We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf based on a fixed legal fee. The fees are payable in most cases out of the assets of the estate.

The information about the costs is for estates where:

• There is a valid will
• There are no more than  bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are no more than five legacies or specific gifts or more than five residuary beneficiaries
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
• The deceased made lifetime gifts exceeding the annual allowance of £3,000.00 within the past 15 years
• There are no claims made against the estate and the estate does not include:
  • A business, farms, farmhouses or farmland,  an interest in another estate, loans or mortgages payable to the deceased, foreign assets, assets held in trust, national heritage assets or unlisted stocks and shares and control holdings

Legal Fees and Disbursements

Disbursements are costs relating to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees.

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets:

This work can be undertaken on the basis of a fixed fee. The range of fixed fees we charge fall as follows:

Estate not exceeding £150,000

1.8% of the gross estate value subject to a minimum fee of £750.00 + VAT.

For example, an estate valued at £125,000 our legal fees would be £2250 + VAT.

Estate not exceeding £325,000

1.9% of the gross estate + VAT.

For example, an estate valued at £300,000 our legal fees would be £5700 + VAT.

Estate not exceeding £650,000

2.0% of the gross estate + VAT.

For example, an estate valued at £500,000 our legal fees would be £10,000 + VAT.

Estate exceeding £650,000

Subject to negotiation.

When you instruct us we will send a letter to you setting out the basis upon which we will charge our fees.

Possible Disbursements:

• Probate application fee - £155.00
• Swearing of the oath  - £7.00 per executor
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches - £2.00 per beneficiary
• Post in The London Gazette - this is recommended as a means of protecting against claims against the estate - £69.50 + VAT
• Post in a Local Newspaper - This helps protect against claims against the estate and vary between newspapers but can cost between £200 and £500.

What services does this fee include?

The following steps are included:

• Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries and establish the extent of the estate by identifying the various assets and liabilities
• Prepare the Grant of Probate and have it sworn by the executor(s) and submitted to the appropriate Probate Registry together with the Will, if there is one
• Once the Grant is received from the Probate Registry it is submitted to the various organisations with whom assets are held in order to start the process of transferring the assets into the beneficiaries’ names;
• All estate liabilities have to be paid before the estate can be distributed among the beneficiaries;
• Confirming that tax is paid up to date and there are no outstanding HMRC claims;
• Preparation of the Estate accounts and distribution of the estate in accordance with the terms of the Will.

Potential additional costs include:

• If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (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 also be charged at 50p.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

Typical timescales

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 3 to 9 months.