Family Law
Solicitor Fees
& Divorce Costs
Clear Legal Fees & Personalised Family Law Support
We know that choosing a family law solicitor is a significant decision, especially when you're facing changes to your personal or financial circumstances. At Hilton Spence Family Law, we're open about our fees from the beginning, providing clear estimates and regular updates so you always know where you stand.
Whether you need help with divorce, financial arrangements or matters involving your children, we'll explain your options, the likely costs and how we can support you. Our focus is on providing experienced advice and personal service that makes a genuine difference to your case.
Choosing the Right Family Law Team
Listen to our founder, Laura Spence, talk about our fees and why experience really matters when it comes to cost. Getting things right from the outset can help avoid delays, repeated work and disputes that can drag on, and all of these add up. Laura explains how clear legal advice from the outset can save you money, time and stress in the long run.
Initial Family Law Consultations & Advice
We know that making the first call to a family law solicitor can feel like a big step. Whether you're considering divorce or need advice about your finances or children, we'll take the time to listen, understand your circumstances and talk through how we may be able to help.
Free Initial Call
We offer a free initial telephone call of approximately 30 minutes. This is an opportunity to tell us a little about your situation, what you'd like to achieve and the possible ways forward.
For more detailed advice, we offer a fixed-fee consultation lasting approximately one to two hours, depending on the complexity of your circumstances. You can meet with us at our Heswall or Liverpool office, speak over Microsoft Teams or arrange a telephone consultation, whichever suits you best.
Following your consultation, we'll provide a written letter of advice summarising our discussion, the options available to you, suggested next steps and an estimate of the likely legal fees involved. Our aim is to make sure you leave with a clearer understanding of your position and what you can do next.
No Fault Divorce Solicitors
If you're ready to begin divorce proceedings, our fixed-fee divorce service allows you to leave the legal paperwork and application process in our hands, knowing what our legal fees will be from the outset.
At Hilton Spence Family Law, we offer fixed fees for straightforward, uncontested divorces. We'll guide you through the process, manage the necessary paperwork and keep you informed as your divorce progresses.
Our No Fault Divorce Costs
Our fixed fees cover the usual legal work involved in progressing a straightforward, uncontested divorce through the court process. We'll manage the application, explain the different stages and keep you informed as matters progress.
In England and Wales, you must have been married for at least one year before applying for divorce. The process includes a mandatory 20-week waiting period before you can apply for the Conditional Order, followed by a further wait of at least six weeks and one day before applying for the Final Order.
Divorce can also involve decisions about finances, property and sometimes arrangements for children. These matters are not included in our fixed-fee divorce service, but we can advise you on them separately, with a clear explanation of the likely costs.
Fixed Fees for Specific Family Law Services
Alongside our fixed-fee divorce service, we can offer an agreed fee for certain pieces of legal work, depending on what's involved. If you have a particular matter you'd like help with, we'll discuss the work required and whether a fixed fee would be appropriate for your circumstances.
Family Law Solicitors' Hourly Rates
Not every family law matter can be covered by a fixed fee, particularly where financial arrangements, business interests or decisions involving children need more detailed attention.
At Hilton Spence Family Law, we charge an hourly rate for work outside our fixed-fee services. The amount you pay will depend on the complexity of your circumstances, the work involved and the level of legal support required.
We know how important it is to have the right people by your side during a family law matter, both emotionally and financially. That's why we've taken great care to bring together a team with not only specialist legal knowledge and experience, but also a genuine understanding of the challenges families face.
We also believe you should feel confident that your money is being spent wisely. You'll have a dedicated solicitor leading your case, but not every task needs to be handled by the most senior member of our team. Where appropriate, we'll share work between colleagues with different levels of experience, making sure each task is handled by someone with the right skills, at the right cost.
This approach helps us manage your legal fees carefully without compromising on the quality of advice or the attention your case receives.
Fees correct as of October 2026. VAT chargeable from 1 December 2026.
Legal Professional | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
Paralegal | £TBA |
Senior Paralegal | £185 |
Associate Solicitor | £215 |
Senior Associate Solicitor | £TBA |
Partner | £250 |
Our Court Hearing Packages
We know that going to court can be one of the most daunting parts of a family law case. The anticipation, the waiting and the practical arrangements can feel overwhelming before the hearing has even begun. That's why we've created a court day package designed to take some of that pressure away. With our fixed-fee court hearing packages, costs are agreed in advance alongside the personal care and support you need on the day.
Rather than travelling to court alone, you'll join us at our Heswall office or Liverpool office. From the moment you arrive, everything is organised. There'll be time for coffee and breakfast to talk through any final questions or simply gather your thoughts before the hearing. We'll then make our way to court together, so you don't have to worry about directions, parking or where to meet.
We believe that how you're looked after matters just as much as the legal representation you receive. Our aim is for you to arrive feeling prepared, supported and confident that you're in experienced hands.
The package starts from £400 +VAT, but fees will vary based on the location, duration, and format of the hearing (e.g. 1 hour, half day, full day, and remote or in person).
Court Fees & Additional Legal Costs
Alongside your solicitor's fees, there may be other costs to consider depending on the nature of your case. We'll explain these at the outset wherever possible, so you have a clear picture of what may be involved.
Court Fees
The court charges fees for certain applications, including divorce, financial orders and arrangements for children. These are separate from our solicitor fees, and the amount payable will depend on the type of application being made.
Some family law matters involve more than one court application, so there may be additional fees as your case progresses. We'll explain which applications may be needed, why they're necessary and the costs involved.
Where court fees are payable, we'll let you know how much is due and when payment needs to be made, so you can plan for these costs alongside your legal fees.
Barristers' Fees
If your case requires representation or advice from a barrister, we'll help you consider the available options. Where possible, we'll provide a choice of barristers, explain their fees and recommend who we feel would be best suited to your circumstances. We also consider the importance of continuity, particularly where a barrister already knows your case.
Barristers' fees are generally payable before the hearing. We'll explain the costs and arrange for you to be invoiced in advance.
Fees for Financial Experts
Some financial settlements require advice from specialists such as property valuers, pension experts or forensic accountants.
We work with a trusted network of professionals and will recommend those whose experience is suited to your circumstances. Where possible, we'll provide a choice of specialists and explain their fees before any work is undertaken.
The cost will depend on the nature and extent of the work required, and we'll discuss this with you before proceeding.
Managing Your Legal Fees
We know that uncertainty around legal costs can add to an already difficult situation. You should never feel uncomfortable asking about fees or be left wondering how much work has been carried out on your behalf.
At Hilton Spence Family Law, we provide a detailed fee estimate at the beginning of your case, explaining the work we expect to undertake and the likely costs involved.
We review this estimate each month as your case progresses, keeping you informed of any changes and explaining where further work may be needed.
Our aim is to be open and approachable about fees throughout, so you can make decisions about your case with a clear understanding of the costs involved.
Payment of Legal Fees
We appreciate that managing legal fees can be an important consideration, particularly during divorce when your financial circumstances may be changing. We'll explain when payments are due and make sure you understand the costs involved before work begins.
Payments can be made by bank transfer or by card at our offices in Heswall or Liverpool.
All invoices are payable on receipt.
Using Family Loans to Cover Legal Fees
During divorce proceedings, some clients may receive financial support from family members to help with legal fees or everyday expenses. If you're considering borrowing money from a parent or relative, it's important to be aware of how that arrangement may be treated as part of your financial settlement.
Family loans are sometimes described as soft loans and typically has a more informal arrangement, where repayment may be less strictly enforced. A hard loan is generally one where there is a clear expectation of repayment, often supported by a written agreement and agreed repayment terms for example a bank loan.
The distinction can matter during divorce, as the court may consider whether the money is genuinely owed and how likely it is that repayment will be required. We can advise you on how family loans may affect your financial arrangements and what should be considered before accepting financial support.
I’m so grateful for the support I received from this family law firm. Laura was not only highly professional but also kind, patient, and empathetic at every stage. She took the time to explain processes I’d never encountered before and always made sure I felt informed and reassured.
Anon Client
Why Choose Hilton Spence Family Law?
When you instruct a solicitor, you want to know that every conversation, decision and piece of work is helping your case move forward. At Hilton Spence Family Law, we take a proactive approach, offering sensible, practical advice that protects your interests and keeps your goals at the centre of everything we do.
We believe you should understand your options, the likely outcomes and the implications of each decision before choosing how to proceed. Our role is not simply to pass correspondence between parties, but to help you find solutions and make progress wherever possible.
Your case will be managed by a dedicated member of our team, chosen according to the experience and knowledge your circumstances require. We'll explain who we recommend and why, while taking your preferences into account if there's someone you would particularly like to work with.
Although you'll have a dedicated person managing your case, we may allocate individual tasks to other members of the team where appropriate. This means work can be handled at the right level of experience, helping to manage your overall legal costs without compromising the advice you receive.
Our focus is on providing the specialist knowledge, personal attention and commitment you need to feel confident that your case is in capable hands.
FAQs About Family Law Solicitor Fees
Divorce solicitor fees depend on the work involved and whether you need help with the divorce application alone or with wider financial and family matters. At Hilton Spence Family Law, we offer a fixed-fee divorce service starting from £400 plus VAT for respondents and £750 plus VAT for applicants*. More complex matters, including financial settlements and child arrangements, are charged at our hourly rates, but wherever we can give you a fixed-fee option, for example, for discreet pieces of work or for court representation, we will.
* Fees correct as of October 2026.Our fixed-fee divorce service covers the usual legal work involved in progressing a straightforward, uncontested divorce through the court process. This includes handling the necessary application paperwork and guiding you through the legal stages. Court fees, financial settlements and arrangements for children are charged separately.
Our family law fees range from £185 to £250 per hour*, depending on who carries out the work. The overall cost of a financial settlement will depend on factors such as the assets involved, the complexity of your finances and whether an agreement can be reached through negotiation or requires court proceedings. We'll provide an estimate based on your circumstances.
*Fees correct as of October 2026, VAT chargeable from 01 December 2026In most divorce financial proceedings, each person is expected to pay their own legal fees. However, there are circumstances where the court may order one party to contribute towards the other's costs, particularly where someone's conduct during proceedings has caused unnecessary expense. We'll explain whether this may be relevant to your case.
At Hilton Spence Family Law, we provide a detailed fee estimate at the outset and review it each month as your case progresses. Family law matters can change as new information becomes available or circumstances develop. We'll explain any changes to the work required and what these may mean for your legal costs.
Disbursements are costs paid to third parties on your behalf during your case. These might include court fees, barristers' fees, property valuations or reports from financial specialists. They are separate from your solicitor's fees and will depend on the work required. At Hilton Spence Family Law, we'll explain any expected disbursements and discuss the costs with you before they arise.
Our solicitors charge by the hour, in units of six minutes. Your fee estimate gives you a clear picture of the costs we expect, and we keep it under close review throughout your case.
From time to time, we may ask for a payment on account so we have funds in place to keep your case moving without delay.
Each month, you'll receive an invoice with a detailed breakdown of how it's calculated, showing any money held on account and any balance remaining. Invoices are payable on receipt.
