Considering divorce? How a Fixed Fee meeting could benefit you

A separation can be a tough time for anyone, but where do you start if you are considering divorce proceedings, or have been served with a divorce petition by your partner, or you are struggling to agree on the best arrangements for your children and are without legal representation yourself? Chattertons Family team provide an initial meeting at a fixed price, which offers you the chance to gain advice from a specialist family lawyer so that you can then decide on the best route forward for you.

Why would a Fixed Fee meeting be useful to me?

Fixed Fee appointments are a vital resource for anyone needing advice in relation to a divorce or separation, or arrangements for the children, or some kind of nuptial agreement. While they may seem like a brilliant opportunity for a solicitor to give you a sales pitch, they aren't! In reality, they provide you an opportunity for you to set out your history and current issues to a qualified person who will then provide you with initial advice tailored to your situation. All this is at a fixed rate.

Fixed Fee appointments normally last an hour, with a lawyer's full attention to you and your situation. It allows you to best explore the options available to you and be provided with legal advice from a qualified source as to how you could proceed and what resources could be available to you. It will certainly be better for you than an hour spent on Google, and will enable you to be confident about the choices you make going forward from then.

What should I expect from a Fixed Fee appointment?

1. Questions: A fixed fee meeting will initially start with several questions from the legal adviser. It may seem a little invasive but it is important that these details are provided at the start of the separation process. This helps your advisor frame the situation, ascertain useful details about the other party involved and also who may be representing them. This will enable your lawyer to provide you with the best advice possible for your specific situation.
    
2. A forum for you to explain your current concerns: This is a forum entirely about you and your legal issues, so once the basic details have been noted your lawyer will ask you for details of your situation and any concerns you have. Family law is broad and every divorce is different, there are a spectrum of issues that may arise and this is where we can listen and anticipate possible issues in advance.
   
   Often clients come to us having already agreed on certain issues with their partner (for example, where any children may reside) but will not be able to agree on other subjects, i.e., finances. Sometimes clients arrive at our door with incredibly volatile and contentious cases. Our family team comprises lawyers with a wealth of specialist experience, who can provide the advice that you need to achieve resolution. All our lawyers are committed to resolving financial issues in a constructive and non-confrontational manner, but have a robust approach where necessary.
    
3. Follow up documentation: Your Solicitor will provide you with a follow up document confirming the details provided by you and the discussion had. This document provides you with a written form of any advice given during the Fixed Fee appointment and also important information on your case, such as the divorce process and the documents that will need to be filed with the courts to process and finalise your divorce.
   
   We would hope that at this point you wish for us to represent you; however, there is no obligation for this to happen at this stage. Clients leave a Fixed Fee appointment with a better idea of the process ahead of them. Clients very often return to us for representation to progress their case, whether the next day or months down the line.

Fixed Fee appointments are available with all members of our Family Law team, at short notice and usually via either telephone or Microsoft Teams. You can arrange a Fixed Fee meeting by enquiring at any one of our offices.

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Grantham - 01476 591550

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Newark - 01636 673731

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Spalding - 01775 725664

Stamford - 01780 764145