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Probate: Range of costs quotation (with fixed fee for additional work) and fixed fee (all prices and work quoted below are for U.K. assets and estates only)

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets 

We anticipate that this work will typically take between 8 to 12 hours at an hourly rate of £295 per hour.

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. A mix of these factors and our fees will be in the middle range of the table below.

Table of our fees all shown inclusive of VAT:

Lower Range Middle Range Upper Range
£2,160.00 £2,700.00  £3,240.00

We will handle the full process for you. The quotes above are for estates where:

  • There is a valid will
  • There is no more than one property
  • There are no more than 1 to 3 bank or building society accounts
  • There are no other intangible assets
  • There are 1 to 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

Disbursements (i.e. expenses),  included in our fees:

  • Probate Registry fee of £273.00
  • Sealed copies of the Grant of Probate at £1.50 each
  • £7.00 to £10.00 Swearing of the oath (per executor)
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 per beneficiary)
  • £93.00 to £95.00 Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
  • £450.00 to £500.00 Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

Disbursements (i.e. expenses), 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 are likely to be additional costs. This will depend 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 50 pence per copy.
  • Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

How long will this take?

First stage Second stage Final stage
Obtaining the grant of probate Collecting the assets Distributing the assets to beneficiaries
 6 to 8 weeks 6 to 8 weeks 2 to 4 weeks

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4 to 6 months.

Probate – Fixed Fee

We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf. We will also undertake the collection and distribution of assets.

How much does this service cost?

TOTAL: fixed fee of £3,000.00 (including VAT).

This includes: obtaining the grant, collection and distribution of assets.

Breakdown of costs:

Legal fees £2,500.00

VAT on legal fees £500.00

Disbursements (£720.00 in total):

  • Probate Registry fee of £273.00
  • Sealed copies of the Grant of Probate at £1.50 each
  • £7.00 to £10.00 Swearing of the oath (per executor).
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 per beneficiary).
  • £93.00 to £95.00 Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
  • £450.00 – £500.00 Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

Disbursements (i.e. expenses), 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 smooth process.

As part of our fixed fee we will:

  • Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor 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 and the relevant HMRC forms
  • Draft a legal oath for you to swear
  • Submit the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
  • Obtain the Probate and securely send two copies to you
  • Collect and distribute all assets in the estate

How long will this take?

First stage Second stage Final stage
Obtaining the grant of probate Collecting the assets Distributing the assets to beneficiaries
 6 to 8 weeks 6 to 8 weeks 2 to 4 weeks

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4 to 6 months.

Estates liable to Inheritance Tax

If the estate is liable for inheritance Tax, our fees could range between £6,000.00 to £9,000.00 including VAT, plus disbursements ( as stated above).

If an estate is has no liability for inheritance tax, but a redistribution of the assets is to be considered through a Deed of Variation, the costs could be in the range of £4,800.00 to £6,000.00 including VAT, plus disbursements (as stated above). If Counsel (i.e. a barrister), is engaged for their expert opinion to advise and draft the Deed of Variation, then Counsel’s costs (probably in the range of £1,800.00 to £2,400.00 including VAT), will need to be added.

Our Probate Team

Our probate team have individual profiles where you can find out more about their experience and expertise by clicking on their names below:

Manal Fouad – Partner, Head of Private Client

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