Pension Sharing order - use solicitor or not?

ryesammy

I am recently divorced, and now sorting out a pension sharing order, transferring an agreed amount to my ex-wife. I can't afford a solicitor, but her solicitor is asking me to pay half (around £700) to process the pension order for the court. We are in agreement to have a financial clean break. So should I pay half her solicitor, find my own, do it all myself? Wondered if anyone processed their own pension sharing order?

eskbanker

Not a direct answer to your specific question but if you can't afford a solicitor and she can, while there's an expectation that you'll be sending her money, it sounds like you'd really benefit from having a solicitor on your side for the whole negotiation!

Thrugelmir

Who is assisting you in having a financial consent order drawn up? 

ryesammy

Not sure if this answers your question Thrugelmir, but we went through mediation and agreed how we shared equity, maintenance and a figure (not a percentage, which I know now ought to have been the case) for her share of my pension. She, through her lawyer, agreed this during the divorce. Apart from that, I don't have a lawyer.

Thrugelmir

If you are happy with the outcome. Then paying half the cost seems a reasonable compromise. Though you might wish to consult a solicitor for your own peace of mind. 

squirrelpie

Who is the solicitor responsible to if half their cost is paid by each party? How does that work?