If you need to agree your spouse’s solicitor’s costs, for example in advance of divorce proceedings or if you have been ordered to pay the costs, you will need to have some idea of reasonable hourly rates. The rates charged by solicitors vary depending upon the experience of the solicitor doing the work and the area in which they practice. So, for example, a senior solicitor practising in London is likely to charge more than any other solicitor practising in another part of the country. I can’t give you rates for all solicitors in all parts of the country but, at the time of writing, I doubt that any solicitor charges less than £100 an hour for non¬legal aid work, and the top solicitors can charge up to £600 an hour, although if more than £200 an hour is claimed, then you should seek an explanation.
As to the total cost of the job itself, this depends upon how much work is involved – most solicitors charge on the basis of the work that they do rather than on the basis of an estimate in advance. Having said that, some jobs can be given a reasonably accurate estimate. For example, a straightforward undefended divorce should cost no more than £1,000, and probably less.
In addition to the solicitor’s costs (and VAT on them) you will, of course, need to include court fees and other reasonable disbursements.