Probate

When someone close to you has passed away, the prospect of handling their estate can feel overwhelming during an already difficult time. We offer expert support to help your family carry out your loved one’s wishes. Our team can provide as much or as little assistance as you need with the administration of the estate.

Our Fees

For obtaining a Grant of Probate only (part-administration)

We are pleased to offer fixed fees for obtaining a Grant of Probate. Once the Grant has been issued, you will be able to collect and distribute the estate’s assets.

Our fees are:

• £1,800 (plus VAT @ 20%) and disbursements (see below) when no inheritance tax is payable, and you do not wish to claim a residence nil rate band
• £2,500 to £3,500 (plus VAT @ 20%) and disbursements (see below) when no inheritance tax is payable, but you do wish to claim a residence nil rate band. In these cases, it is necessary for us to complete the IHT 400 form.
• £3,000 to £4,500 (plus VAT @ 20%) and disbursements (see below) when inheritance tax is payable and an IHT 400 form is necessary.

Disbursements:

• £300 (VAT EXEMPT) for the probate application fee

Potential additional costs:

• If any additional copies of the Grant are required, they will cost £16.00 per copy (we recommend 1 copy per asset)
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property

How long will this take?

Once you have provided us with date of death valuations for all the estate’s assets and liabilities, it will take in the region of 4 to 12 weeks to obtain a Grant of Probate if no inheritance tax is payable and you do not wish to claim a residence nil rate band. If either of these apply, the process will take slightly longer.

For obtaining a Grant of Probate, collecting and administering the assets (full administration)

Our fees are calculated according to the value and complexity of the estate being administered. As a general guide, this comprises our hourly rates (below) (plus VAT at 20%) together with a charge of 2% of the gross value of the estate (plus VAT at 20%).

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. We will ensure that any quotation provided is as accurate as possible, and we will notify you of any potential variations in advance of any additional costs being incurred.

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 5 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 (an IHT 400)
• There are no claims made against the estate

Disbursements in addition to this fee are:

• Probate application fee of £300
• Bankruptcy only – Land Charges Department searches (£7 per beneficiary)
• Trustee Act notices – It is recommended that advertisements are placed in the London Gazette and a local newspaper to notify creditors of their death. This helps to protect against unexpected claims and unknown creditors and typically costs around £200.00 (plus VAT @ 20%).

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.

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 cost estimate once we have more information.
• If you wish to claim a residence nil rate band, it will be necessary for us to prepare and submit an IHT 400 form to HMRC. There will be additional costs associated with this.
• If any additional copies of the Grant are required, they will cost £16.00 per copy (we recommend 1 copy per asset)
• If the income tax return is exceptional in nature, there may be an additional charge.
• If there is a DWP investigation into the benefits received by the deceased, additional work may be required, which will incur additional costs.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

How long will this take?

On average, estates within this range are administered within 9 to 12 months. However, where a property needs to be sold, this timescale may be extended and will depend on how quickly a sale is achieved. The collection of assets then follows, which typically takes between 4 to 6 weeks (and may take longer if a property is to be sold). Once this stage has been completed, the distribution of assets can take a further 8 to 12 weeks.

As part of our fee for a full administration we will:

• Provide you with a dedicated and experience probate lawyer 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
• Make the application to the Probate Registry on your behalf
• Obtain the Grant of Probate
• Ensure all income tax matters are settled with HMRC
• Prepare Estate Accounts
• Collect and distribute all assets in the estate

The costs information provided on this website is for general guidance only. More precise and personalised details will be given once we are fully aware of the specific circumstances of your matter.

Please note that we may need to revise our fee estimate if exceptional circumstances arise in your matter. You will be informed of any changes before additional costs are incurred.

Hourly rates:

Service team

Chris James

Trusts and Estates Practitioner

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