Grant of Probate – application only

Our fees are based on the hourly charge out rate of the fee earning staff appointed to your case and the amount of time they spend working for you. The exact costs will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter.

The hourly charge out rates (exclusive of VAT) are as follows:

• £295 per hour for a solicitor of more than 8 years qualification
• £250 per hour for a solicitor of more than 4 years qualification
• £180 per hour for a solicitor of less than 4 years qualification
• £150 per hour for paralegals and trainee solicitors.

In the most straightforward of cases, we may be able to fix our fees.  When we provide you with a quotation for our services based on the circumstances of your case, we will make it clear if the fee quoted is an estimate of our likely costs or a fee that is fixed.

Where no Inheritance Tax (IHT) is payable and/or a full IHT account is not required:

Our fees range from between £1,650 and £2,500 plus VAT (£1,980 and £3,000) plus disbursements.

An average fee would be £1,800 plus VAT (£2,160) plus disbursements.

Where Inheritance Tax (IHT) is payable and/or a full IHT account is required:

Our fees range from between £2,300 and £3,000 plus VAT (£2,760 and £3,600) plus disbursements.

An average fee would be £2,650 plus VAT (£3,180) plus disbursements.

For the fee quoted, we would undertake all of the work necessary to obtain the grant of representation including: 

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced Probate solicitor to work on your matter.
• Accurately identify the type of Probate application you require.
• Complete the Probate application and relevant HMRC forms.
• Liaise with HMRC in respect of any IHT due.
• Make the application to the Probate Registry on your behalf.
  

You as the Executor or Administrator, would need to liaise with the financial institutions to obtain the information required for the probate application.  We would then use this information to prepare the tax forms and documents required.  Once the grant is obtained our retainer would end (unless a property needs to be sold to settle the inheritance tax liability) and you would then deal with collecting the estate assets, settling the debts and distributing the estate. The costs quoted above do not include the costs of dealing with the sale or transfer of any probate property.  We can provide you with a separate quote for that work if required. Details on the pricing of our property services can be found here.

Factors which might affect the costs of your matter

The average costs quoted above are, in our experience the most common types of prices quoted in relatively straightforward cases. Every case is however unique and there may be factors which might typically increase the amount of work required and this would be reflected in the costs quoted.  

If any of the following factors apply in your case, then it is likely that the costs of your case would be towards the higher end of the range quoted.

• Whether you are claiming any IHT reliefs
• The number of assets within the estate
• Whether any gifts have been made by the deceased during their lifetime
• Investigation into the estate by the DWP
• Missing assets
• Any additional searches requested

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, for example HM Land Registry fees or court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. Since these costs are payable to third parties, they are outside of our control.  Below is a list of those most likely to arise in a Grant of Probate:

Probate Application Fee     £273 – £280                     (required for all probate applications if the estate exceeds £5,000)

Land Registry fee              £3 per document              (required if the deceased owned property)

Will Search                       £349 plus VAT (£418.80)   (if required)

Statutory Notices              £200 – £300                     (if required)

Dormant Account Search   £185 plus VAT (£222)        (if required)

Bankruptcy Searches         £2 per name                     (if required)

Time Scales

In most straightforward cases, the time taken to obtain the Grant of Probate will be between 6 and 9 months of instruction.  Factors that might influence how long this takes include how readily third parties respond to our enquiries.

Probate Pricing

Full Estate Administration – Applying for the grant, collecting the assets and distributing the assets.

Our fees are based on the hourly charge out rate of the fee earning staff appointed to your case and the amount of time they spend working for you. The exact costs will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter.

The hourly charge out rates (exclusive of VAT) are as follows:

• £295 per hour for a solicitor of more than 8 years qualification
• £250 per hour for a solicitor of more than 4 years qualification
• £180 per hour for a solicitor of less than 4 years qualification
• £150 per hour for paralegals and trainee solicitors.

In the most straightforward of cases, we may be able to fix our fees.  When we provide you with a quotation for our services based on the circumstances of your case, we will make it clear if the fee quoted is an estimate of our likely costs or a fee that is fixed.

Where no Inheritance Tax (IHT) is payable and/or a full IHT account is not required:

Our fees range from between £5,400 and £8,000 plus VAT (£6,480 and £9,600) plus disbursements.

An average fee would be £6,000 plus VAT (£7,200) plus disbursements.

Where Inheritance Tax (IHT) is payable and/or a full IHT account is required:

Our fees range from between £7,350 and £9,500 plus VAT (£8,820 and £11,400) plus disbursements.

An average fee would be £7,500 plus VAT (£9,000) plus disbursements.

For this fee we will undertake all of the work necessary to administer the estate including: 

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced Probate solicitor to work on your matter.
• Accurately identify the type of Probate application you require.
• Contact all the relevant financial institutions on your behalf to obtain the date of death information required for probate.
• Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application.
• Complete the Probate Application and relevant HMRC Forms
• Liaise with HMRC in respect of any IHT due.
• Make the application to the Probate Registry on your behalf.
• Obtain the Probate.

• Collect all assets in the estate once probate has been granted.
• Settle the estate debts.
• Prepare estate accounts setting out all estate monies received and paid out.
• Carry out bankruptcy searches on the beneficiaries if required.
• Distribute the estate in accordance with the Will or the intestacy rules.

The costs quoted above do not include the costs of dealing with the sale or transfer of any probate property.  We can provide you with a separate quote for that work if required. Details on the pricing of our property services can be found here.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, for example HM Land Registry fees or court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.   Since these costs are payable to third parties, they are outside of our control.  Below is a list of those most likely to arise in a Full Administration case.

Probate Application Fee     £273 – £280                     (required for all probate applications if the estate exceeds £5,000)

Land Registry fee              £3 per document              (required if the deceased owned property)

Will Search                       £349 plus VAT (£418.80)_ (if required)

Statutory Notices              £200 – £300                     (if required)

Dormant Account Search   £185 plus VAT (£222)        (if required)

Bankruptcy Searches         £2 per name                     (if required)

Factors which might affect the costs of your matter

The average costs quoted above are, in our experience the most common types of prices quoted in relatively straightforward cases. Every case is however unique and there may be factors which would typically increase the amount of work required and this would be reflected in the costs quoted.  

If any of the following factors apply in your case, then it is likely that the costs of your case would be towards the higher end of the range quoted.

• There is no valid Will, and the beneficiaries are unknown 
• There is a Will which is defective in some way.
• There is more than one property.
• There is more than one estate to deal with.
• There are business assets or other complex assets.
• There is a dispute regarding the estate.
• There are missing beneficiaries
• A Deed of Variation is required.
• There are large numbers of beneficiaries.

Additional services

In some cases you might require the advice and assistance of a third party at an additional cost.  Examples of these include Tax Advisors and Property Valuers.  We can introduce you to these third parties who would quote you separately for their work.

Time Scales

The administration of a straightforward estate can take between 6 – 12 months in total. In less straightforward or more unpredictable case, such as where a property needs to be sold, it can take longer than 12 months.

In most straightforward cases, the time taken to obtain the Grant of Representation will be between 6 and 9 months of instruction.  Factors that might influence how long this takes include how readily third parties respond to our enquiries.

The collection of assets and distribution of the estate can take another 3-6 months. Factors that might influence how long his takes includes how readily HMRC respond to our enquiries and the steps involved in selling any property.

Key Milestones

With every transaction there are key milestones which may vary according to the individual circumstances of the deceased. These may be as follows:

• Obtaining information required for the application       (4-6 weeks)
• Preparing the application                                           (1-2 weeks)
• Applying for Grant of Probate                                    (16 weeks or as per the current Probate Registry timescale)
• Obtaining Grant of Probate                                    (16 weeks or as per the current Probate Registry timescale)
• Payment of Inheritance Tax                                        (as soon as possible once the tax has been calculated and the funds are available – this may depend on how quickly the client responds if they need to sign paperwork to release funds to HMRC)
• Settling Liabilities                                                (within 1- 2 weeks of holding funds)
• Collecting funds ready for distribution                         (within 4 – 6 weeks of obtaining the grant)
• Distributing funds                                                     (once all beneficiaries have provided the required information and the debts have been confirmed and settled)
• Producing Estate accounts                                          (once all beneficiaries have provided the required information and the debts have been confirmed and settled)