Probate Fees

Probate

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

We aim to provide an efficient, friendly and cost effective service as we guide you through the process of applying for a Grant of Representation and assist you in administering the estate.

Our team is able to manage the full process for you. The fees below relate to Estates where:

• There is a valid Will
• There is no more than one property and the property is registered with the land registry
• There are no intangible assets
• There are no disputes between executors or beneficiaries
• 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

We would anticipate that the average Estate matter will take between 8 and 20 hours. More complex estates can take longer.

The fees involved in a probate matter can vary considerably and much depends on the individual circumstances of the estate involved. 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 account, costs will be at the higher end.

For that reason, we base our charges on our hourly rates. Our hourly charging rates range from £135 to £250 plus VAT, depending on the seniority of the member of staff dealing with the case. The seniority of the members of staff dealing with your case will likely depend on its complexity.

Therefore, our fees are likely to be in the region of £1,080 to £5.000 plus VAT. There will also be a need to pay disbursements.

Disbursements

Other fees we may have to pay third parties (known as disbursements) may include:

• Probate Court fee: £300 
• Additional copies of the Grant (each):  £16
• Bankruptcy searches:  £6 per beneficiary
• Identification checks: £20 plus VAT
• Asset and Liability Search: £195 plus VAT
• Statutory notices (this protects you as Executor against unexpected claims from unknown creditors): £200-250 plus VAT approximately; and
• Land Registry Office Copy Entries – £7 plus VAT per property.
• Bank transfer fee: £20 plus VAT per transfer

All references to VAT are to the prevailing rate, which is currently 20%.  

How long will it take?

On average, Estates that fall within this range are dealt with between 6-18 months, depending on complexity. Typically, obtaining the Grant of Probate takes 16 weeks.

As part of our fees outlined above, we will:

• Take your initial instructions and provide initial advice
• Identifying the legally appointed executors, administrators and beneficiaries
• Accurately identifying the type of Probate application you will require
• Identifying assets, liabilities and other relevant information required to make the application
• Preparing an Inheritance Tax Account (if necessary)
• Preparing the Probate Application
• Submitting the application to the Probate Registry
• Obtaining the Grant of Representation (Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration)
• Placing Statutory Notices (if required)
• Collecting in the assets and paying any liabilities that may exist
• Preparing Estate Accounts for approval
• Distributing the estate

We must point out that dealing with the sale of any property within the Estate is not included and will usually be dealt with separately by our conveyancing department. We are able to provide a quote for the cost of dealing with such if required. A simple transfer of a property to a beneficiary will be dealt with during the estate administration. If this is not straight forward, it can lead to an increase in costs and timescales.

Absence of a Will

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 quote and estimate of timescales once we have more information.

Further information

We would encourage any prospective client to contact us to discuss your individual needs and requirements and we can endeavour to tailor a cost-effective plan around your circumstances. You can contact us here or telephone 01938 552727.