Section 150 costs information
Under section 150 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, every client receives a notice in writing setting out the legal costs, or, where fixed costs cannot be stated at the outset, the basis on which costs will be calculated, together with information about the likely outlays such as court fees, commissioner fees and expert reports. The notice is provided when instructions are taken and updated if the scope of the work changes materially as the case develops.
What drives costs in family law
The honest answer is: the number of live disputes. Each contested valuation means expert fees on both sides; incomplete disclosure means motions; interim applications are hearings with preparation behind them; and a High Court case costs a multiple of the same dispute in the Circuit Court. Costs are controlled by decision discipline, full early disclosure, agreed single valuers where possible, and settlement engagement at the right moments, and the practice's advice on strategy always includes its costs dimension. A fuller discussion is in the article on costs in family law.
Contentious business
In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.
For costs information relating to a specific matter, please contact the practice.