Family Law Fees Scotland: The Only Firm with 3-Minute Billing Units
Why Pay for Time You Don’t Use?
Whilst other Scottish family law firms round up to 6 or 10-minute units, we bill in precise 3-minute increments.
Real example: A 2-minute call about your case costs £10 with us, but £30 elsewhere. Over your case, this adds up to thousands in savings.
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How We Compare to Other Scottish Family Law Firms
Typical Scottish Firms
- ❌ 6-10 minute billing units
- ❌ Fees often not published
- ❌ Monthly or quarterly billing
- ❌ Quotes exclude VAT
- ❌ Multiple lawyers on your case
- ❌ Often charge for consultations
- ❌ Travel time at full rate
Average cost for typical divorce: £8,000-£15,000
Rooney Family Law
- ✅ 3-minute billing units
- ✅ Transparent published rates
- ✅ Weekly itemised billing
- ✅ All quotes include VAT
- ✅ Dedicated solicitor throughout*
- ✅ 15-minute initial consultation
- ✅ No travel charges within cities
Average cost for typical divorce: £5,000-£10,000
Save 20-30%
*Your case will be handled primarily by one solicitor throughout. In the event of holidays or urgent matters, our meticulous file management ensures colleagues can seamlessly assist when needed.
Our 2025 Hourly Rates (Including VAT)
| Legal Professional | Hourly Rate (exc. VAT) | Hourly Rate (inc. VAT) | Per 3-Min Unit | Market Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Specialist Partner Law Society Accredited in Family/Child Law |
£300 | £360 | £18 | Edinburgh firms: £350-£450/hr But with 6-10 min units |
| Associate Family Lawyer 5+ years family law experience |
£250 | £300 | £15 | Glasgow firms: £250-£350/hr But with 6-10 min units |
| Accredited Paralegal Law Society Accredited |
£125 | £150 | £7.50 | Most firms: £100-£150/hr Often not accredited |
🎯 Key Difference That Matters
It’s not just about hourly rates – it’s about how they’re applied. A firm charging £250/hour with 6-minute units costs you MORE than our £300/hour with 3-minute units. Here’s why:
- Quick email check (2 mins): They charge £25, we charge £10
- Brief phone call (4 mins): They charge £25, we charge £20
- Court document review (22 mins): They charge £150, we charge £120
Calculate Your Savings
Typical Monthly Activity Comparison
Based on an average family law case with moderate complexity:
| Activity | Actual Time | Industry Charge | Our Charge | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 brief emails | 30 mins | £450 | £150 | £300 |
| 5 phone calls | 35 mins | £300 | £210 | £90 |
| 2 meetings | 90 mins | £540 | £540 | £0 |
| Document drafting | 120 mins | £720 | £720 | £0 |
| Monthly Total | 275 mins | £2,010 | £1,620 | £390 |
📊 Over a typical 12-month case, you save approximately £4,680 – enough to cover your court fees, expert reports, and still have change.
Typical Case Costs (Based on 2024-2025 Data)
Unlike most firms who won’t give you a straight answer, here are realistic cost ranges based on hundreds of recent cases:
| Type of Matter | Simple | Moderate Complexity | Complex/Contested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divorce (No Children) | £1,500-£3,000 | £3,000-£6,000 | £6,000-£15,000 |
| Divorce (With Children) | £2,500-£4,000 | £4,000-£8,000 | £8,000-£20,000 |
| Financial Provision Only | £2,000-£3,500 | £3,500-£7,000 | £7,000-£25,000 |
| Child Arrangements | £1,500-£3,000 | £3,000-£6,000 | £6,000-£15,000 |
| Cohabitation Disputes | £2,000-£4,000 | £4,000-£8,000 | £8,000-£20,000 |
Fixed Fee Service
We offer a fixed fee for certain undefended divorce actions:
Ordinary Divorce – Fixed Fee
For straightforward undefended cases
Legal fees: £932.90 + VAT (£1,119.48)
Court fees: £265
Sheriff Officers: £115.52
Total: £1,500
Please note: All other family law matters are charged at our standard hourly rates using our unique 3-minute billing units. This ensures you receive fair, transparent pricing for the actual work undertaken on your case.
Why Our Billing Innovation Matters
“I’d received quotes from three Edinburgh firms. All were vague about costs. Rooney Family Law showed me exactly how their 3-minute billing would save me money. Final bill was £3,200 less than the lowest quote I’d received elsewhere.”
– Margaret H., Edinburgh (Divorce with business assets, 2024)
The Technology Investment Behind Our Efficiency
We’ve invested significantly in case management systems that allow us to:
- Track time precisely – Our software captures actual time, not estimates
- Reduce administrative burden – Automated processes mean less time you’re charged for
- Provide weekly billing updates – Regular statements keep you informed
- Eliminate double-handling – Integrated systems mean we don’t waste time (and your money) on repetitive tasks
Flexible Payment Solutions
We understand family law matters often arise at financially difficult times. We offer flexible payment arrangements:
Pay As You Go
- Weekly billing keeps you in control
- Stop or pause anytime
- No large upfront retainer
- Minimum initial payment: £500
Standing Order
- Fixed monthly payments
- Spread costs over time
- Budget with certainty
- From £250 per month
Payment on Account
- Maintain credit balance
- Top up as needed
- Weekly statements show balance
- Full transparency
Payment Note: Deferred payment available for financial recovery cases only (settlements, property division). Child arrangements require payment on account or regular payments. We do not offer legal aid services but have payment plans from £250/month.
Transparent Weekly Billing
Every week, you receive an itemised statement showing:
Sample Weekly Statement Extract:
| Date | Description | Time | Cost |
| Mon 10:15 | Email to opposing solicitor re: finances | 6 mins | £30 |
| Mon 14:30 | Telephone call with client | 18 mins | £90 |
| Tue 09:00 | Drafting financial disclosure form | 42 mins | £210 |
| Wed 11:45 | Review response from HMRC | 3 mins | £15 |
Week Total: £345 | Account Balance: £1,155 CR
No surprises. No mystery charges. No waiting months to find out what you owe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t other firms use 3-minute billing?
Honestly? It requires significant investment in technology and training. Most firms use off-the-shelf systems designed for 6-minute units. We’ve invested in bespoke systems because we believe fairness matters. Also, 6-minute billing is more profitable for firms – we choose fairness over maximising profit.
How do I know you won’t just take longer to do tasks?
Our Law Society Accreditation requires us to maintain professional standards. We’re also regulated by the Law Society of Scotland who monitor billing practices. Plus, our weekly statements show exactly what we’re doing – if we were inefficient, you’d see it immediately and could raise concerns or change solicitor.
What’s the catch? This seems too good to be true.
No catch. We’re simply more efficient through technology and choose to pass savings to clients rather than pocket them. We believe fair billing creates loyal clients who recommend us – and it does. Over 70% of our work comes from recommendations.
What about your initial consultation?
We offer a 15-minute telephone consultation to understand your situation and explain how we can help. Following this, we’ll send you a follow-up email summarising our discussion and outlining your options. Any work beyond this is charged at our standard rates.
What if I can’t afford to pay immediately?
We offer payment plans from £250 per month. For cases involving financial recovery (divorce settlements, property sales), we can defer payment until funds are received. For child-related matters, we require regular payment arrangements.
Do you accept legal aid?
We do not currently offer legal aid services. However, we offer flexible payment options including payment plans from £250 per month to help make our services accessible.
Client Success: Real Savings, Real Results
Complex Financial Provision Case – Glasgow
Situation: High-net-worth divorce with business valuations, pension sharing, and offshore assets.
Competitor Quote: £15,000-£25,000 (Edinburgh firm with 10-minute billing units)
Our Final Bill: £11,340 including VAT
Time to Resolution: 8 months
Client Saved: £3,660 minimum
“The partner at the Edinburgh firm couldn’t even tell me if their quote included VAT. Rooney’s transparency was refreshing. Every week I knew exactly where I stood financially. The 3-minute billing meant I wasn’t afraid to ask quick questions.”
– James T., Company Director, 2024
The Rooney Family Law Advantage
Law Society Accredited
Both partners are Accredited Specialists – a distinction held by fewer than 5% of Scottish solicitors. Most firms have no accredited specialists at all.
Exclusively Family Law
We don’t do conveyancing, criminal law, or wills. 100% of our time is spent on family law, keeping us at the cutting edge of developments.
8 Office Locations
Edinburgh, Glasgow (2), Livingston, Stirling, Falkirk, Uddingston, and East Kilbride. More accessible than any other specialist family firm.
Established Since 2018
We’ve built our reputation on fair billing and excellent service, with over 70% of our work coming from client recommendations.
Ready to Save on Your Family Law Matter?
Get a 15-minute telephone consultation to discuss your situation. We’ll explain how our 3-minute billing saves you money whilst delivering expert legal representation.
15-minute telephone consultation with follow-up email advice
Rooney Family Law – Scotland’s Only Family Law Firm with 3-Minute Billing
Law Society of Scotland Accredited Specialists | Established 2018
Serving clients across Scotland from 8 convenient locations