Will and Probate Service Charges

Our firm adopts a transparent and fair charging fee structure. We also endeavour to be competitive with market rates. There are two ways in which we charge for our services, either an hourly rate or on a fixed fee basis. If you opt to proceed on an hourly basis, our fees are based on the hourly rates of, and time spent by a solicitor and / or support staff on the matter.

Administration of Estates

Work in relation to administration of estates and applying for a probate is undertaken by a solicitor. Our Wills and Probate solicitor’s charging rate is £250 per hour plus VAT whereas those assisting, such as a trainee solicitors and/or paralegals, charge £150 per hour plus VAT.

Where we are instructed to deal with the administration of an estate (which includes liaising with institutions to obtain the correct information to apply for probate, and collection and distribution of assets of the estate), we anticipate our fees will be £5,000 to £6,750 (excluding VAT). This is based on the administration of the estate taking 25 to 35 hours which is generally where the following applies;

• There is a valid Will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 6 bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are 1 to 3 beneficiaries
• There is no Inheritance Tax payable and the Executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on the division of assets
• There are no claims made against the estate

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example if there is only one beneficiary and limited assets, the costs will be towards the lower end of the scale. Whereas if there are a large number of beneficiaries and lots of additional assets, the cost is likely to be higher.

Please note our fees do not include any fees for the sale of any property.

In some circumstances, we are able to deal with the preparation of the application of a grant of probate only. In such cases we anticipate our fees will be £675 to £1,350 (excluding VAT). This is based on the application of a grant of probate taking 3 to 6 hours to complete, where the Executor is able to provide us with the assets and liabilities of the estate and where the estate is not a taxable estate.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs relating to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as probate fees.

Disbursements likely to be incurred are as followed:

• Probate application fee which is currently £155 but from April 2019 will be set as follows:
  

• £7-9 Swearing of the oath (per executor)
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary)
• £93.60 Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors
• £200 Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims
• Anti-money-laundering searches at a cost of £10 plus VAT for UK residents and £30 plus VAT for non-UK residents
• Accountancy Fees for the preparation of tax returns
• Costs to value or sell stocks and shares
• Any additional copies of the grant required (charged at a cost of 50p per copy)
• The fee to redirect post (if required)
• Any insurance premiums required to be paid (such as for unoccupied property)
• Any inheritance tax, which is payable from the estate
• Valuation fee for property

What will we do for you?

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor to work on your matter
• Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
• Accurately identify the type of probate application you will require
• Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
• Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
• Draft a legal oath for you to swear
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• Obtain the probate
• Collect and distribute all assets in the estate

How long will this take?

On average, estates are generally dealt with within 5 to 8 months. Obtaining the information to lead to the grant takes 6 to 8 weeks, and obtaining the grant of probate takes 2 to 3 weeks. Collecting assets following grant of probate can take between 4 to 8 weeks. Once this has been completed, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2 to 4weeks. Collection and distribution may take longer where assets, such as property, are to be sold.

What if my estate is more complex than this?

If your estate is a fairly complex estate, for example the assets of the estate included a number pf properties or share holdings and is is liable to inheritance tax, we will be very pleased to discuss  with you, without obligation, the work that will be required in dealing with the estate and provide a fee estimate.