How much does Probate cost?
Initial advice about Probate
We will provide you with initial advice free of charge by telephone. During that call we will gather information from you so that we can then advise you in general terms whether you need to make an application to the Probate Registry and what is involved in dealing with the estate.
We charge £199 including VAT at 20% for our first meeting with you to discuss what is involved, including what you would need to do if you were thinking of applying for the Grant of Probate or Representation yourself. We will confirm our advice in writing to you and set out the costs that apply to your particular case, in accordance with the information set out below.
Application for Grant of Probate or Representation
You may choose to instruct us to apply for the Grant only, and you will deal with the administration of the estate after the Grant is obtained. The fee that we charge you will depend upon the circumstances and how much you need us to do for you. The various scenarios are set out below.
£720 including VAT at 20% – Completing and submitting the application for the Grant of Representation to the Probate Registry after you have provided all relevant information about all assets and liabilities in relation to the estate and no inheritance tax account required. This fee does not include any communication with third parties, and we will not receive any funds except those in relation to the payment of fees.
£1,500 including VAT at 20% – Completing and submitting the application for the Grant of Representation to the Probate Registry after you have provided all relevant information about all assets and liabilities in relation to the estate and an inheritance tax account is required. This fee does not include any communication with third parties, and we will not receive any funds except those in relation to the payment of fees.
£1800 including VAT at 20% – Before we apply for the Grant, you instruct us to ascertain details of assets and liabilities, to include contacting up to 5 organisations to gather the relevant information and documentation. No inheritance tax account is required
£3000 including VAT at 20% – Before we apply for the Grant, you instruct us to ascertain details of assets and liabilities, to include contacting up to 10 organisations to gather the relevant information and documentation. No inheritance tax account is required.
£4200 including VAT at 20% – Before we apply for the Grant, you instruct us to ascertain details of assets and liabilities, to include contacting more than 10 organisations to gather the relevant information and documentation. No inheritance tax account is required.
£1200 including VAT at 20% is charged in addition to the fees set out above where a full Inland Revenue Account is required (Inheritance Tax forms required by HMRC) but no Inheritance Tax is payable
£1800 including VAT at 20% is charged in addition to the fees set out above where a full Inland Revenue Account is required (Inheritance Tax forms required by HMRC) and Inheritance Tax is payable
Administration of the estate
Our fee to administer an estate is calculated based upon the time we spend dealing with the administration and are charged at £240 per hour (including VAT at 20%). We shall gather all of the necessary figures to confirm the value of the estate, receive all assets and distribute the estate.
The final fee is dependent on the size and complexity of the estate, but we shall provide an estimate of our fees at the outset based upon the information provided and dependent on the numbers of hours it is likely to take to administer the estate. This will be reviewed throughout the matter.
The fees set out below are in addition any application needed to the Probate Registry.
£2400 (including VAT at 20%) to include contacting relevant organisations to collect in and close accounts, preparing estate accounts and distributing the estate on the basis that it would take around 10 hours to administer the estate. This fee applies where the deceased left a Will appointing executors. The assets in the estate would be one property, not more than 5 accounts with financial institutions and not more than 5 liabilities such as credit card bills and utility bills. There would be no more than four beneficiaries, all of whom are alive and are easily identifiable. There would be no disputes and no need to submit an inheritance tax return.
£4800 (including VAT at 20%) to include contacting relevant organisations to collect in and close accounts, preparing estate accounts and distributing the estate on the basis that it would take around 10 hours to administer the estate. This fee applies where the deceased left a Will appointing executors. The assets in the estate would be one property, more than 5 accounts with financial institutions and/or more than 5 liabilities such as credit card bills and utility bills and/or more than four beneficiaries, all of whom are alive and are easily identifiable. There would be no disputes and no need to submit an inheritance tax return.
£1200 (including VAT at 20%) is charged in addition to the above fees is there is no valid Will or an out of date Will that results in the beneficiaries not being easily identified and located on the basis that an additional 5 hours will be spent dealing with the estate
£1200 (including VAT at 20%) is charged in addition to the above fees is there is a business asset on the basis that an additional 5 hours will be spent dealing with the estate
£1200 (including VAT at 20%) is charged in addition to the above fees is there is foreign property on the basis that an additional 5 hours will be spent dealing with the estate
£1200 (including VAT at 20%) is charged in addition to the above fees if inheritance tax is payable on the basis that an additional 5 hours will be spent dealing with the estate
£3600 (including VAT at 20%) is charged in addition to the above fees if our firm is acting as executors on the basis that an additional 15 hours will be spent dealing with the estate
£540 (including VAT at 20%) is charged in addition to the above fees for each transfer of property to one or more beneficiaries.
The fees above do not include:-
- Dealing with disputes about the terms of the Will or other claims against the estate.
- The inheritance tax paid to HMRC
- Conveyancing costs associated with selling a property that forms part of the estate. These are charged on a fixed fee basis. Our fees are set out here
Other costs
In addition, there will be payments to third parties such as:-
- Probate application fee of £300.
- £1.50 per copy of Grant.
- Fees paid to the Land Registry relating to property.
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches
- Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
- Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
Unless we tell you otherwise, these fees will not attract VAT.
How long will probate and administration take?
Typically, obtaining the grant of representation takes 10 to 12 weeks, after having gathered all of the necessary figures to prepare the application. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 2 to 4 months. Once this has been done we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2 to 4 weeks. This does not include the time it takes to sell any property which forms part of the estate.
What services and key stages are included?
Typically the process for the application for the Grant of Probate and administration of the estate shall be as follows:
- You should bring to your first appointment the original Will (if there is one) death certificate, proof of your identity and address and any documents you have relating to the financial position of the deceased.
- If you have not done so already and/or wish us to deal with the administration of the estate, write to all relevant financial instructions (such as HMRC, pension companies, utility companies and banks) to gather the information and figures necessary to complete the application to the Probate Registry.
- Prepare the Legal Statement for you to approve and sign in support of the application.
- Prepare and send to the Probate Registry the application for Grant of Probate (if there is a Will) or Letters of Administration (if there is no Will).
- After the Grant/Letters of Administration is/are received from the Probate Registry, either give the document to you (if you are dealing with the administration of the estate yourself) or write to the relevant financial institutions to collect in the estate.
- If you have instructed us to administer the estate, we shall prepare and send to you the Estate Accounts for your approval.
- If you have instructed us to administer the estate, pay any liabilities owed by the estate and distribute the funds to beneficiaries after all funds have been collected.
How long will probate and administration take?
Typically, obtaining the grant of probate or representation takes 10 to 12 weeks, after having gathered all of the necessary figures to prepare the application. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 2 to 4 months. Once this has been done we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2 to 4 weeks. This does not include the time it takes to sell any property that forms part of the estate.
Who will be dealing with my case?
Your case will be dealt with by Adele Baskerville (Chartered Legal Executive) and Emma Paxton (Paralegal) They are assisted by legal assistants and trainee solicitors, who will be identified in the first letter sent to you and as the case progresses if there is any change.
