Some services we are unable to offer cost information on due to the individual nature of each client’s requirements, if you do not see cost information on the service you require please get in touch and we will be happy to give you more information.
Wills & Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPAs)
We offer fixed fee charges for the simplest of Will’s. This is generally where your estate goes to your spouse or next of kin, and there are no complications such as stock and shares. We also offer discounts for individuals or couples obtaining Wills and/or LPAs at the same time.
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Where clients are unable to visit our office we can arrange home visits however this will incur an additional charge.
Base Legal Fees
These cover the most basic of each type where no variations are needed, the cost is likely to increase depending on complexity, we are happy to discuss this with you before commencing work.
Simple Will: Starting from £175.00 plus VAT
Lasting Power of Attorney: £375.00 plus VAT
Both types of LPA: £700.00 plus VAT
Combined Legal Fees
These cover the most basic of each type where no variations are needed, the cost is likely to increase depending on complexity, we are happy to discuss this with you before commencing work.
Simple Will & Lasting Power of Attorney: Starting from £500.00 plus VAT
Simple Will & Both types of LPA: Starting from £800.00 plus VAT​
Couple’s Legal Fees
These cover the most basic of each type where no variations are needed, the cost is likely to increase depending on complexity, we are happy to discuss this with you before commencing work. When a couple obtains Wills naming each other as the executor this is often referred to as a Mirror Will.
Two Simple Wills: Starting from £300.00 plus VAT
Two Lasting Power of Attorney: £700.00 plus VAT
Two LPAs of both types: £1300.00 plus VAT
Combined Couples Legal Fees
These cover the most basic of each type where no variations are needed, the cost is likely to increase depending on complexity, we are happy to discuss this with you before commencing work.
Two Simple Will & Two Lasting Power of Attorney: Starting from £900.00 plus VAT
Two Simple Will & Two sets of both types of LPA: Starting from £1400.00 plus VAT
Fixed Fee Probate
We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration on your behalf. This doesn’t include administering the estate once the Grant of Probate has been issued, for this please see the Estate Administration section below.
Base legal fee - £650* plus VAT (£780 inclusive of VAT)
This includes:
Providing you with a dedicated and experienced probate lawyer to work on your matter Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators
Accurately identify the type of application you will require
Complete the Probate Application and HMRC form IHT 205
Draft a legal oath for you to swear
Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
Obtain the Probate and send copies to you
This fixed fee does not include obtaining the relevant documents and financial information required to make the application there will be no charge for this if the family can provide all of the required documentation however if you wish us to assist in this process there will be additional fees charged which we will be happy to discuss with you.
​*If a full Inland Revenue Account is required to be delivered before your application can be made the TOTAL fixed fee will be £1500 plus VAT (£1800 inclusive of VAT) but does not apply if the estate attracts a liability to Inheritance tax and again does not include obtaining the relevant documents and financial information required to make the application.
ID Verification charge (Anti-Money Laundering check): £24.00 per individual (inclusive of VAT)
We are required to complete ID verification checks on each client involved with your matter and we charge an administrative fee of £20.00 plus VAT (£24.00 Inc. VAT) for each check. This is required to be completed prior to work beginning on your matter, more information about the process and who will be required to provide ID documents can be found in The Identification & Anti-Money Laundering Regulations
PLEASE NOTE THIS CHARGE APPLIES TO ALL NEW INSTRUCTIONS FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER 2023. FOR ALL INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER 2023 THIS CHARGE WILL NOT APPLY PROVIDED THAT YOU PROVIDE THE REQUIRED ID DOCUMENTS BEFORE 5 PM ON FRIDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2023. ANY MATTER WHICH WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUFFICIENT ID DOCUMENTS FOR AFTER THIS TIME WILL BE LIABLE TO THIS CHARGE.
Disbursements
​These are in addition to the Fixed Legal fee charged by us. They are third-party charges that we handle on your behalf & may require to be paid before we can disburse the cost.
Probate application fee of £273 + required copies (Non-Vatable)
Additional copies are charged at £1.50 each and one or two are usually needed taking the average cost to £274.50 or £276.00 respectively.
Estate Management
Our fees to administer uncontested estates where all the assets are in the UK (including both testate/intestate and taxable/non-taxable estates).
Our hourly rate is £200 plus VAT (£240 inclusive of VAT) unless we are appointed as executors in which case our hourly rate is £220 plus VAT (£264 inclusive of VAT)
In the vast majority of cases, we anticipate the work required to be undertaken will take us between 8 and 46 hours of work. Total estimated costs are therefore likely to fall between £1,560 - £8,970 excluding VAT (£1,872 - £10,764 inclusive of VAT) or £2,520 - £9,660 excluding VAT (£3,024 - £11,592 inclusive of VAT) if we are executors.
We DO NOT charge different prices based on the value of the estate involved and nor do we charge a percentage of the value of the estate involved. We only charge for the time that is spent on the matter. The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. However, the cost to administer the majority of estates does, in our experience fall midway between the range of costs set out above.
Alternatively, if there is one beneficiary and no property, just a few other assets, costs are likely to be at the lower end of the range although if there are either multiple beneficiaries, or if there is no Will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) and multiple bank accounts, or if inheritance tax is payable costs are likely to be at the higher end.
We will always give you a more accurate estimate for the work required once we have more information, a clearer idea of what is involved and of course before we start work.
PLEASE NOTE we will handle the full process for you and the range of costs set out above is for estates where:
There are no disputes between beneficiaries on the division of assets. If disputes arise it's likely to lead to an increase in costs.
AND
There are no claims made against the estate.
ID Verification charge (Anti-Money Laundering check): £24.00 per individual (inclusive of VAT)
We are required to complete ID verification checks on each client involved with your matter and we charge an administrative fee of £20.00 plus VAT (£24.00 Inc. VAT) for each check. This will be required for each executor prior to work beginning on the matter and for each beneficiary prior to them receiving any legacies. More information about the process and who will be required to provide ID documents can be found in The Identification & Anti-Money Laundering Regulations.
PLEASE NOTE THIS CHARGE APPLIES TO ALL NEW INSTRUCTIONS FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER 2023. FOR ALL INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER 2023 THIS CHARGE WILL NOT APPLY PROVIDED THAT YOU PROVIDE THE REQUIRED ID DOCUMENTS BEFORE 5 PM ON FRIDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2023. ANY MATTER WHICH WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUFFICIENT ID DOCUMENTS FOR AFTER THIS TIME WILL BE LIABLE TO THIS CHARGE.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process and will include some or all the following.
Probate application fee of £273 + Copies required (Non-Vatable)
Additional copies are charged at £1.50 each and one or two are usually needed taking the average cost to £274.50 or £276.00 respectively. Without first obtaining a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration we cannot act on behalf of the deceased. Posting in the Gazette & Local newspaper helps protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors:
Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary) (Non-Vatable)
£69.50 (Non-Vatable) Post in The London Gazette
£75 (Non-Vatable) Post in a Local Newspaper
Valuation fees
Depending on the assets involved with the estate we may need to consult a valuation expert to assist in correctly valuing items. ​PLEASE NOTE This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but we will give you details of any other disbursements which may be applicable to your matter when we have more information.
Potential additional costs
If the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there may be additional costs if the shares are to be sold or if the holding is certificated but the relevant certificates are unavailable.​If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £1.50 (Non-Vatable) (1 per asset usually).​Inheritance tax may also be payable and the following link will help you calculate the amount of such tax: www.hl.co.uk/tools/calculators/inheritance-tax-calculator.​ Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included in the range of costs set out above.​Dealing with the preparation of tax returns is not included in the range of costs set out above.​The cost of any professional valuations which may be required is also not included in the range of costs set out above.
How long will this take?
On average, estates are dealt with within 4-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 12-16 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 4-12 weeks. Once this has been done, outstanding debts and liabilities will need to be ascertained and paid. A final estate account is then prepared for the approval of both the legal personal representative and the beneficiaries. When this has been approved, the estate can then be distributed. This process normally takes 17-24 weeks.