Hi Rayborn,
Right form D10 you are refering too....Do you agree with the statement of the petitioner as to the grounds of jurisdiction set out in the petition? If not please state the grounds on which you disagree with the statement of the petitioner".
I would personally put NO and give reasons as its untrue I do not and have never drank excessively and never physically or mentally harmed my wife! Or words to that effect.
Question 4 says....... Do you intend to defend the case?
You say No
Question 5 syas..........Do you consent to a decree?
You say Yes
Why would the above cause your costs to spiral?
Its no good me giving you advice about solicitors because my thoughts on them are well "best shouldnt say on here really what I actually think of solicitors! There are a "couple" maybe in the uk that have morals and genuinely want to help people, but most just want your money and they dont care if they end up with all the assets of a marriage!
We had one for 2 weeks cost us £2700, so we decided to act for ourselves, not cost us a penny since and its been going on in our case for 3 years! My partners ex wife just had her bill 30K, 4k to legal aid, 7k she already paid on account left a 19k bill, shes just sold her house and all the equity has now gone in her solicitors account! Nice hey? Shes now left without a penny! And still its not over! Our FH is in October!
My advice to anyone is go to a few solicitors for the "free half hour" ask different questions of them all, then come on here, ask all the questions you need to, get answers from people who have gone down that path! Read everything you can and hey presto REPRESENT YOURSELVES! Its not difficult, just mind numbing, but at least you will know everything you need to know about your case better than any solicitor who cant keep tabs on all the cases they have. They look at yours one day then forget it for 2/3/4 weeks, until something crops up. They cant possibly give your case 100%, maybe they do on the day of court but then you have to go over everything with them again outside court in ten minutes. Its not their fault, its just that to us its the most important thing in our lives, its depressing, it leaves us all in a state some days, its just a job to them! (oops sorry i have gone on, dont get me on the subject of solicitors!! sorry lol)
If you go to the divorce guide on here on main page, click on
divorce petition, click on "respondant has replied to my petition" and have a good read of that it will show you both sides in both cases, it makes interesting reading.
Kind ones
Louise