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How Ratcliffes Compares

Value for money

This firm - 85%
National Average
Poor Competitive Excellent

Excellent does not necessarily mean ‘cheap’. It means that clients thought that the level of service received was Excellent for what they paid.

This score has been calculated using up to the last 300 reviews left by clients of Ratcliffes on ReviewSolicitors.

As part of our review questionnaire we ask reviewer questions about the value for money they felt they received by using Ratcliffes. These questions include:

  • Value for money (a rating of 1-5)
  • How much were you initially quoted or how much did you expect to pay?
  • Approximately how much did you end up spending for the legal services provided (ignoring disbursements and court fees)
  • Did you think this was underpriced, overpriced or about right?
  • Overall experience

We use data science to amalgamate the answers to these questions and create a ‘ReviewSolicitors score’ out of 100. The above chart representation score is a simple percentage representation of the averaged score across those who have reviewed this law firm.

Underpriced 0%
Overpriced 10%
About Right 90%

If you would like to read more about how we work with our review data please see our Transparency section.

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Would recommend to
friends and family

This firm - 85%
National Average
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

ReviewSolicitors uses our community data to show you how many clients used Ratcliffes and have had a satisfactory experience where they have indicated that they would recommend the services of the law firm to their friends and family.

You can use this data to see how Ratcliffes performs against other law firms nationally. A score close to 100% indicates that this firm is highly valued by their clients.

As part of our review questionnaire we ask the question:

"Would you recommend this firm to somebody else?"

The reviewer can select either “Yes” or “No”.

The above score is a simple percentage representation of the total amount of clients who selected the “Yes” option:

Yes 85%
No 15%

If you would like to read more about how we work with our review data please see our Transparency section.

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Satisfied with
outcome of matter

This firm - 86%
National Average
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

ReviewSolicitors uses our community data to show you how many clients used Ratcliffes and were satisfied with the outcome of their matter. Being satisfied with the outcome of your matter is an important consideration to have in mind.

You can use this data to see how Ratcliffes compares to the national average of clients being satisfied with the outcome of their matter after instructing a solicitor.

As part of our review questionnaire we ask the question:

"Were you satisfied with the outcome of your case?"

The reviewer can select either “Yes” or “No”.

The above score is a simple percentage representation of the total amount of clients who selected the “Yes” option:

Yes 86%
No 14%

If you would like to read more about how we work with our review data please see our Transparency section.

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Rankings by area of expertise

The rankings below show the areas of expertise that Ratcliffes offers to clients. You can see how good the service offered is in comparison to all other law firms nationally.

Data shown above is based on the reviews and client feedback collected by ReviewSolicitors over the last 12 months.

Review Sources

Client Reviews

4.4/5

Reviews summary

  • Excellent

    58
  • Very Good

    3
  • Average

    1
  • Poor

    0
  • Awful

    10

Overall experience

  • Value For Money
  • Communication
  • Initial Impressions
  • Approachability
  • Documentation Accuracy
  • Legal knowledge
Andrew,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Agricultural land for sale or development

Andrew,

December 17, 2024

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Collected on:

Super service

Excellent professional service, guidance ( and patience) from Mandy, very much appreciated in the lengthy process of the sale of our late uncle’s house.

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Robin,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Wills

Robin,

November 13, 2024

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Happy client

Emily was very efficient, polite and friendly.

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Anonymous,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Wills

Anonymous,

November 08, 2024

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Collected on:

Updating will's

Appointment was arranged within days.
Relaxed atmosphere at the appointment.
Options were explained clearly, avoiding jargon.

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D Bradley ,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Disputed Trusts

D Bradley ,

November 07, 2024

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Probate

I found everyone so helpful and professional, I would recommend them, they all were very kind and made the process easier

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Gary,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Disputed Probate

Gary,

November 05, 2024

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Collected on:

Ratcliffes Solicitors

Very helpful , kept up to date all throughout the legal proceedings

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David,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Wills

David,

October 15, 2024

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Collected on:

Having a will written

Very good service. Very professional and friendly. Would use again.

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David,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Residential Conveyancing

David,

October 10, 2024

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Collected on:

Probate and a house purchase

You made the experience a very pleasant one , I can't overstate that personal touch, when we were selling our other house we never even met any of their staff at all. On a few occasions we panicked because of those pesky estate agents, and just turned up and was made welcome, so thanks again.

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Emily

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Divorce

Emily

September 12, 2024

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Collected on:

Divorce & Financial Order

it gives me great pleasure in writing this review, i'm not a person that that would usually review but on this occasion i felt the need to pass on my gratitude to Richard and his team at Ratcliffes solicitors in Sittingbourne, this should have been a fairly straight forward case but certainly wasn't, the way in which Richard conducted himself, was very professional, understanding and extremely patient, i felt supported all the way through the process and although very frustrated at times he reassured me when i needed it most. i must also mention Mandy and her assistance, she again was extremely professional and supportive always striving to assist and going over and above wherever she could. once again i would like to thank the team and i would certainly recommend these guys to anyone needing an honest, caring, professional and experienced service.

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Anonymous,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Trusts

Anonymous,

September 09, 2024

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Collected on:

My will.

I would like to thank everyone at Radcliffes.For their excellent work and understanding.

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Dennis Hill,

Verified review

This review has been left by a verified client who used Ratcliffes.

Matter Type:

Trusts

Dennis Hill,

September 05, 2024

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Collected on:

Making new wills

Emily really patient explaining what we didn’t understand.

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Reviews collected from

Anita

Matter Type:

Purchase and Sale

Anita

October 30, 2023

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Anita

I would highly recommend Ratcliffe solicitor's this year I moved to a new property, and it was a smooth and no worry's transaction.

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The

Matter Type:

Purchase and Sale

The

October 25, 2023

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Collected on:

The

Very helpful, very knowledgeable, great service

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Dawn

Matter Type:

Probate

Dawn

September 12, 2023

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Dawn

We employed Ratcliffes to help us with probate and conveyancing services and all staff proved to be professional, efficient, knowledgeable, friendly and caring for which we were truly grateful; definitely recommend.

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Don

Don

August 19, 2023

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Don

Had a fixed fee appointment with Richard. His knowledge and experience were clearly evident and his forthright yet warm personality left me in no doubt I'd made an excellent choice. Would gladly return if I need help again.

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Julie

Matter Type:

Residential Conveyancing

Julie

August 08, 2023

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Julie

I used Ratcliffes for my house sale in August 2022 despite not being local to them but based on a longstanding family recommendation. I was very happy with the service which they provided from start to finish and so I was more than happy to instruct them for the purchase of my new home in February of this year. Mandy was as friendly, approachable and helpful as she was the first time. Luke carried out my instructions in a professional and courteous manner and I felt confident that the purchase was being expedited appropriately which minimised the stress that naturally comes with the whole process. I would recommend this firm to others as my family did to me.

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Ratcliffes are accredited by

accreditation
accreditation

About this branch

Description

Relaxed, Professional, Approachable Ratcliffes Solicitors was set up in 1999 by Richard Ratcliffe. The idea was to give local people and local businesses in Sittingbourne, Kent, a high-quality legal service at competitive rates. Establishing the firm wasn’t a completely selfless act: Richard had been working in a large London legal practice and decided that the four-hour daily commute wasn’t the best use of his time. Richard’s career in London did demonstrate a couple of things however: the ease with which clients facing enormous uncertainty can get lost in faceless law firms, and how the same clients are reduced quickly to no more than a number on a file — while being charged a hefty fee for the privilege. Local Lawyers In Sittingbourne Richard and his team have developed a law firm that treats clients differently. Ratcliffes Solicitors is small, yes — but we are independent and friendly. We get to know our clients and many of them recommend us to their friends and colleagues.

Regulated by

Solicitors Regulation Authority

Legal services

Personal areas of law

  • Consumer
    • Litigation - Breach of contract
    • Litigation - Property litigation claims
    • Litigation Law
  • Employment
    • Constructive/Unfair Dismissal
    • Disciplinary Hearings
    • Discrimination at Work
    • Employee Team Moves
    • Employment Contracts
    • Employment Law
    • Redundancy
    • Restrictive Covenants
    • Settlement Agreements
    • Tribunal Claims
    • UK Employment Laws
    • Unfair Dismissal Claims
  • Family Law
    • Asset protection and tax mitigation
    • Change of name
    • Child Access
    • Child Arrangements Following Divorce
    • Child Custody
    • Child Law
    • Child contact
    • Children
    • Children Act proceedings
    • Civil Partnership Dissolution
    • Civil partnerships
    • Cohabitation agreements and disputes
    • Cohabitation and Unmarried Relationships
    • Divorce
    • Divorce Mediation
    • Family law
    • Financial Matters
    • Grandparents' Rights
    • High Net Worth Divorce
    • Inheritance Act claims
    • Lasting power of attorney
    • Marriage and civil partnerships
    • Matrimonial finance
    • Pension and property advice
    • Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements
    • Separation
    • Separation Agreement
  • Housing & Property
    • Boundary Disputes
    • Buying at auction
    • Declarations of trusts
    • Deeds of Gifts
    • Deeds of easements, variation, deeds of rectifications
    • Evicting Squatters and Trespassers
    • Extending your Lease
    • Freehold Enfranchisement
    • Landlord and Tenant
    • Lease Extensions
    • Leasehold properties
    • Matrimonial transfers
    • New home purchases and sales
    • Option agreements and conditional contracts
    • Planning
    • Possession and repossession proceedings
    • Property Disputes
    • Purchase and Sale
    • Remortgaging
    • Renting and Tenancy Agreements
    • Repossessions
    • Residential Conveyancing
    • Restrictive Covenants, Easements and Wayleaves
    • Right of Way and Rights to Light
    • Right to Manage
    • Second charges
    • Tenancy Breaches, Injunctions and Forfeiture Claims
    • Tenant Eviction
    • Transfer of title
    • Transfers of equity
    • Transfers of parts of land
    • Unpaid Rent, Service or Ground Charges
  • Money & Tax
    • Debt and Bankruptcy
    • Inheritance Tax
    • Trusts
  • Welfare & Benefits
    • Mental Health - Court of protection
  • Wills, Trusts & Probate
    • Disputed Probate
    • Disputed Trusts
    • Disputed Wills
    • Probate
    • Trusts
    • Wills

Business areas of law

  • Commercial Property
    • Commercial Leases
    • Commercial mortgages
    • Investment purchases and Buy to Let
    • Landlord and tenant
    • Purchase and Sale Of Commercial Property
    • Purchase of development land
    • Rights of way issues
    • Sales or purchases of shops, factories, warehouses, offices and licensed premises
  • Company & Commercial
    • Commercial Contracts and Agreements
    • Commercial Law
    • Commercial Litigation Matters
    • Contract law
    • Contractual Disputes
    • Corporate Law
    • Debt Recovery
    • Employment - business
    • Franchising
    • Insolvency and Bankruptcy
    • Intellectual Property
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales and Purchases
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