Viberts launches new initiative to keep divorce costs down

Thursday 01 September 2016

Law firm Viberts have introduced a new fee structure and process to show clients what their options are during the different stages of divorce, and how much they each cost. It's intended to make sure their clients don’t get any nasty surprises when the bill arrives in the post.

Rose Colley, family law partner at Viberts, said: “Often people going through divorce ‘just want out’ and don’t consider their legal fees during the process. There is often a great deal of uncertainty around divorce costs which are unknown territory for most divorcing couples.”

“By giving our clients clarity and options up front, they know what to expect. They are much more informed when choosing what action to take at each stage.” 

She added: “Settling out of court is inevitably more affordable. It also tends to be less traumatic and stressful for both parties. The aim is to provide some certainty and peace of mind during such a difficult and unknown time.” 

Mrs Colley estimates that 75-80% of divorce cases will be eligible for transparent fees and only a small minority will be too complicated to resolve within the transparent fee structure. For example, where the finances are very complex such as cases involving trusts or cases where money may be hidden by one party.

Mrs Colley said: “From the market research we have conducted, we don’t believe anyone else in Jersey is offering this transparent approach. Our extensive experience as one of the biggest family law teams on island means we are confident that it is beneficial for Viberts as well as our clients.”