Shall I pay half my wife''s legal costs?

My wife''s solicitor has asked me to pay half her legal costs for the initial proceedings(£549). Is this normal?


I have already replied that each party should pay their own legal costs. However, recently speaking informally to a divorce lawyer, he stated that usually the husband who pays for the court costs and initial proceedings.


NOTE: I am the divorce petitioner and I have already paid the court costs for the Petition (£410). Unlike my wife, I have not appointed a lawyer, because I can''t afford one. My wife earns well over £20k p/a and only about 15% less than what I earned in the past year.

I know it''s fairly normal for the applicant to either claim all the court and sols costs for the divorce from the respondent where the grounds are unreasonable behaviour/adultery, or to offer to split 50/50.

However I''ve never heard of the respondent demanding this? She doesn''t actually need a solicitor for the divorce part, there''s little more to do than sign and returning a couple of documents.

I''d politely tell her to ''do one''.....you have actually already paid 100% of the mandatory costs.

Just tell them you will each pay your own costs.