We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf. We will also undertake the collecting and distributing of assets.

How much does this service cost?   We prefer rather than working on a percentage of the value of the Estate to work on a fixed fee bases based on the actual work required to assist you with administering the Estate.  We offer you an initial free appointment to discuss the steps involved thereafter we will provide you with a fixed fee depending on the number of hours worked.

Total: fixed fee £5,141 (including VAT).  Our fixed fees range from £1800.00- £25,000.00 (excluding VAT) and on average they are in the region of £5,000.00 – £6,000 (plus VAT)

This includes: determining the assets and liabilities  obtaining the grant, collecting assets and distributing them. VAT is charged at 20% on all our fees and some disbursements which we may incur on your matter.

Breakdown of costs: 

Legal fees: £4,000

VAT on legal fees: £800

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Disbursements (£351 in total):

  • Probate court fee: £300 (plus £15 for 10 copies) (no VAT charged);
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department Searches: £2 per beneficiary (no VAT charged);
  • Post in The London Gazette: £92.00 plus VAT, which protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors;
  • Post in a Local Newspaper: £110 plus VAT, which also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

What services are 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;
  • 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 that fall within this range are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 6-16 weeks   (currently there are delays of up to 16 weeks due to internal changes with the Probate Registry). Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 4-8 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally take 2-3 weeks.

 

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

How much does this service cost?

We anticipate this will take between 8 and 16 hours work at the following hourly rates:

All fees stated are exclusive of VAT. VAT is at 20%.

  • £295 per hour for Director;
  • £250 per hour for solicitors and senior practitioners;
  • £175 per hour for trainee solicitors; and
  • £150 per hour for paralegals.

Total costs estimated at £2,400 – £4,720 (excluding VAT).

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, multiple shares, costs will be at the higher end.

We will handle the full process for you. This quote is for estates where:

  • 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;
  • We are provided with the correct date of death information;
  • 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.

Please contact us for a quote tailored to your circumstances.

Disbursements 

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Disbursements included in this fee:

  • Probate application fee: £300 (no VAT payable);
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department Searches: £2 per beneficiary (no VAT payable);
  • Post in The London Gazette: £92.00 plus VAT, which protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors;
  • Post in a Local Newspaper: £110 plus VAT, which also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

Potential additional costs 

  • If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information.
  • If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £1.50 (1 per asset usually) (no VAT payable)
  • If any of the shares are certificated and the share certificate cannot be found then there will be an indemnity fee charged by the share registrar which is related to the share value of the lost certificates..
  • Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

How long will this take? 

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 6-16 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 4 -8 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally take 2-3 weeks.