Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

We anticipate this will take between 10 and 30 hours work at hourly rates between £180.00 (£150 plus VAT @ £30) and £276 (£230 plus VAT @ £46) per hour depending on the level of experience and qualification of the fee earner. Total cost estimated at £2,760 (£2,300 plus VAT @ £460) – £8,280 (£6,900 plus VAT @ £1,380).

In respect of the administration of estates up to the value of £500,000 a charge will be imposed of 2% plus VAT of the gross probate value of the deceased’s estate, in addition to the fee estimates above.

In respect of the administration of estates over £500,000 a charge will be imposed of 1% plus VAT of the gross probate value of the deceased’s estate, in addition to the fee estimate above.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. 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 accounts, costs will be at the higher end.

We will handle the full process for you. This quote is for estates where:

• There is a valid Will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 5 bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are 1-5 beneficiaries
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to leave to an increase in costs
• There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full amount to HMRC
• There are no claims made against the estate
• There are no foreign assets
• There are no beneficiaries to trace

Additional disbursements include:

• Probate application fee – £273
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (per beneficiary) – £2
• Post in The London Gazette & Local Newspaper – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors – £275

We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Potential additional costs

• If there is no Will or the estate consists of any shareholdings (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 once we have more information.
• If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost 50p (1 per asset usually).
• Missing asset search.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
• Dealing with deceased’s lifetime tax position.
• Requirements for registration and tax returns for complex estates.

How long will this take?

On average. Estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the Grant of Probate takes 6-8 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 4-12 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes up to 12 months.

Who will carry out the work?

We have a highly experienced team of five fee earners who may work on your matter complemented by support staff.

Regardless of who woks on your matter, they will be supervised by Stephen Walker.

Stephen Walker

Stephen qualified as a solicitor in 1986 and also holds the qualification of Notary Public.

He specialises in wills, probate and trust work along with powers of attorney and deputyships. Stephen has been carrying out this type of work for over 21 years. He has advised all types of clients from those wanting simple wills or the administration of a small estate, to complex wills for tax planning for high net worth clients or with multi-million pound estates and intricate property and business affairs to deal with.

Inheritance tax and trusts form a large part of Stephen’s work and his clients appreciate his straight-forward, clear and professional advice.

Loren Little

Loren is a qualified solicitor specialising in wills, probate, administration of estates, lasting powers of attorney and inheritance tax matters.

Her friendly and professional demeanour means clients feel supported and clear about the decisions they need to make. Loren appreciates that clients often come to her at the most difficult periods of their lives and her compassionate and thorough approach allows gentle guidance, clear advice and efficient progression of the case.

Ellie-May Betts

Ellie-May is a chartered legal executive. She works in the wealth management department, specialising in wills, trust matters, obtaining grants of probate and administering estates. Ellie-May is the perfect combination of professionalism, knowledge and approachability. She unravels complex situations and makes the process clear. She builds strong client relationships understanding that whether making a will or LPA, administering an estate of a loved one or assisting an attorney with their duties, a sympathetic yet certain approach is central to completing matters effectively.

India Doab

India joins us as a para-legal but is training for a legal executive qualification. She specialises in complex Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Fee Earner Charging Rates

All qualified solicitors charge £276 (£230 plus VAT £46) per hour. Other named fee earners charge £180 (£50 plus VAT £30) per hour.