OT Help/Advice needed for Marriage Break up

[Arthritic Toe]

I disagree with this, but it's only based on my experience with a very professional and honest solicitor - there's no guarantee that they're all like this. His hourly rate was high - something like £200 - however, he didn't take the piss with chargeable time and the charge for his services over the course of about 2-3 months came to less than £1000, and he saved me well over that amount with the advice he gave about how finances etc. are normally split.

£200/h is not high - that is at the low end of the scale. You did well to wrap things up with less than 5 hours work. I would suggest that is not typical.