Getting a personalised quote

We recommend contacting us for a personalised quote, however to provide you with an idea of the costs you may incur here is an overview of the main stages involved:

• Reviewing the Will and providing legal advice
• Notifying relevant organisations and gathering financial information
• Completing inheritance tax forms (if applicable)
• Applying for probate online
• Preparing the executor's or administrator's statement
• Obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
• Collecting or transferring assets
• Paying outstanding debts and placing statutory advertisements
• Settling any income or capital gains tax
• Preparing estate accounts
• Distributing the estate to beneficiaries

Our Fees

We charge an hourly rate for our services:

• Partner: £390.00 (including VAT @ 20%)
• Solicitor: £330.00 (including VAT @20%)
• Paralegal: £180.00 (including VAT @ 20%)

Estimated Costs

The total cost will depend on the complexity of the estate:

• Simple Estate: £3,000 to £6,000 (including VAT @ 20%)
• Medium Complexity Estate: £6,000 to £14,400 (including VAT @20%)
• High Complexity Estate: £14,400 to £30,000 (including VAT @ 20%)

Factors Affecting Costs

Several factors can influence the final cost, including:

• Whether there is a valid Will
• The number of properties and bank accounts
• The presence of investments or other assets requiring valuation
• The number of beneficiaries
• Any disputes between beneficiaries
• Whether inheritance tax is payable
• Any claims made against the estate
• The need to sell property (conveyancing fees are separate)

Additional Expenses (Disbursements)

You'll also need to cover certain third-party costs, such as:

• Probate application fee: £300, plus £1.50 per additional copy of the Grant
• Land Registry fees: £6 + VAT (@20%) per property
• Bankruptcy searches: £2 + VAT (@20%) per beneficiary
• Statutory advertisements: £250-£300

If complex tax matters arise, we may involve an accountant, whose fees will be discussed with you.

Timeframes

The probate process can take a number of months or even longer where we are dealing with a complicated estate.

An estate with no tax payable may (on average) take between 6-9 months. A more complicated taxable estate is likely to take longer. Usually, obtaining a Grant of Probate can take between 12-20 weeks. Collecting or transferring assets may then take a further 6-8 weeks and once this has been completed any outstanding debts will be paid and any tax due settled. The assets will then be distributed to the beneficiaries, and this may take a further 4 weeks to six months depending upon whether there are any HMRC issues.

We will keep you updated throughout the course of your transaction with any developments.

Contact Us

For a detailed discussion about your specific needs, please contact our Probate department at 01264 352495 or through our website.