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Probate Fees

We will endeavour to agree a fixed fee with you in relation to probate matters.

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

We anticipate this will take between 15 and 25 hours work at £330 per hour plus VAT at 20%. Total costs estimated at £4950 – £8250 (+VAT at 20%).

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, 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 6 bank or building society accounts
  • There are no other intangible assets
  • There are 2 – 3 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

In addition to our fee, disbursements may be payable. 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.

You will be charged £237 for the probate application fee (where applicable VAT is included at 20%)

The following disbursements maybe payable depending on the circumstances of your case (where applicable VAT is included at 20%):

  • Bankruptcy – only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 per beneficiary)
  • A post in The London Gazette maybe required. This protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. The fees will vary depending on the type of notice is required.
  • A post in a Local Newspaper maybe required. This also helps to protect against unexpected claims. The fees will vary depending at which newspaper the post is made.

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 including VAT (1 per asset usually).
  • 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 12 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 4 – 6 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 16 – 18 weeks.

We will endeavour to agree a fixed fee with you in relation to probate matters.

The amount of work can vary greatly as some estates are simple whilst others can be complex.

The fixed fee will depend on an assessment by us of the likely amount of time we will spend on the transaction at hourly rates that range from £200 plus VAT per hour to £320 plus VAT per hour (dependent on the seniority of the person dealing with the matter).

In addition to our fee, disbursements may be payable. These are costs that are payable to third parties e.g., Probate application fee of £237 excluding VAT.

Example

In the case of a relatively straightforward estate where the deceased left a will and no inheritance tax is due with a few bank accounts our fee would be in the region of £3000.00 – £4800.00 (+ VAT and disbursements).

In some cases, it may be difficult for us to estimate the amount of work likely to be involved and we would agree to act based on an hourly rate.

As part of our fixed fee, we will:

  • Arrange a meeting for you to see an experienced probate solicitor who will advise you on the procedure, time usually taken to complete the matter and take full instructions. This meeting can take place at your home if you wish;
  • Make a list of all of the deceased’s assets and debts and write to the banks etc for a statement of the balance held in the various accounts in order to complete the legal documents required;
  • Write to the beneficiaries of the estate;
  • Complete the Probate Application and the Inheritance Tax return form (known as an IHT205);
  • Make an application to the Probate Registry;
  • Attend to the statutory advertisement for creditors;
  • Obtain the Probate and then proceed to collect in all assets and pay debts;
  • Prepare an Estate Account and finally make the distribution to the various beneficiaries.

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