Example Fees

​The pricing guidelines on this page cover the work involved in collecting and distributing money, property and other assets belonging to a person following their death, where these are all within the UK, and the matter is not contested (i.e. no one is challenging the Executors of the Estate).

 

A Grant of Representation (sometimes known as a "Grant of Probate" or Letters of Administration) will usually be required in order to enable the executors of an estate to access the assets held in the name of the deceased.

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​Simple Estate Administration

Our Probate team will take the values of all assets held by the deceased at the date of their death and make an application to apply for the Grant of Probate. They will further offer the Executors or Personal Representatives of the Estate legal guidance as to their duties.

• Where the application relating to an excepted Estate (which generally means no inheritance tax is due), our fees will be in the region of £1,620 including VAT (charged at 20%).

• For taxable estates, where a full HMRC form IHT400 is necessary, our fees will be in the region of £2,400, including VAT (charged at 20%).

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Should a further allowance of a Residence Nil Rate Band and or Transferable Residence Nil Rate Band needs to be applied for. We charge an additional fee of £350 including VAT (charged at 20%) per allowance.
 

There will be other costs in addition to the above. The likely disbursements are as follows but not limited to:

• Probate fee £300

• Additional copies of the Grant or Letters of Administration £1.50 per copy

• Electronic ID search for Each Executor £4

• Land registry search to establish property ownership £3

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Full Estate Administration

The level of our fees will depend on the nature, complexity and size of the Estate. 

We will provide a complete estimate of likely charges once we have ascertained the nature and extent of the Estate to enable us to estimate the amount of work that will be required.

 

The work that may be involved in a Full Estate Administration matter:

• Ascertaining the assets and debts of the deceased at the date of their death and the values as per the date of death.

• Preparing the necessary papers to apply to the court for a Grant of Probate (including the HMRC inheritance tax forms).

• Providing advice about statutory notices and placing such notices if required.

• Gathering in the assets, paying the debts and dealing with the distribution or transfer of the assets to the beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the Will (or under the law of intestacy if no Will exists).

• Settling any inheritance tax due, engaging in negotiations with HMRC’s Capital Taxes Office (if required)

• Dealing with any income tax or capital gains tax issues that may arise during the period of administration and preparing the Estate’s tax returns.

• Preparing a final Estate Account, which will be submitted to the executors for approval before final distributions are made to the beneficiaries.

 

Time Scales:

• In simple cases involving a Will and a limited number of assets, with no inheritance tax to pay, we would anticipate being able to apply for the Grant of Probate within 14 weeks of instruction.

• Once a Grant of Probate has been obtained, the timescale for collecting assets and distributing the Estate will depend upon a wide range of factors, including complexity. On average, it can range from 12 – 24 months.

• It is possible to make a partial distribution before all work has been completed. However, this depends on the Executors’ attitude to risk, particularly concerning early distribution before the expiration of the period allowed for claims against the Estate. We would discuss this thoroughly with the Executors at that point.

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There will be other costs in addition to the above. The likely disbursements are as follows but not limited to:

• Probate fee

• Additional copies of the Grant or Letters of Administration £1.50 per copy

• Electronic ID search for Each Executor £4

• Land registry search to establish property ownership £3

• Bankruptcy search fee for each beneficiary £2

• Legal Statutory Notices £100 - £300

• Certainty Will Search £126

• Asset Search £150 - £275

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Bespoke Estate Administration

In relatively simple estates, as the Executor, you may feel that you can deal with the collection and distribution of the assets within the Estate yourself. You may, therefore, decide to instruct us on a limited basis. We are happy to assist you in any way we can to work with you as the Executor.

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Our pricing depends on how much you want us involved and how. We will discuss these options with you and always break down the time we need to work on the bespoke Estate Administration. Our service would generally start from £6,000, including VAT (charged at 20%).

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Basis of Charging:

• Our fees are based on the time involved in dealing with the issues. The average hourly charging rate of the Probate team is £210, including VAT (charged at 20%). The actual hourly rate of the legal advisor involved in your case will be given to you at the outset of instructing us. The fee will depend on the nature of the case, its complexity, and the expertise required to complete it diligently. 

• In most circumstances, we would charge a percentage element against the Gross Value of the Estate, which ranges between 1 and 3%, including VAT (charged at 20%).

• If we intend to charge a percentage element, this will be fully explained to you from the outset.

 

Our fees for the full administration of an estate will vary depending on the following factors:

• Whether there is a valid Will;

• The number of bank accounts comprised within the Estate;

• The number of properties held within the Estate;

• Whether there are any non-property investments (such as stocks and shares);

• Whether there is any business or agricultural property;

• Whether the Estate is taxable;

• The number of beneficiaries;

• The likelihood of disputes between beneficiaries as regards the division of assets;

• Whether any claims against the Estate are made*.

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*Please note that if the matter becomes contentious because a challenge is made to the validity of the Will or a claim is made against the Estate, the matter may have to be referred to another firm of Solicitors who specialise in this area of law. Additional costs may be incurred. You will be fully informed, and costs will be discussed before further Solicitors are engaged.

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Related Charges to Estate Adminsitration

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Transfer of Estate Properties

We charge separately for dealing with the transfers (also known as Assents) of any properties in the Estate. We charge a fixed fee for all Assents of properties of £960, including VAT (charged at 20%) for Each property being Assented from the Estate.

There are associated Disbursements to this, and these are likely to be, but not limited to:

• Electronic ID search for Each Executor £4

• Land registry search to establish property ownership £3

• Bankruptcy search fee for each beneficiary £2

• Land registry also charges a fee depending on the value of the property. Their fees will be confirmed by us; however, you may also find them at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees#scale-2-fees

 

We are unable to transact on sales and purchases; however, we have a list of trusted conveyancing firms, which we are happy to introduce to you.​

 

Deeds of Variation

A Deed of Variation is a legal document that gives you the power to change the terms of an existing Will or trust to redistribute assets and add new beneficiaries.

This additional charge is fixed at £480, including VAT (charged at 20%). We request that all parties involved obtain independent legal advice before proceeding.

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Deeds of Appointment and/or Retirement

There are times when there may be a need to either remove or add Trustees to a Trust within a Will. This is done through a Deed of Appointment and/or Retirement, depending on the situation.

There is an additional charge, and our fees are fixed as follows:

• Deed of Appointment Or Retirement £300 including VAT (charged at 20%)

• Deed of Retirement And Appointment £360 including VAT (charged at 20%)

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Lifetime Trusts

A Lifetime Trust can offer protection for your valuable assets whilst you are still alive. The reasons for setting up a Lifetime Trust can be varied and dependent on your Estate and your dependency on the income from any assets you wish to place into the Trust. Below are just some of the advantages:

• The assets in the Trust are protected against third-party creditors, divorce and bankruptcy.

• The assets in the Trust are in the safe protection of your trustees on behalf of potential beneficiaries who may either be frivolous with money or have substance abuse.

• The Trust can continue after your death, offering protection for the future, chosen generations, i.e. grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.

 

Trusts are a complex subject, and there is no one-size-fits-all scenario. There are many different types of Trusts. For this reason, we encourage an initial consultation with us so we better understand your needs and can advise on what sort of Trust would be better suited for your individual needs, the pros and cons of setting up a Trust and whether it is tax-efficient to do so.

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Our fees are dependent on the types of Trust being set up but we have listed some example below:

• Discretionary Lifetime Trust for a single person would be £3,600 including VAT (charged at 20%) and a Discretionary Lifetime Trust for a couple would be £4,200 including VAT (charged at 20%).

If a property is being transferred into the said Trust:

• Our fees are fixed at £960, including VAT (charged at 20%) plus Disbursements.

 

Disbursements are likely to be but not limited to:

• Electronic ID search for Each Executor £4

• Land registry search to establish property ownership £3

• Bankruptcy search fee for each beneficiary £2

• Land registry also charges a fee depending on the value of the property. Their fees will be confirmed by us; however, you may also find them at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees#scale-2-fees

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