Our Probate services
Simple Grant only
Fixed fee from
£950
Excluding VAT and Probate fee*
What we do:
- Apply for the Grant of Probate (if there is a Will) or Grant of Letters of Administration (if there is no Will) only, on the basis of the assets and liabilities valuations being provided.
Complex Grant only
(IHT400 required)
Fixed fee from
£1,495
Excluding VAT and Probate fee*
What we do:
- Apply for the Grant of Probate (if there is a Will) or Grant of Letters of Administration (if there is no Will) on the basis of the assets and liabilities valuations being provided, and
- Complete the relevant HMRC Inheritance Tax Forms and submit to HMRC only
Grant plus
simple Administration
Fixed fee from
£1,750
Excluding VAT and Probate fee*
What we do:
- Apply for the Grant of Probate (if there is a Will) or Grant of Letters of Administration (if there is no Will)
- Collecting in and distributing up to 10 assets (including one property based in England or Wales) and transferring assets up to five beneficiaries (asset does not include additional properties)
What is not included in price:
- Completion and submission of IHT400 to HMRC
- Formal valuations of properties
- Sale of any property or business in the estate
- Advice in connection with any dispute concerning the estate
- Assets abroad
- Income tax returns/CGT tax returns/other tax returns; and
- Trust registration
Grant plus
complex Administration
Fixed fee from
£4,495
Excluding VAT and Probate fee*
What we do:
- Apply for the Grant of Probate (if there is a Will) or Grant of Letters of Administration (if there is no Will)
- Collecting in and distributing up to 15 assets (including two properties based in England or Wales) and transferring assets up to 10 beneficiaries (asset does not include additional properties)
- Including advising on Trusts within the Estate
What is not included in price:
- Formal valuations of properties
- Sale of any property or business in the estate
- Advice in connection with any dispute concerning the estate
- Assets abroad
- Income tax returns/CGT tax returns/other tax returns; and
- Trust registration
*Additional fee of Probate Registry fee £300. Additional copies of Probate certificate also cost £1.50. T&Cs apply.
Other services pricing
We charge additional fees for other services that are listed below. Please note that these services are available for existing clients, who have already instructed us to obtain Probate on their behalf, and whose identity is already know to us. These services will require the completion of a detailed questionnaire before we can proceed.
Document
Costs (ex VAT)
Wills |
|
|
Simple Will (one person) |
Price on application |
|
Simple Mirror Wills (2 wills – couple) |
Price on application |
|
Basic Shariah Will |
Price on application |
|
More complex Wills containing Trusts and a letter of wishes: |
|
|
Single Will with 1 Trust x 1 (LIT or DT) |
Price on application |
|
Mirror Will with 1 Trust x 2 (LIT or DT) |
Price on application |
|
Mirror Will with 2 Trusts x2 (Life Interest and DT) |
Price on application |
|
Shariah Will with Trusts |
Price on application |
|
If a property check and severance is required with any Trust Wills* |
Price on application |
|
Bespoke advice fee or meeting fee |
Price on application |
* Land registry fee of £5 per property
Codicils |
|
| Simple x1 (one person) | Price on application |
| Simple x2 (couple) | Price on application |
Lasting Powers of Attorney |
|
|
General Power of Attorney |
Price on application |
|
Deed of Revocation (EPA/LPA) |
Price on application |
|
1 Lasting Power of Attorney (inc. registration) |
Price on application |
|
2 Lasting Power of Attorney |
Price on application |
|
4 Lasting Power of Attorney |
Price on application |
|
Registering Enduring Power of Attorney |
Price on application |
* Registration fee £82 per EPA/LPA
Trusts |
|
|
Bare Trust (basic) or ancillary deed |
Price on application |
|
Family Asset Protection Trust (basic) |
Price on application |
|
Discretionary Trust (basic) |
Price on application |
|
Complex Trust with advice |
Price on application |
|
Trust Registration with HMRC |
Price on application |
Deeds of variation |
|
|
Basic DoV, gifting outright to beneficiaries (no Trust) |
£750 |
|
Complex DOV or DOV creating one Trust |
£1,250 |
Land Registry application |
|
|
Transfer of legal title (without restriction) |
£500 |
|
Restriction or charge on legal title (without restrictions) |
£250 |
|
Dealing with existing restrictions on legal title |
Price on application |
|
Land Registry application fees |
£20 – £800 |
Court of Protection |
|
|
Standard deputyship application (financial affairs only)* |
£1,204 |
*Court fee £421 and capacity assessment fee (£200 – £1000)
VAT
All the legal fees as set out above will be subject to the applicable VAT rate, which is currently 20%.
Disbursements
In addition, you will be responsible for all disbursements i.e. payments we must pay out on your behalf to third parties. Likely disbursements are as follows:
Description |
Amount |
VAT chargeable |
| Probate Application Fee | £300 | No |
| Additional copies of Probate certificate | £1.50 per copy | No |
| ID verification check | £10 | Yes |
| Bankruptcy search against each beneficiary | £2 | Yes |
| Valuation of assets, including property, jewellery/antiques and share valuations | Approx. £500 | Yes |
| Creditors’ notices | Approx. £300 | No |
| Fee payable to trace any missing beneficiaries | Variable £30-£300 | Yes |
Key stages in Probate & Administration
Below we have suggested some of the typical key stages in the process which include:
- Identifying the legal administrators and beneficiaries;
- Accurately identifying the nature of the Probate application required;
- Obtaining the relevant documents required to make the application;
- Identifying the value of all assets and liabilities;
- Completing the relevant HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) Inheritance Tax forms (where appropriate);
- Advising on potential Inheritance Tax liabilities;
- Liaising with the tax authorities (HM Revenue and Customs) in relation to outstanding taxes (if any)
- Drafting a legal statement for the Probate Court;
- Submitting the application to the Probate Court on your behalf;
- Obtaining the Probate; and
- Advising, collecting, and distributing all estate assets including the preparation of estate accounts;
Note: We will not assist with advice in connection with any dispute concerning the estate nor income tax returns / other taxes unless specifically instructed to do so.
The stages set out above are an indication and some of the stages may not be required.
Factors that will likely increase the cost of your matter
- Where formal valuations of properties are required
- The sale of any property or business in the estate
- Advice needed in connection with any dispute concerning the estate
- Assets abroad
- Income tax returns/CGT tax returns/other tax returns;
- Trust registration
As soon as any complications arise, we will discuss these with you and agree the fee for the additional work being carried out in advance of any additional work being undertaken.
Timescales
The time to administer an estate will vary from case to case. However, on average, in simple cases Probate can take 3-6 months to obtain and it can take a further 3-6 months to administer an estate. In more complex estates, realistically it will take 6 months to value the estate and obtain Probate and a further 12-18 months to deal with administering the estate.
People
Your Probate matter will be handled by a member of our experienced Probate team. Once we know who will be handling your case, we will introduce you to them and provide full details of their experience and qualifications. For further information about our team’s experience and qualification please refer to our About us page.