RUGBY Offices

Private Client Department, Address: 16 Church Street, RUGBY, CV21 3PW, Telephone: + 44 (0) 1788 579 579, Fax: +44 (0) 1788 570 949

Conveyancing Department, Address: 26 Regent Street, RUGBY, CV21 2PS, Telephone: + 44 (0) 1788 551 611, Fax: + 44 (0) 1788 551 597

Commercial/ Wills, Trusts & Probate Departments, Address: The Robbins Building, 25 Albert Street, RUGBY, CV21 2SD, Telephone: + 44 (0) 1788 579 579, Fax: + 44 (0) 1788 552 888

LONDON Offices

2nd Floor Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6BD, Telephone enquiries: +44 (0) 2078876590, Fax number: +44 (0) 207 8876001

BANBURY Offices

Strathmore House, Waterperry Court, Middleton Road, BANBURY, OX16 4QD, General Telephone enquires: + 44 (0) 1295 270999

STEP 3 FDR-  Financial Dispute Resolution Hearing

Step 3 involves another Court hearing if agreement cannot be reached between the parties.  This Court hearing is known as the Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearing.  An FDR hearing is an attempt by the Judge to assist you with any settlement negotiations.  By the time we arrive at Court for an FDR, all disclosure and outstanding information must be complete and both parties must come to Court with a determination to try to reach agreement.  If both parties have been open and honest about their financial and other circumstances, the chances of reaching an agreement at this hearing are high, and very few cases proceed to a final hearing.

What is included in Step 3 service?

We will draft your replies to your spouse’s questions and will consider their replies to our questions with you.  We will liaise with any experts involved such as valuers.  We will advise you on proposals to be made and advise you on any proposals made by your spouse.  We will try to reach agreement before arriving at Court.  If the FDR is necessary then we will brief a Barrister to attend the FDR and we will also attend with you.  If your court is not local to us then we reserve the right to instruct a local Solicitor to attend on your behalf at extra cost to you.  We will draft a consent order if agreement is reached and arrange for it to be considered by the Court. 

What is not included in Step 3 service?

The fixed price Step 3 service does not include any work in relation to the divorce or any children issues or any conveyancing work necessary to implement an agreement.


How do I order and pay for the Step 3 service?

The fixed price for Step 3 is £2,950 plus VAT but does not include Court fees or any other professional fees that may need to be incurred, such as valuation of property, a valuation of pensions, Barristers fees or Court fees.  It does not include any extra court applications that may need to be made during the process.

We are happy to accept payments by instalments:-

  • Payment of £1,500 plus VAT at the start of the step
  • Payment of £1,450 plus VAT on completion of the information gathering and before advice is given in relation to settlement proposals.

Through Lloyds TSB Bank we are also able to help put you in touch with a bank representative that could arrange a personal loan for you to pay for the divorce, which you can pay back out of any financial settlement that you receive when these proceedings are concluded. Many clients use this facility to help them with the payments.


The level of service is unsurpassed. The website is a model. The services provided range from simple online divorces through a user-friendly interface at competitive cost to complex high value ancillary relief matters. The firm's staff are all warm, welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable. The lawyers are friendly and approachable, fully up-to-date, and demonstrate an ability to communicate their expertise and advise in plain English. They intelligently seek solutions, and do everything possible to avoid conflict and minimise costs exposure for clients. Their response times are excellent, and the standard of correspondence and other written work the highest. They enjoy excellent relationships with professional colleagues and select the best and most appropriate experts.