Family Published Fees


Full Representation Package

  • Costs will be charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
  • Whilst estimates will be provided at the commencement of the case, it will be difficult to provide a precise quote as the costs of the case will be dependent upon a number of variable factors: the willingness of the opponent and/or their solicitor to be reasonable, the complexity of the individual case as it moves forward, the number of court hearings set by the Court during the course of the case etc.
  • Payments for such a service will either require an agreed monthly standing order or lump sum payments in advance of work commencing. Invoices and revised estimates will be issued regularly to keep clients updated in relation to the costs

Advice, Assistance and Court Representation packages

  1. Children Cases

  2. These are cases relating to:
    • Where a child should live;
    • How much time a child should spend with his/her other parent;
    • Whether a child can move from one area to another, or from this country to another country;
    • Getting a child returned to you after he/she was removed by another parent/member of the family;
    • A specific issue such as in relation to a child’s name, whether he/she needs medical treatment or which school he/she should attend;
    • Involvement of social workers with the family;
    • Special guardianship and adoption;
    • Claims for child support and lump sums for children.

    (a) First Appointment at our office will be free of charge
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • An initial consultation for up to 30 minutes
    • A follow up consultation thereafter and in the absence of formal instructions would be charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.

    (b) Early resolution package- £600.00 plus VAT
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • Initial letter to the other person involved or their solicitor and consideration of their response;
    • Final letter to the other person involved and consideration of their response;
    • Referral to mediation if required;
    • Email & telephone contact up to the conclusion of mediation.

    • (a) Issue of proceedings as Applicant – £1000.00 plus VAT excluding Court fees
      The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
      • Initial letter to the other person involved or their solicitor and consideration of their response;
      • Referral to mediation as required in most cases before an application can be made to court;
      • Preparation of court documents and sending them to the appropriate court for issuing;
      • Email & telephone contact up to the issue of the application to court.
      Please note that there are Court fees payable which are set by the Court which are not included within the fixed price quoted. Details of court fees payable will be provided.

    (c) Representation at Court at the first hearing charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hourdepending on the experience of the lawyer concerned. (this is completely separate to, and in addition to, the quotes set out above)
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • One of our lawyers will attend Court with you, negotiate on your behalf with the other side or their solicitor;
    • Represent you in Court;
    • Send to you a copy of the order and a letter confirming the outcome.

    In the event that you require representation at further hearings or you require additional work to be carried out e.g. preparation of a statement, then your lawyer will provide you with a fixed fee quote prior to any work being carried out.

    In the event that our lawyers are unable to attend court with you, a barrister will be assigned to your case and you will be provided with details of their fees prior to the commencement of your proceedings.

    If you require additional work to be undertaken outside of our packages above then a fixed fee quote will be provided or alternatively our hourly rate will be charged.

  3. Domestic abuse

  4. In many cases, subject to a financial assessment, you may well be eligible for legal aid for cases where you and/or your child has been the subject of domestic violence or abuse. In many cases we will be able to advise you of whether you might be entitled to legal aid via an initial free telephone consultation.

    in other cases where legal aid is not available, we offer the following service:-

    (a) First appointment - will be free of charge
    • An initial appointment of up to 30 minutes

    (b) Further assistance charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • Warning letter to the other side or their solicitor

    (c) Preparation of court documents charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • Drafting your application for a Non-Molestation and/or Occupation Order to include your supporting statement

    (d) Representation at an emergency hearing charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • Representing you at the emergency hearing before a District Judge;
    • Awaiting the sealing of the emergency order;
    • Arranging personal service of the order and application. Please note that this does not include the cost of the process server which will be in addition.

    (e) Representation at the first hearing(non-emergency)/ return date as either Applicant or Respondent charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • One of our solicitors will attend Court with you, negotiate on your behalf with the other side or their solicitor;
    • Represent you in Court;
    • Send to you a copy of the order and a letter confirming the outcome.

    In the event that you require representation at further hearings or you require additional work to be carried out e.g. preparation of a statement, then your solicitor will provide you with a fixed fee quote prior to any work being carried out.

    If you require additional work to be undertaken outside of our packages above then a fixed fee quote will be provided or alternatively our hourly rate will be charged.

  5. Divorce

  6. (a) First appointment will be free of charge
    • An initial appointment of up to 30 minutes

    (b) Undefended divorce as Petitioner – £700.00 plus VAT excluding Court fee (this only relates to cases where the Respondent to the divorce has agreed to the divorce and has confirmed he/she will not contest it)
    • Letter to the other side or their solicitor;
    • Drafting your divorce petition and dealing with ongoing paperwork to obtain a decree absolute.

    This does not cover resolving any issues relating to finances or children. Separate estimates (not quotes) can be provided for these matters.

    In some cases it can be difficult to prove that the Respondent is aware of the divorce proceedings when he/she refuses to formally acknowledge receipt of the divorce petition. In such cases an application for personal service of divorce petition / application for deemed/dispensed service to the Court will be required. A separate quote will be provided to make this application if appropriate.


    Undefended divorce as Respondent – £500.00 plus VAT
    • Letter to the other side or their solicitor;
    • • Drafting your Acknowledgment of Service and dealing with ongoing paperwork up until the decree absolute.

    This does not cover resolving any issues relating to finances or children. Separate estimates (not quotes) can be provided for these matters.

    In the event the Petitioner does not pursue the application or apply for the decree absolute and it is necessary to make an application on your behalf then a separate quote will be provided

  7. Finances

  8. (a) First appointment will be free of charge
    • An initial appointment of up to 30 minutes

    (b) Agreed financial order package charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.

    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • An initial appointment of up to 30 minutes;
    • A letter to the other side or their solicitor setting out the agreement;
    • Preparation of all necessary documentation to obtain the agreed order;
    • Correspondence with the court and other side.

    Please note that there are Court fees payable which are set by the Court which are not included within the fixed price quoted. Details of court fees payable will be provided.


    (c) Early resolution package charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • Initial letter to the other person involved or their solicitor and consideration of their response;
    • Entering into voluntary financial disclosure;
    • Consideration of other side’s financial disclosure and requesting additional information if necessary;
    • Negotiations with the other side if appropriate and limited to a proposal and counter-proposal;
    • Referral to mediation if required;
    • Email and telephone contact up until the conclusion of the hearing charged at £16.10 plus VAT to £27.50 plus VAT depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.

    (d) Issue of proceedings as the Applicant charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • An initial consultation for up to 30 minutes;
    • A follow up letter to you;
    • Preparation of court application;
    • Preparation of Form E;
    • Consideration of the other side’s Form E;
    • Preparation of all documents in readiness for the first hearing including preparation of bundles as required by the court;
    • Representation at the first hearing;
    • A follow up letter following the first hearing;
    • Email and telephone contact up until the conclusion of the hearing charged at £16.10 plus VAT to £27.50 plus VAT depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.

    Please note that there are Court fees payable which are set by the Court which are not included within the fixed price quoted. Details of court fees payable will be provided.


    (e) Representation of Respondent up until and including the first hearing charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • Preparation of Form E;
    • Consideration of other side’s Form E;
    • Preparation of all documents in readiness for the first hearing;
    • Representation at the first hearing;
    • A follow up letter following the first hearing;
    • Email and telephone contact up until the conclusion of the hearing charged at £16.10 plus VAT to £27.50 plus VAT depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.

    (f) Representation of Applicant after the first hearing, up until and including the Financial Dispute Resolution appointment charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • Preparation of responses to questionnaire and considering the other side’s answers to the questionnaire;
    • Requesting further disclosure or evidence;
    • Entering into negotiations if appropriate and limited to proposal and counter proposal;
    • Preparation of all documents in readiness for the Financial Dispute Resolution appointment;
    • Preparation of court bundles (if acting for the Applicant);
    • A follow up letter following the hearing;
    • Email and telephone contact up until the conclusion of the hearing charged at £16.10 plus VAT to £27.50 plus VAT depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.

    (g) Representation of Respondent after the first hearing, up until and including the Financial Dispute Resolution appointment charged at an hourly rate starting from £161.00 plus VAT per hour to £275.00 plus VAT per hour depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.
    The following work will be involved within the above quote but will not be limited to:
    • Preparation of responses to questionnaire and considering the other side’s answers to the questionnaire;
    • Requesting further disclosure or evidence;
    • Entering into negotiations if appropriate and limited to proposal and counter proposal;
    • Preparation of all documents in readiness for the Financial Dispute Resolution appointment;
    • A follow up letter following the hearing;
    • Email and telephone contact up until the conclusion of the hearing charged at £16.10 plus VAT to £27.50 plus VAT depending on the experience of the lawyer concerned.

    In the event that you require representation at further hearings or you require additional work to be carried out e.g. preparation of a statement, then your solicitor will provide you with a fixed fee quote prior to any work being carried out.

    If you require additional work to be undertaken outside of our packages above then a fixed fee quote will be provided or alternatively our hourly rate will be charged.


Our Services to Individuals

We offer personal, friendly and professional support to individuals on a wide range of legal issues.

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Technical experts who understand your organisation and the sectors you operate in.

Our Service Aims & Ethos

We aim to provide all clients with clear unambiguous legal advice.


Contact Us

Head Office:

DSL Solicitors, 2 Snow Hill, Queensway Birmingham

B4 6GA.

Tel: 0121 702 2758

Fax: 0121 777 7277



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DSL Solicitors is the trading name of Dassaur Solicitors Ltd registered in England (CRN 09391709).

Authorised and Regulated by the SRA (SRA number: 625267)

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