National firm Slater and Gordon has halved its fixed divorce fee a month before reforms designed to make the process less acrimonious are introduced.
A new system implementing the provisions of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act, which ushers in a new era of no-fault divorce, comes into force on 6 April.
Yesterday, Slater and Gordon announced it is reducing its petitioner fixed fee divorce from £1,020 (including VAT) to £540 (including VAT) plus the court fee as a result of the reforms.
The firm said the reforms will lead to less contentious divorces, which will allow spouses to concentrate on resolving their matrimonial finances and child arrangements in a more constructive manner.
However, Georgina Chase, head of the firm’s family practice, said she fears many couples will attempt to ‘go it alone’ and finalise their no-fault divorce online without obtaining legal advice. Chase said the firm was reducing the fee now so clients could access advice as soon as possible and be ready to present their divorce petition to the court on 6 April.
Asked what the firm is advising at this stage, Chase said: ‘Clients are being advised that they have a choice. If they wish to divorce under the current law, their applications must be submitted via the online portal by 4pm on 31 March. However, if they wish to apply for divorce following the introduction of no-fault divorce, they can wait until 6 April. The new price for the fixed fee divorce applies from 28 February, regardless of whether the divorce is issued under the current law or the new law.’
While the reforms have been widely welcomed, practitioners were worried and confused last week after being informed the current online divorce service would be closing soon. The Gazette understands the current service will be switched off a week before the new regime comes into force and a user-guide explaining what to do during the transition period will be published shortly.
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