Pricing information: Probate – uncontested cases where all assets are in the UK

We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the grant of representation on your behalf.

Fees

Our fees are based on the amount of time it takes us to apply for the grant of representation and to collect and distribute the estate assets, and on the seniority and experience of the lawyers and other fee earners working on your matter. They will be specifically agreed with you at the outset of your matter once we know the details and circumstances involved and will generally cover all of the work required to complete the administration of the estate.

Our fees are also dependent on the individual circumstances of the matter including the size and complexity of estate, and thus they may increase or decrease accordingly. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will normally be relatively low. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, and if Inheritance Tax is payable, costs will usually be higher.

Our current charge rates range from £270 for a newly/recently qualified solicitor to £775 for a senior partner/consultant.

Typically, the cost of obtaining a grant of representation and administering an uncontested estate consisting only of assets situated in the UK will be between £7,500 and £15,000.

We will handle the full process for you. The band of fees set out above applies to estates where:

• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than ten bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• The deceased was domiciled in the UK
• There are no assets outside the UK
• There are no more than ten beneficiaries
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
• There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
• There are no claims made against the estate

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 these are then added to our invoice.

Disbursements are not included in our estimate, however, these typically include:

• Probate application fee of £273 plus £1.50 for each official copy of the grant of representation.
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£4 per name)
• £100 to £350 for statutory advertisements in the London Gazette and a local newspaper in order to protect the personal representatives against unexpected claims from unknown creditors (the costs of these advertisements may vary depending on the location, publication and the number of advertisements required).

Potential additional costs

 If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there are 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

• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included. Fee and service information about the property services we offer is available on our website or upon request.
• If you require assistance with personal and estate tax returns then we can recommend trusted accountants.

• Trust administration is not included in this quote, but we can advise on this as appropriate and provide a
• If there are non-UK assets there may be additional costs of obtaining advice from foreign counsel and liaising with foreign financial and governmental
• Disputes arising during the administration of an estate may incur additional costs and we will provide a further estimate as soon as practicable.

VAT

 VAT, where applicable, is payable at 20% on legal fees and taxable disbursements.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within twelve months. The above time frame represents three to six months to obtain the grant of representation, two to three months to collect in assets and one to three months to distribute the assets and generally wind up the administration.

If the administration of the estate is straightforward then the timeframe will likely be at the lower end of these estimates, however, if the estate is substantial in size and complexity then the time frame may be more than these estimates.

As part of our service we will:

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate specialist to work on your matter
• Identify the legally appointed personal representatives and beneficiaries
• Accurately identify the type of grant of representation you will require
• Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
• Complete the grant of representation application and the relevant HMRC forms
• Review the legal statement
• Make the application to the District Probate Court on your behalf
• Obtain the grant of representation
• Collect and distribute all assets in the estate
• Prepare detailed estate accounts setting out the sums received and paid out during the course of the

Our team

You may review the experience and qualifications of our Probate Team here.