How Much Do Legal Wills & Probate UK Services Cost?.
We help you understand the steps and costs involved before instructing us for all of your probate UK and estate requirements.
Legal processes can be complicated.
We make it simple to understand.
As probate solicitors, we specialise in simplifying the legal processes of probate and estate administration, helping you navigate the complexities with ease. Whether you require power of attorney, lasting power of attorney (LPA), wills, or probate law services, our team of dedicated probate solicitors is here to assist you.
Probate and Administering Estate's are just some of the services we offer. With many legal services involved regarding Probate, the legal process can be complex, with every case bringing individual circumstances.
As probate solicitors, our ethos is to uncomplicate the legal process and to be as transparent as possible regards what to expect and the costs involved. Below is a general outlook on the legal process and solicitors fees for probate.
You may be asking, what is the approximate fee for a solicitor to do probate? The average charging rate for team members is £250 + 20% VAT. Full details of individuals’ charge out rate are included in the confirmation of instructions that are sent to you following instruction.
Option 1 - Obtaining the Grant of Probate only for Executors
In the majority of cases when you provide valuations and relevant information to us to enable us to obtain the Grant of probate we charge a fixed fee which will depend on the complexity of the estate.
Our fees range between £1, 200 + 20% VAT - £2,000 + 20% VAT. The average fee is £1,500 + 20% VAT for an estate which will not pay Inheritance Tax and will not require a transferable nil rate band application or a full Inland Revenue account (IHT400).
If the estate is liable to pay Inheritance Tax or a full Inland Revenue account (IHT 400) is required our fees range from £1,950 + 20% VAT - £7,500 + 20% VAT. The average fee is £3,000 + 20% VAT, but in order to provide a fixed fee or estimate for wills probate we will require further information about the estate as there may be investigations to be carried out by HMRC.
Once the Grant of Probate is obtained this is forwarded to the Executors to enable them to administer the estate.
Option 2 - Full Estate Administration
We are able to offer this work to be done on a fixed fee basis which provides certainty for the Executors.
We do not offer this for an estate under £100,000, this is charged at an hourly rate on a time recorded basis.
Fixed fees for estates are as follows (all fees are subject to 20% VAT):
- Between £100,000 and £325,000 - £7,500
- Between £325,001 and £650,000 - 2.25% of the value of the estate
- Between £650,001 and £1 million - 2.00% of the value of the estate
- Over £1 million - 1.75% of the value of the estate.
On occasion it may not be possible to offer a fixed fee if, for instance:
- There is the possibility of someone challenging the Will.
- There are Overseas assets.
- There are complex assets.
Disbursements Meaning
Disbursements, meaning the costs related to your matter that are payable to third-parties, include but are not limited to:
- Probate fee - £273 plus additional copies of the Grant £1.50 each.
- Bankruptcy searches - £2 for each beneficiary if based in the UK.
- Statutory advertisements – approximately £220 plus 20% VAT.
- Valuation fees.
Other Costs
Client identity checks: £8 plus VAT per individual client
The costs do not allow for the following:
- If there is no valid will.
- Dealing with the sale, transfer or appropriation of any property or property share in the estate.
- Assets held in trust or policies held outside the estate.
- Assets of a deceased spouse that have not yet been dealt with.
- A trust created during the deceased's lifetime.
- The administration of a trust created by the deceased's will (or by intestacy).
- Subsequent information received or applicable after receipt of initial instructions.
- Disputes in the estate.
- Foreign assets (outside England and Wales).
Timescale
Obtaining the Grant of Probate will usually take between 2-4 weeks once all information has been received to enable the application to be prepared. The estate administration can take between 2 - 18 months depending on the complexity of the estate. During this period we will where possible make interim distributions to beneficiaries without delay.
Working With Our Service Team
We understand that planning for the future and protecting your loved ones, is one of the most important things we will prepare for. Our trusted and compassionate team are able to advise and put into place all of the foundations for you and your family, keeping you updated at all times.
- Kim Carr
If you have an enquiry in relation to Wills, Trusts and Probate or simply want to speak to a member of our expert team, please get in touch.
