How Austin Kemp Charges: Fees, Billing and What to Expect
Table of Contents:
How much does a divorce solicitor cost?
The cost depends on how much work your case needs, and that is driven mostly by whether you and your spouse can agree. Like most family law firms, we charge for the time spent on your case. Before any work starts, we give you a written estimate based on your circumstances, and we update it at every stage.
This page explains how that works in practice: how time is charged, what makes a case cost more or less, what you receive at each stage, and how we tell you before costs rise, not after. None of this is confidential, and you should understand it before you instruct any solicitor, including us.
How does billing work?
You pay for the time spent on your case. The rate depends on the experience of the person doing the work, and we give each task to the right level, so you are not paying senior rates for routine work. Your solicitor’s rate is confirmed in writing in your client care letter before we start.
How is my time recorded?
In six-minute units. A short email or phone call is one unit. A detailed letter or an hour of negotiation is charged for the time it takes. Every bill shows who did each piece of work, when, and for how long.
What costs are on top of our fees?
Disbursements: money we pay to others on your behalf, such as court fees, barristers, expert reports, valuations and pension reports. We pass them on at cost, with no mark-up, and we ask for your agreement before committing you to any significant disbursement.
Do I pay anything upfront?
Yes. We ask for a payment on account before we start. It is held in our client account and set against your first bill. After that, we bill at regular intervals, and each bill shows your running total against the estimate.
What court fees will I pay?
Court fees are set by the government and are the same whichever solicitor you use. They are paid in addition to legal fees, and usually by the person making the application.
| Application | Court fee (from July 2026) |
| Divorce or dissolution application | £628 |
| Consent order, to make an agreed financial settlement legally binding | £62 |
| Financial order, where you cannot agree (Form A) | £321 |
| Child arrangements order | £270 |
If your income and savings are low, the government’s Help with Fees scheme may reduce or remove the fee.
What makes a case cost more or less?
The single biggest factor is whether you and your spouse can agree. A case settled by negotiation costs a fraction of one decided by a judge. After that, cost depends on how complex the finances are, how quickly documents arrive, and whether experts are needed.
| Costs usually rise when | Costs usually fall when |
| Your spouse delays, does not respond or will not disclose | Both of you disclose fully and promptly |
| There is a business, trust, overseas asset or complex pension | The assets are mainly a home, savings and standard pensions |
| Court proceedings are issued and hearings are needed | The case settles through negotiation or mediation |
| Experts or a barrister are required | Values can be agreed without formal reports |
| Correspondence goes back and forth on small points | Documents are sent in one organised batch |
You cannot control how your spouse behaves, but you can control a good deal of your own bill. Organised paperwork, focused emails and prompt decisions all reduce the time we need to spend.
What do I get at each stage?
Every client gets a written estimate, a named solicitor, itemised bills and a cost update at the end of each stage. Here is what the work involves as your case moves forward.
| Stage | What you receive |
| First consultation | An initial view of your options and a likely cost range |
| Getting started | A client care letter setting out your solicitor, their rate, your written estimate and how we will work together |
| Divorce application | Drafting and filing the application, updates at each step, and the conditional and final order applications |
| Financial disclosure | A document checklist, preparation of your Form E or financial statement, and a review of your spouse’s disclosure |
| Negotiation | Written advice on what a fair settlement looks like, proposals to your spouse, and advice on every offer received |
| Court proceedings | Preparation for each hearing, instructing a barrister where needed, and a written summary after every hearing |
| Settlement | Drafting the consent order, any pension sharing paperwork, and a closing letter explaining what happens next |
How will I know if costs are rising?
We tell you before it happens.
At the end of each stage, we review your estimate and confirm in writing whether it still holds. If we expect costs to go above it, we explain why and agree the next step with you before doing the work. You can also set a cost limit, and we will not go past it without your written agreement.
If you are unhappy with a bill, speak to your solicitor or our complaints partner. You also have the right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman and to ask the court to assess the bill.
How can I keep my legal costs down?
Settle outside court if it is safe to do so. Mediation, negotiation between solicitors and a private FDR all cost far less than contested proceedings. You can also instruct us for specific tasks only, such as advice on a proposed settlement or drafting a consent order, and handle the rest yourself.
What if I cannot afford a solicitor?
Legal Aid is rarely available for divorce finances, except in some cases involving domestic abuse. If your spouse controls most of the family’s money, the court can order them to contribute to your legal costs through a legal services payment order. We will tell you at the first consultation whether this could apply to you.
We do not offer Legal Aid.
Where can I get independent guidance?
MoneyHelper offers free, impartial guidance on the cost of divorce and managing money when you separate. Citizens Advice explains your options for legal help, including whether you might qualify for legal aid.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer fixed fees?
No. Contested financial cases are charged hourly, because the work depends on how the other side responds.
Is the first consultation free?
No, we charge a fee for this.
Can my spouse be made to pay my legal fees?
Usually not. In financial cases, the court normally makes no order for costs, so each spouse pays their own. It can depart from this where one spouse behaves unreasonably, for example by failing to disclose or refusing reasonable offers.
Why might my bill end up higher than the estimate?
An estimate is our best forecast based on what we know at the start. It can change if new assets come to light, your spouse delays or the case goes to court. If that happens, we tell you in writing before the estimate is exceeded, never after.
Get a written estimate for your case
The only way to know what your case will cost is to talk it through. After your first consultation, we will give you a written estimate based on your circumstances, explain what could change it, and tell you who will work on your case.
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