At Blanchards Law, we understand that legal costs can feel overwhelming, especially at a time when you’re already dealing with the emotional stress of separation, divorce, or child-related issues. From the very beginning, our goal has been to do things differently. That means offering expert legal support without unnecessary overheads, and giving you complete clarity on how your fees are structured, so you can stay in control.

We charge for our work based on the time we spend, using hourly rates that reflect the seniority of the person working on your case and whether you are based in London or outside. From January 2026, all new clients will be charged at the updated rates below. If you’re an existing client, you’ll receive advance notice before these new rates come into effect for you.

The final cost of having us represent you depends on a few factors: how complex your case is, how much has already been agreed between you and the other party, and whether your case stays out of court. But importantly, we are structured to help you save money where it’s appropriate to do so. For example, wherever possible, early drafts of work are completed by junior members of the team or assistants. That work is then reviewed and refined by a more senior lawyer. The result is work that passes the highest of bars, but is mostly charged at a lower hourly rate.

Here’s a summary of our 2026 rates:

Every case is unique, and we always talk through your specific circumstances before estimating the likely cost of resolving your issue. Still, we know how valuable examples can be when it comes to decision making; and how unsettling family difficulties can be. With that in mind, we have decided to illustrate what certain services often cost in practice:

A straightforward, uncontested divorce, especially now that no-fault divorce has become law, is often so simple that we may advise clients to complete the process themselves via the court’s online portal. If you’d like our help with it, we charge around £700 plus VAT (and not forgetting the £612 court fee). But in most cases, clients can handle this part without legal assistance.
A financial settlement can vary enormously in cost depending on how much is agreed up front and how complex the assets are. Where both parties are cooperating and full financial disclosure is exchanged promptly, a straightforward settlement might cost between £7,000 and £10,000 plus VAT. This includes preparing and reviewing the necessary Form E documentation (a lengthy disclosure form that includes full financial information) and helping to draft or respond to settlement proposals.

If things cannot be agreed and court proceedings become necessary, the cost rises. To get to the first hearing in a financial remedy case, known as the FDA (First Directions Appointment), clients typically spend around £15,000. If the matter continues to a second hearing, known as the FDR (Financial Dispute Resolution), total costs often rise to between £30,000 and £40,000. Should the case proceed all the way to a final hearing, especially if it spans multiple days in court, the total legal cost may reach between £60,000 and £100,000 (or even more). These figures do not include additional third-party fees, which are addressed below.

In some cases, we need to bring in external experts. This might include a business valuation, which is typically required when one or both parties have built a company during the marriage. These valuations often cost between £5,000 and £10,000, depending on turnover and complexity. If a pension is worth more than £100,000, we usually recommend instructing a pension expert to advise on how it should be divided. This report usually costs around £3,000 plus VAT. These expert fees are billed via us and always discussed with you in advance. Usually, these external fees are shared between you and the other party.

Barristers’ fees, property valuations and mortgage capacity reports may also be needed, depending on your case. Again, we arrange these on your behalf, so you’re never left trying to manage them yourself, and any cost is communicated to you before we proceed.

We never forget that legal fees can be costly and have a concrete real impact on our clients’ lives. That’s why we take steps to ensure you’re always in control. Before we begin any work, we ask for an initial sum to be paid on account, usually between £1,000 and £2,000 depending on what’s required. From there, we bill monthly. You’ll be asked to top up your account as you go, so you’re never building up a large unexpected balance.
When a court hearing is approaching, we provide a written cost estimate in advance, often six to eight weeks ahead, showing exactly what work needs to be done, how long it will take, and what it will cost. This gives you a clear view of what’s coming, so you can plan ahead and avoid surprises.

Although our hourly rates are broadly in line with other leading family law firms, our clients typically end up paying significantly less overall. That’s because we’re structured differently. We don’t load junior staff with unrealistic billing targets, and we encourage teamwork over competition, so no one is hanging on to a file to protect their annual client revenue. The result is a collaborative culture where work is shared efficiently and done by the right person for the job. It’s a better way of working, and it means better value for you.

We do not offer legal aid, and we do not take on clients who cannot afford private legal services. This is not a judgment, it’s simply about being realistic and responsible. If we know from the outset that a case is likely to be financially unsustainable, we will say so, openly and kindly. It’s not in anyone’s interest to begin something that cannot be completed, and we will always try to refer you to someone else who can help.

If we could offer one piece of advice to anyone approaching a family law issue, it would be this: keep the lines of communication open with the other party, if it’s safe and possible to do so. The most expensive cases we see are often the most acrimonious, not necessarily the most complex. The more agreement you can reach yourselves, the less you will need us; and we will always support you making that decision. Another tip: save up your thoughts and questions and send them in one message rather than many. We charge for our time, and that includes individual emails, so fewer, more focused communications really do help keep your costs down.

Your first enquiry with us is free. Whether it’s a brief chat or a more detailed initial consultation, we’ll give you space to explain what’s going on, and we’ll explain how we might be able to help, including what it’s likely to cost. There’s no pressure, and no obligation, just drop us a line using the contact form below.