriage you could find yourself in court dealing with proceedings instigated by an ex spouse, maybe as a result of a change in your financial circumstances .

Some internet sites offer a cheap financial settlement package. However each settlement must be tailored to the specific requirements of the client and the family, and must deal with ALL of the issues involved not just some of them! Such settlement is rarely entered into without specific legal advice, after the legal advisor has carefully investigated the client’s position, and after the solicitor has fully scrutinized the parties financial disclosure.

With internet packages advice is also rarely given in relation to issues concerning children. The children (if any) will have to be considered as part of the divorce process. As with all DIY legal services (i.e. Wills/Divorce) any errors or omissions can not only delay matters and increase costs, but they can have a disastrous effect on the eventual outcome.

At Asher Prior Bates  based in Colchester, Essex we offer most clients our bespoke fixed fee divorce package at the cost of £500 excluding VAT and disbursements (i.e. court fees).  As part of that fee we can offer an initial consultation dealing with issues in connection with children, and associated property and financial aspects associated with the marriage. In most cases a “clean break” will be advisable, but it is important that any settlement entered into is bespoke to the individual’s concerned circumstances and needs of the client. After all you would not purchase a new home without having viewed it first, likewise, it would not be wise to choose a solicitor and enter into a form of settlement without first having considered all financial circumstances involved.

For advice on divorce or other legal family matters, please contact Michael Hicks  on 01206 768331 or by email to mhicks@apblaw.co.uk