Whether you are trying to reach an amicable settlement or going through Court

1.   A one-off appointment at any time at the start, end or during the process to explore the advantages of a formal separation, divorce, and pros and cons of using the Court to assist in obtaining a financial settlement

2.  We can show you how to start Court proceedings to resolve a financial dispute, or deal with managing your diary when you are issued with a notice of court proceedings

3.   We can show you how to complete your financial forms/Form E

4.   We can then check through your Form E and help you complete the most significant boxes

5.  We can help you scrutinize, analyze and raise questions about the other party's Form E and its attachments, too

6.   We can show you and help you with what you must do next before going to your first Court appointment

7.  We can guide you with strategy and tactics in arriving at a fair financial settlement

Free initial email consultation

We can help whether you opt for a Separation Agreement or choose divorce, and this includes applying for income, or other security.  This may be the first time you have been involved in the process of obtaining a financial settlement, or you may wish to change (vary) an existing Court Order, by way of increasing or decreasing the money paid to you or by you under a Spousal Maintenance order.

You may urgently need extra income during proceedings, called spousal maintenance , and/or want to ensure that you obtain this kind of financial support in your final divorce settlement

Unlike a high street Solicitor, we do not ask you to sign a contract of services before we help you, followed by monthly bills of hundreds and thousands of pounds.  Our service is a pay-and-go, no obligation, hourly service. Come to us for one hour, and you will know exactly how to complete your Form E and what the Court or the other party's legal adviser expects from you.

This is where we make the biggest difference because of our specialist knowledge.  This is often the process notoriously exploited by some Solicitors and Barristers to make mountains of money out of their clients in order to pay for their high business overheads.  These days, this process is often the main income source for matrimonial lawyers.

Preparing your case:  We can take you through the early stages of your case and help prepare a case for you, saving you thousands of pounds, so that it is ready to hand over to a Solicitor at the time when you feel you need the support of a Solicitor or Barrister.

The process is practical, positive and productive if used properly

The Court (and not the other party) defines the settlement process, clearly setting down the tasks to do and the deadlines to meet

The Court process encourages discussion, mediation, negotiation and early settlement, especially where children are involved   Both parties have to comply with the Court's timetable

The whole process is driven by the Court, which adds momentum and pace to the process and motivates both parties to accomplish the tasks and meet the deadlines provided   The tasks and deadlines are achievable whether or not you have a Solicitor

The Court application fee is very reasonable for the service the District Judges and Court Office staff provide.  You are not obliged to have a Solicitor or Barrister, which keeps your costs down.   The whole process is fair to both parties

Providing both parties understand that if they engage in the process, cooperate and comply with the Court tasks, it is often possible to finalise your agreement and to obtain a Consent Order before or at the first Court appointment (FDA).   Even with an intransigent or uncooperative party, the case can often be settled at or before the second Court appointment (FDR).

We help to prepare you and your case and attend Court with you.    We have access to between 100-200 McKenzie Friends who can help in court.

Price comparison: On average, our advisers' fees amount to less than one third of those charged by high street Solicitors and Barristers for doing the same type of work, even though many of our lay advisers are qualified barristers and solicitors.  

Rest assured, it is not a false economy to be assisted during Court proceedings by a lay adviser and McKenzie Friend, as more often than not you are being assisted by very competent, experienced specialists who devote their lives to assisting litigants in person (those who go to court without a Solicitor or Barrister), for less than half the usual cost.

Alternatively, we can help you through all of the early stages in your case, saving you thousands of pounds on legal fees, and when you feel ready, your case can be passed to a Solicitor, if you feel that is the best way forward.

Whether you are trying to achieve an amicable settlement or are going through the Court:

We also specialise in helping a party (a claimant or respondent) /unmarried couples, ex-cohabitees, resolve financial or property disputes, by guiding them through the settlement process out of court.  If that does not work then we help our client issue court proceedings and can assist them as a McKenzie Friend in court also.

It is even more serious if you are worried about losing your home and children, so it is important to take advice on your rights and options as soon as possible.