After a loved one passes away dealing with the legal aspects can be overwhelming – especially as there is a lot of pressure and short deadlines to make. Having an understanding, friendly and knowledgeable legal team to support can make this experience much more bearable.
Most importantly, offloading the probate process gives you more time to focus on the things that matter and gives you the time and space to grieve.
Thank you for your interest in our probate services. Please contact our friendly team today for a personalised quote.
The fees involved in a probate matter can vary and this will depend on the individual circumstances involved. Several factors could make dealing with someone’s estate more complex – for example, if they left a Will or not, whether there is substantial wealth or debts, and whether all executors and beneficiaries are easily tracible.
At times, we can offer fixed fees, but this depends on if it meets certain criteria. If the matter is more complex and involved, we work on an hourly charging rate, whereby you will be charged for the time we spend on your probate matter. The below table outlines our hourly rates.
Service |
Price |
|---|---|
|
Premium - Principal Solicitor and in-house Barristers
|
from £325 to £375 per hour +VAT
|
|
Grade A - Solicitors and CILEx 8+yrs PQE
|
from £300 to £325 per hour +VAT
|
|
Grade B - Solicitors and CILEx 4+yrs PQE
|
from £275 to £300 per hour +VAT
|
|
Grade C - Other solicitors or legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience
|
from £250 to £275 per hour +VAT
|
|
Grade D - Trainee solicitors, paralegals and other fee earners
|
from £175 to 225 per hour +VAT
|
The fees charged will be dependent on issues such as the volume of assets, the number of beneficiaries and whether the estate includes a business or any property.
For transparency, we have set out an estate of our costs for a typical and straightforward estate that meets the below criteria:
● There is a valid and up-to-date Will that clearly names executors.
● The Will does not establish any trusts.
● No executor has died or declined to act.
● There is only one property in the estate.
● There are no more than three bank or building society accounts.
● Apart from these accounts, the property or any cash, there are no other assets (such as shares or intellectual property).
● There are no more than two beneficiaries in total.
● No beneficiary is a minor or lacks capacity under the Mental Health Act.
● Each beneficiary named in the Will has been located and identified.
● Beneficiaries agree on how assets are divided, with no ongoing disputes.
● No legal claims have been made against the estate.
● No challenges to the Wills validity.
● No inheritance tax is payable, and executors are not required to submit a full account to HMRC.
● There is no requirement to obtain clearance from HMRC for income or capital gains tax.
Fees |
Fees +VAT |
Total inc. |
Grant of probate
|
£2,100
|
£2,520
|
|---|---|---|
|
Administration of estate
|
£3,000
|
£3,600
|
|
Total
|
£5,100
|
£6,120
|
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees or court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process and they can then be reimbursed from estate funds.
Below is a table of the anticipated disbursements for a probate matter. Please note that these may be subject to change, we will provide a full cost estimate before starting any work.
Disbursement |
Price |
|---|---|
|
Court fee (probate fee) if net estate is over £5,000 (if net estate is less than £5,000 no probate fee payable)
|
£300.00 (no VAT)
|
|
Copy probate document
|
£1.50 (no VAT)
|
There are lots of variables which can impact the time that it takes to complete a probate matter, this is because much of the work is dependent on third parties and how quickly they respond.
For straightforward matters, such as the example above, generally, it takes about 3 to 6 months to collate all information and apply for a grant of probate. Estates for how long it will take to obtain a grant are available on the government website. The administration of estates can be much more variable and generally takes an additional 4 to 12 months.
However, if there are tax obligations, the timescales are largely dictated by HMRC and can mean the estate cannot finalise until years later.
Find out more about our approach to Probate & Estates here.
Check current probate fees here.
Use the HMRC’s Inheritance Tax checker to see if the estate this tax is likely due or not.
Read some of our resources and blogs:
● 5 Surprising Challenges in Probate—And How to Overcome Them
● Probate Whodunit? A Suspenseful Guide to Avoiding Family Provision Claims
● Will and Probate Pitfalls: The Importance of Legal Guidance
● Your Comprehensive Probate Guide: Understanding the Process
Qualification |
Educational Institution |
|---|---|
|
MSc
|
Coventry University
|
|
LL.B (Hons)
|
University of East London
|
Areas of Law Practiced |
Experience |
Time Spent |
|---|---|---|
|
Civil Litigation
|
30 year(s)
|
30%
|
|
Dispute Resolution
|
30 year(s)
|
15%
|
Areas of Law Practiced |
Experience |
Time Spent |
|---|---|---|
|
Probate
|
15 year(s)
|
60%
|
|
Wills & LPA's
|
15 year(s)
|
40%
|
Areas of Law Practiced |
Experience |
Time Spent |
|---|---|---|
|
Probate
|
13 year(s)
|
75%
|
|
Wills & LPA's
|
13 year(s)
|
25%
|
Areas of Law Practiced |
Experience |
Time Spent |
|---|---|---|
|
Probate
|
37 year(s)
|
50%
|
|
Wills & LPA's
|
37 year(s)
|
50%
|
