It really depends on how complicated your separation agreement is. If it was fairly clearcut, then I would negotiate with the solicitor, tell him/her to get real and cop on, and look for an itemised account off all and any action he/she had to take on your behalf, in particular, any outlay for expenditure (receipted, of course) which they incurred. Unfortunately, without knowing how much/little effort was required to represent you in the Court, it's very hard to comment except to say that any professional who, with full knowledge (I assume) of the case in hand, gave an estimate of the cost and then more than doubled it after the event, is not very professional!