One Couple, One Lawyer

When a couple have decided to divorce, there is often an agreed way to settle the property and assets of the marriage that is clear to both. If you’re not in dispute about how to divide your finances, you now have the option to instruct one solicitor to act for them both. Here’s how it works.

Initially, you would be invited to a joint meeting where the solicitor will get an outline of your situation and establish whether you are suitable for joint representation. Then each of you is seen individually by the solicitor. So that we can ensure that neither of you feels compelled to do what the other asks under duress.

Both of you will need to sign an agreement, committing you to the joint process, including the following:

• The solicitor is acting for both jointly and not for one or the other;
• You will provide all required information to the solicitor and this will be shared between each other;
• You have freely entered into the agreement;
• You can each get individual, independent legal advice whenever you want;
• If a conflict arises between you, we will cease to act for you and will not act for either individually.

Once the agreement is entered into, we will ask you, as a couple to provide information about all your joint and individual assets, liabilities, income and outgoings. We review this information with you and help you to work out what is in the ‘matrimonial pot’.

Finally, we will discuss the outcome that the you envisioned at the start of the process and whether it can be considered reasonably fair to both of you. We will advise you jointly on the terms you propose as a final settlement and, providing there is still no disagreement between you, we can file the Consent Order with the Court.