Our Fees:  Wills & Estates

Our charges for dealing with a probate application will be calculated according to the value element and to the time spent dealing with the estate.  We, like most solicitors, charge by reference to a number of factors.  The major ones are:-

• Status and experience of the person dealing with the matter (partner, solicitor, legal executive etc).
• The importance, complexity and size of the transaction.
• The time taken in dealing with it.

Our basic hourly rate is £140 plus VAT (£168.00).  We charge for each letter sent out and for routine telephone calls at 10% of this hourly rate plus VAT.

In addition to the above charges there is a value and responsibility element charge as follows:-

Solicitor not an Executor

Gross estate less Residence                                    1.0%

Residence                                                                   0.5%

Solicitor Sole or Joint Executor with any other person

Gross Estate less Residence                                     1.5%

Residence                                                                   0.75%

A lesser charge applies where the residence is jointly owned and passes to the surviving joint owner without the necessity for a legal document of transfer.

In the event of a small, simple estate we may not include the value and responsibility element charge but will instead charge an increased hourly rate of £160.00 plus VAT (£192.00)

These rates are those current at present but, of course, are increased from time to time to take account of increased overheads and inflation.  They represent the basic cost to us of providing the services of our partners and executive staff, taking into account the expense of secretarial and other support staff and general office overheads.

Likely additional expenses may include the following:

HMCTS – fee to obtain Grant of Probate  £273.00  (plus £1.50 per additional copy required) no VAT

Notices under s27 Trustee Act 1925 placed in the London Gazette and local newspaper £250.00 (including VAT) approximately (varies according to local newspaper cost)

There may be additional expenses relating to the valuation of property and any conveyancing fees for the sale of property are separate from the estate fees mentioned above.

We may submit bills at intervals during the administration of the estate and the final bill will be presented when the administration is completed.  Interim and final bills can be paid from the estate funds.

We may require advance payment of out of pocket expenses.

Our services can (if you so wish) include correspondence with all banks, pensions companies, insurers etc to obtain the necessary details of the assets and debts of the deceased in order to complete the Probate application forms.  We will also deal with utility companies.  We will prepare any necessary Inheritance Tax forms and submit the application for Probate.  We will also correspond with any beneficiaries and relatives as required.  Once Probate is obtained we will deal with the closure of any accounts and release of any assets, such as the sale of shares and the sale of property (for which we make a separate charge which will be notified to you in advance).  We will also prepare the Estate Accounts showing the distribution between all beneficiaries.  This process usually takes between six months to a year depending upon the size and complexity of the estate.  There can be further be delays if Inheritance Tax is payable or if there are other complications such as a claim or dispute against the estate.

Our basic fee for a straightforward will is £150.00 plus VAT (£180.00).  For joint wills the fee is £275.00 plus VAT (£330.00).  For more complex documents we will quote an additional charge.