Our legal fees are calculated by reference, amongst other matters, to the total time spent on a case and the hourly rates of the members of the team who deal with it. These are as follows:

• Partners – £267 per hour
• Solicitors – £200 per hour
• Paralegals – £121 per hour

Please note that these rates do not include VAT. VAT is applied at the rate of 20% on our fees and, where applicable, disbursements.

1) ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATE WHERE THERE IS A WILL AND THE ESTATE IS NON-TAXABLE

• The matter will be conducted on a Fixed Fee basis which ranges from £2,400-£6,400 plus VAT. The fee will depend on the amount of work involved and each case will be treated on its own merit.

Conduct of your case and hourly rate

Your case will be conducted by a Member/Solicitor

• Principal Solicitor- £267.00 plus VAT
• Associate Solicitors- £200 plus VAT
• Paralegal Staff -£121 plus VAT (supervised by a Senior Member)

The work involved is anticipated to take 12 hours subject to the below factors:

• Any unexpected complexities
• Failure to disclose all assets and heed advice
• More assets are discovered which attracts tax
• Supporting evidence
• If there is a claim against the estate

Services included

• 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/li>
• Draft a legal oath for you to swear
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• Obtain the Probate and securely send two copies to you
• Collect and distribute all assets in the estate
• Prepare a final estate account

The above fee is on the assumption that:

• There is a valid will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 2 bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are 1-2 beneficiaries
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
• There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
• There are no claims made against the estate

Disbursements:

• Probate court fee of £155. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/announcement-on-probate-fees
• £10 Swearing of oath (per Executor)
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£12 per beneficiary inclusive of vat)
• £85 (inclusive of vat) Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
• £80 (inclusive of vat) Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

Potential additional costs

• If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £0.50 each (1 per asset usually).
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
• Any third-party fees, for example to locate a missing beneficiary or an expert fees is not included in our fees
• £2.50 for each Executor if will is annexed

How long will it take?

• On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4-19 months.
• Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 7-27 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 6-20 weeks (depending on the circumstances).
• Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2-4 weeks.

The above is only an estimate and each case is unique. An accurate estimate will be provided upon receipt of instructions and evidence.

2) ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATE WHERE THERE IS A WILL IN A TAXABLE ESTATE

• Fixed fee estimate- £3,000 – £9,000 plus VAT. The fee will depend on the amount of work involved and each case will be treated on its own merit. An average fee for this matter is estimated to be £8,000 plus VAT (depending on the amount of work involved).
• In addition 0.75% of property value and 1.5% of liquid asset value in accordance with the Law Society Guidelines.

Conduct of your case and hourly rate

Your case will be conducted by a Member/Solicitor

• Principal Solicitor- £267 plus VAT
• Associate Solicitors- £200 plus VAT
• Paralegal Staff -£121 plus VAT (supervised by a Senior Member)

The work involved is anticipated to take 28 hours subject to the below factors:

• Any unexpected complexities
• Failure to disclose all assets and heed advice
• More assets are discovered which attracts tax
• Supporting evidence
• If there is a claim against the estate

Services included

• Initial attendance to obtain instructions and advice
• Determine assets
• Correspond with organisations involving the deceased’s assets
• Value assets and arrange for the sale of any property
• Complete the Inheritance forms
• Determine how to pay inheritance tax
• Prepare oath, Issue application and obtain Grant of Probate
• Advertisement for creditors
• Prepare estate account
• Distribute assets

Disbursements:

• Probate court fee of £155. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/announcement-on-probate-fees
• £10 Swearing of oath (per Executor)
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£12 per beneficiary inclusive of vat)
• £85 (inclusive of vat) Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
• £80 (inclusive of vat) Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

Potential additional costs

• If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £0.50 each (1 per asset usually).
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
• Any third-party fees, for example to locate a missing beneficiary or an expert fees is not included in our fees
• £2.50 for each Executor if will is annexed

How long will it take?

• On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4-19 months.
• Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 7-27 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 6-20 weeks (depending on the circumstances).
• Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2-4 weeks.

The above is only an estimate and each case is unique. An accurate estimate will be provided upon receipt of instructions and evidence.

3) ADMINISTRATION OF AN ESTATE WHERE THE DECEASED HAS DIED INTESTATE I.E. NOT LEAVING A WILL IN A NON-TAXABLE ESTATE

• Fixed fee estimate- £4,000 – £10,000 plus VAT. The fee will depend on the amount of work involved and each case will be treated on its own merit. An average fee for this matter is estimated to be £7,000 plus VAT (depending on the amount of work involved).

Conduct of your case and hourly rate

Your case will be conducted by a Member/Solicitor

• Principal Solicitor- £267 plus VAT
• Associate Solicitors- £200 plus VAT
• Paralegal Staff -£121 plus VAT (supervised by a Senior Member)

The work involved is anticipated to take 28 hours subject to the below factors:

• Any unexpected complexities
• Failure to disclose all assets and heed advice
• Disagreements between beneficiaries
• More assets are discovered which attracts tax
• Supporting evidence
• Conducting will search
• Issues in relation to deciding who should be appointed a Personal Representative
• If there is a claim against the estate

Services included

• Initial attendance to obtain instructions and advice
• Determine assets
• Determine who should be the Personal Representative of the Estate
• Determine who the beneficiaries are in accordance with the Rules of Intestacy
• Correspond with organisations involving the deceased’s assets
• Conduct a Will search
• Value assets including any property or investments
• Arrange for the sale of any property or investments
• Complete the Inheritance form (IHT205)
• Advertise for creditors
• Prepare oath, Issue application for Letters of Application
• Prepare estate account
• Distribute assets

Disbursements:

• Probate court fee of £155. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/announcement-on-probate-fees
• £10 Swearing of oath (per Executor)
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£12 per beneficiary inclusive of vat)
• £85 (inclusive of vat) Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
• £80 (inclusive of vat) Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
• Will search – £95 plus VAT (£114)

Potential additional costs

• If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £0.50 each (1 per asset usually).
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
• Any third-party fees, for example to locate a missing beneficiary or an expert fees is not included in our fees
• £2.50 for each Executor if will is annexed

How long will it take?

• On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4-19 months.
• Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 7-27 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 6-20 weeks (depending on the circumstances).
• Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2-4 weeks.

The above is only an estimate and each case is unique. An accurate estimate will be provided upon receipt of instructions and evidence.

4) ADMINISTRATION OF AN ESTATE WHERE THE DECEASED HAS DIED INTESTATE I.E NOT LEAVING A WILL IN A TAXABLE ESTATE

• Fixed fee estimate- £4,500,000 – £11,000 plus VAT. The fee will depend on the amount of work involved and each case will be treated on its own merit. An average fee for this matter is estimated to be £8,000 plus VAT (depending on the amount of work involved).
• In addition 0.75% of property value and 1.5% of liquid asset value in accordance with the Law Society Guidelines

Conduct of your case and hourly rate

Your case will be conducted by a Member/Solicitor

• Principal Solicitor- £267 plus VAT
• Associate Solicitors- £200 plus VAT
• Paralegal Staff -£121 plus VAT (supervised by a Senior Member)

The work involved is anticipated to take 28 hours subject to the below factors:

• Any unexpected complexities
• Failure to disclose all assets and heed advice
• Disagreements between beneficiaries
• More assets are discovered which attracts tax
• Supporting evidence
• Conducting will search
• Issues in relation to deciding who should be appointed a Personal Representative

Services included

• Initial attendance to obtain instructions and advice
• Determine assets in the estate
• Determine who should be the Personal Representative of the Estate
• Determine who the beneficiaries are in accordance with the Rules of Intestacy
• Correspond with organisations involving the deceased’s assets
• Conduct a Will search
• Value assets including any property or investments
• Arrange for the sale of any property or investments
• Complete the Inheritance form (IHT205)
• Advertise for creditors
• Prepare oath, Issue application for Letters of Application
• Arrange to pay Inheritance Tax either through a lump sum or by instalment
• Prepare estate account
• Distribute assets

Disbursements:

• Probate court fee of £155. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/announcement-on-probate-fees
• £10 Swearing of oath (per Executor)
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£12 per beneficiary inclusive of vat)
• £85 (inclusive of vat) Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
• £80 (inclusive of vat) Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
• Will search – £95 plus VAT (£114)

Potential additional costs

• If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £0.50 each (1 per asset usually).
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
• Any third-party fees, for example to locate a missing beneficiary or an expert fees is not included in our fees

How long will it take?

• On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4-19 months.
• Typically, obtaining the Letters of Administration takes 9-28 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 6-18 weeks (depending on the circumstances).
• Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2-4 weeks.

The above is only an estimate and each case is unique. An accurate estimate will be provided upon receipt of instructions and evidence.

INHERITANCE TAX:

• Please note that the current threshold for inheritance tax is £325,000. Further information can be obtained on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax.
• Any inheritance tax charges payable will be in addition to our legal fees and disbursements.

Please note that the cost does not include the sale of any house owned by the deceased.

Conduct of your case

Our Probate team is made up of Solicitor (with 10 years’ experience).