Welcome to the section of our website which contains details of the way in which we calculate our professional charges for representing you in relation to certain matters.
PROBATE
Our charges for applying for a Grant of Probate and subsequently dealing with the administration of the deceased’s estate are based principally on the amount of time spent dealing with the case.
For the purpose of calculating our costs they are based on an hourly rate of between £150.00 plus VAT or £250.00 plus VAT depending on the complexity of issues involved, the extent of the deceased’s estate and the level of experience of the fee-earner dealing with the matter.
The work carried out includes; meeting with you and obtaining your instructions, considering any paperwork received from you, corresponding with financial institutions and government bodies regarding the assets and corresponding with debtors regarding debts/liabilities of the estate, dealing with any responses received and collating information in order to prepare draft IHT return forms, obtaining valuations where necessary and preparing draft IHT return forms and a draft application for probate, submitting the same with payment of the requisite fee and considering the Grant as soon as this has been received, thereafter dealing with the administration of the estate following receipt of the Grant if your instructions are to do so and finalising matters on behalf of the estate, reporting to you throughout and dealing with any queries you may have.
Although the circumstances of each matter are different and no two cases will be the same, in our experience and in the case of an estate comprising of say, one property and a small number of bank statements and investments, the total costs are likely to be in the region of £4,000 - £5,000 (excluding VAT charged at 20%) and disbursements (see below). Where a deceased’s estate does not comprise of a property and there are a small number of bank accounts/investments and liabilities the total costs are likely to be in the region of £2,000 - £3,000 (excluding VAT charged at 20%) and disbursements (see below). This is provided there are no unanticipated complications or unforeseen additional work. For a larger estate comprising more than one property and a large number of bank accounts/investments and multiple beneficiaries the total costs are likely to be in the region of £7,000 - £10,000 (excluding VAT charged at 20%).
The usual disbursements payable will include a £155 Probate Application Fee, £1.50 for each additional copy of the Grant plus additional fees if other documents such as a marriage certificates, copy grants, copy Wills, HM Land Registry copies etc need to be obtained. Disbursements are fees payable to third parties on behalf of the estate and VAT is not charged on these items. If it is necessary to place a Trustee Act Notice in the Law Gazette there will be a fee payable. Details can be found by clicking on the following link;
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/wills-and-probate/place-a-deceased-estates-notice
Typically, a straightforward estate from instruction to applying for the issue of the Grant will take approximately 3 – 6 months to complete. Overall, the whole process including the administration can be expected to take between 6 - 12 months although these timescales may be affected or delayed due to matters outside our control or unforeseen events such as the current Coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions presently in place as a result.
RESIDENTIAL CONVEYANCING
Our charges for representing you in relation to the purchase of a property will be £1,400.00 plus VAT.
The following disbursements (related to the purchase of your property and payable to third parties) are also payable;
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (the amount will be dependent on status and purchase price)
- Land Registration fees (the amount will be dependent on the purchase price and if electronic registration is available)
- Completion monies transfer charge £38.40 including administration fee
- Land Registry search fees £10.00
- Notice of Assignment leasehold property only – amount differs from matter to matter and depends on the wording of the lease
Our charges for representing you in relation to the sale of your property will be £1,400.00 plus VAT.
The following disbursements (related to the sale of your property and payable to third parties) are also payable;
- Land Registry £8.00 copy
