Divorce costs in England can range widely. If both parties agree and use the 2Clients/1Lawyer protocol, expenses might be as low as £1,500. On the other hand, if financial settlements are disputed and the case ends up in court, fees can climb to anywhere from £20,000 to £50,000 and sometimes more.
Choosing the right law firm and solicitor is crucial for your financial settlement. Law firms and divorce lawyers set very different fees, and paying more does not necessarily guarantee superior service.
The divorce legal industry is known for its high costs, and there are cases where clients have been charged excessive amounts while receiving subpar service.
Some unethical divorce lawyers employ strategies to boost their fees. One warning sign is ‘over lawyering’, where several lawyers are assigned to a single case. For example, at Z>UK DIVORCE, we encountered a straightforward matter handled by six lawyers.
This situation drives up legal fees since those lawyers will have multiple meetings—like planning, supervision, or delegating work from senior to junior staff. Clients are charged for these sessions, resulting in increased overall costs.
Another practice is charging in six-minute increments. With an hourly rate of £300, a lawyer bills £30 per six-minute unit—even if the actual task, such as writing a brief email, takes only a minute or two. If incoming emails are also billed, even a short email exchange could cost £60.
At Z>UK DIVORCE, only one lawyer manages your case. We bill by the exact minute rather than in six-minute blocks. There is no charge for receiving emails, and we encourage clients to reach out via WhatsApp at no extra cost.
