What does paying the petitioners costs include?

Hi,

I''m trying to get things 100% straight before I sign the Acknowledgement of Service form.

My wife is petitioning on grounds of unreasonable behaviour. I disagree with some of the things she''s written, but basically don''t intend to defend. She has asked that I pay "half of petitioner''s costs".

So I assume this covers:

1) Court fees.
2) Her solicitor fees associated with the basic divorce process.

Is that all of it?

I intend to apply for shared residence of our children and I suspect my wife will fight this. We will try mediation, but if that fails and we have to get involved in expensive court procedures involving solicitors, are THESE costs included in the above, or are costs associated with resolving disagreements over children and finances a separate matter to the basic process of getting a divorce?

I want to be sure what I''m agreeing to before I say "Yes". Should I say "Yes" I''m happy to pay costs (confident that this doesn''t include those other potential costs), or should I put "No" and then add a statement that I''m happy to pay for the basic divorce costs, but not the wrangling over children and finances?

Thanks very much.

Hi MonkeyBuster,

Welcome to Wikivorce.

It''s a fair thing to half costs - it''s pretty much as you say - Court Fee''s and her Sol legal fees. It''s just the costs pertaining to the Divorce (the ending of the marriage part) the costs for finances and child contact are each met by each party (usually)

Meaning each of you pay your own costs.

It''s better if you can agree between you or via Mediation, rather than fight through Court. As well as financial - there is a huge emotional cost to these kind of battles.

Good luck with everything and don''t forget to ask here if you want advice/help/support.

WR

Thanks very much WhiteRose, that puts my mind at rest. So I''ll say "Yes" to paying half the costs. As you say, I think that''s reasonable. I just didn''t want to get lumbered paying for her solicitors if we end up arguing about child residence arrangements etc.

Thanks.

If you disagree to the ''facts'' of UB used, you can write you agree the marriage has broken down and you disagree with the allegations and reserve your right to defend them should they be raised again later.

WR

Oh - Half the costs should be around £700 - £800.

WR

Hi,

Thanks again WhiteRose.

Where on the Acknowledgement of Service form can I write that?

It asks if I intend to defend (which I don''t), but I would perhaps like to point out that there are a couple of inaccuracies.