The following covers just a selection of the areas of law we can help you with. We are happy to discuss fees on a case – by – case basis, and to agree deferred payment plans and conditional fee arrangements at our discretion.
We can also advise and help you in specific areas of your case, and guide you so that you can help yourself, where possible. This can sometimes help clients access important advice and address the main issues, which they otherwise might not be able to afford to do.
Reference to ‘hourly rate’ means our firm’s usual basis for billing, which is £210/hour. VAT is added to all fees including those set out below.
Probate
Every estate is different, and our probate fees vary depending on the specific circumstances, including the estate’s value and the complexity of the matter.
The fees set out in this guidance apply both to instructions from lay executors and to cases where we or one of our solicitor are named as executors.
We will discuss your requirements during your initial consultation with our solicitors and estimate the expected costs. It is sometimes necessary to revise our estimate as the estate progresses, but we will always agree on any increase with the executors before embarking on unanticipated work.
We charge for our probate services based on the time spent (the ‘Time Element’) and by reference to the value of the estate (the ‘Value Element’).
1. The Time Element
The Time Element is based on the time recorded by your solicitor at the following hourly rates:
| Position | Hourly Rate | VAT 20% | Hourly Rate inc 20% VAT |
| Solicitor | £258.00 | £51.60 | £309.60 |
The examples below illustrate the time which might be involved in certain situations, including time spent by accounts executives preparing the estate accounts and a supervising partner overseeing the administration:
- Example Estate A: The time spent on the administration of an estate valued up to £50,000 (usually with a sole Executor who is also the sole beneficiary) will likely be around 5 hours, depending on the complexity of the matter at hand. The charges attributed to timefor such an estate would likely be between £1,000 and £2,000 plus 20% VAT (£1,200 – £2,400 inc VAT).
- Example Estate B: The time spent on the administration of an estate valued say, between £50,000 and £200,000 (usually where no house or land is owned) may be between 5 and 15 hours, depending on the complexity of the matter at hand. The charge attributed to time would probably be between £1,500 plus VAT and £5,000 plus 20% VAT (£1,800 – £6,000 inc VAT).
- Example Estate C: The time spent on the administration of an estate valued between £200,000 and £1,000,000, typically with a house and investments, would be expected to be between 15 hours and up to 50 hours, depending on the complexity of the matter. The charge attributed to time would probably be between £5,000 plus VAT and £15-20,000 plus 20% VAT (between £6,000 and £18,000-£24,000 inc VAT).
These ranges are broad because the factors that affect the time spent are many and varied. To help you understand where your case might fall within that range, the factors to consider are:
- The terms of the will. For example, where the will creates a trust or makes numerous gifts of specific chattels, more time will be required to ensure the terms are met.
- The type of assets held. Where an estate consists mainly of cash held in standard bank accounts, we would expect to spend less time collecting these than if the same sums were held as shares in a family company or valuable artwork.
- The number of assets held will also affect the time spent, as each must be dealt with individually.
- The number of executors can also affect the time spent administering the estate, as we will often require instructions from each executor before taking action.
- The number of beneficiaries also has an effect, particularly where there are numerous beneficiaries, as we must identify each individual and carry out bankruptcy searches before releasing any funds.
We will make clear to you how these matters affect the estate you are dealing with before we do any substantial work, and you should approach your solicitor if you have questions at any stage of the administration.
2. The Value Element
The second element of the charges made in estate matters takes into account the estate’s value. This element is added to reflect the unique complexities of the particular estate and the consequent responsibility upon the firm.
The typical value percentages applied are 1.5% of the value of the gross estate, less the value of the deceased’s residence and 0.75% of the value of the deceased’s residence.
The guideline Value Element in the example estates above would be:
- Example Estate A: An estate valued at £50,000 would attract a Value Element of £750 plus 20% VAT (£900 inc VAT).
- Example Estate B: An estate valued at £200,000 would attract a Value Element of £3,000 plus 20% VAT (£3,600 inc VAT).
- Example Estate C: An estate valued at £500,000 would attract a Value Element of £7,500 plus 20% VAT (£9,000 inc VAT).
The deceased’s residence would be charged at 0.75% of the value of the residence and deducted from the value element charged as above.
In the example of Estate C above, if the deceased’s residence were valued at £300,000, this would be deducted from the estate’s gross value, and the balance of this would be charged at 1.5%, being £3,000 plus 20% VAT (£3,600 inc VAT). The property element would be charged at 0.75% of gross value, being £2,250 plus 20% VAT (£2,700 inc VAT). The value element of the estate would instead be charged at £5,250 plus 20% VAT (£6,300 inc VAT).
Our total charge is the Time Element, and the Value Element added together.
Before we do any work, we will discuss how this will affect you based on the available information. The total charge for each estate can only be finalised when the work is complete. We will review our total charges to ensure they are fair and reasonable.
Overview of services
Our estimates typically include the following services:
- Arranging distribution to the beneficiaries
- Carrying out bankruptcy searches
- Gathering in assets and paying liabilities
- Obtaining valuations, statements and bills
- Paying bequests
- Placing statutory advertisements
- Preparing a schedule of assets and liabilities
- Preparing estate accounts
- Preparing the inheritance tax return
- Preparing the oath
- Settling the estate’s inheritance tax liability
- Submitting the application for a grant and obtaining copies
- Transferring assets and advising on continuing trusts
Disbursements
Disbursements are fixed costs relating to the 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. Some costs are required in all cases, others may not be applicable, and some may vary depending on other circumstances.
The cost of standard expenses (referred to as disbursements) are charged in addition to the Time Element and Value Element and will include:
- Probate registration fee £273.00
- Bankruptcy search fees £2.90 (per beneficiary)
- Foreign national/resident bankruptcy search £50-£500 (per beneficiary, dependent on the country of birth or residence.)
- Fee for copy grant £1.50 (per copy)
- Placing statutory advertisements estimated £400 + 20% VAT (£480 inc VAT)
- Expert fee for valuations £50-£500 (based on the nature of assets)
Please note that the probate registration fee set out above is that which applies to an application made by a solicitor on the executor’s behalf.
Such fees are subject to change at short notice and are generally expected to rise rather than fall. We will confirm the fee level that applies when the application for probate is made to take account of any changes during the administration.
You will also be required to pay any inheritance tax due on the estate, which we can only estimate once we have sufficient information.
You may also find it useful to read the inheritance tax information available on the UK government website.
We are happy to help with the following but find that most people prefer to deal with them themselves, so they aren’t included in our estimates:
- Arranging a funeral.
- Searching the deceased’s papers and investigating to establish the assets and liabilities within the estate;
- Searching the deceased’s papers and investigating to establish the existence and extent of any lifetime gifts;
Sometimes it is clear from the outset that a particular estate may fall outside our typical examples. Occasionally complications only come to light during the administration of the estate. We will always keep you informed of any changes to our estimate.
Our estimates are based on an average case and assume that the following won’t be necessary, but if they are, we will tell you and discuss our fees and likely disbursements:
- Issues relating to beneficiaries
- Dealing with minor beneficiaries
- Establishing the beneficiaries entitled under intestacy rules
- Tracing missing beneficiaries
- Issues relating to specific assets
- Dealing with foreign assets within the estate
- Dealing with intellectual property rights and royalties
- Dealing with share portfolio sales and transfers to facilitate the varying preferences and individual circumstances of beneficiaries
- Dealing with trusts in which the deceased had an interest
- Tax issues
- Claiming agricultural or business property relief
- Referral of the estate return to an HMRC compliance department
- Referral of other tax returns to an HMRC compliance department
- Variation of the disposition of the estate to ensure tax-efficient distribution, including assessment of the impact of capital gains tax
Additional services
Your solicitor can call on a wide range of expertise, including litigation and dispute resolution, to support you in any situations that may arise.
If you need conveyancing, a separate estimate will be provided for a sale or transfer of land within the estate.
Who will handle the matter?
All work is supervised by Antony Canaii.
How long will the matter take?
On average, estates are dealt with within 6-9 months.
Motoring Offences (Summary)
Pricing guidance
Due to the wide range of possible driving offences, it is not possible for us to accurately set out pricing guidance for every scenario. The following is an example of the key stages and work involved in a typical drink driving case.
At our discretion, we may offer to work for you on an agreed fee basis instead of our hourly rate basis, which is £215 + VAT per hour. If such an agreed fee arrangement is put in place, it will be from £1500 + VAT and would typically include:
- 2 hours attendance/preparation:
- considering evidence
- taking your instructions
- providing advice on likely sentence
- attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates Court
The fee does not include:
- instruction of any expert witnesses
- taking statements from any witnesses
- advice and assistance in relation to a special reasons hearing
- advice or assistance in relation to any appeal
- travel for more than 40 minutes or overnight accommodation if the court hearing is at a court more than 2 hours travel time away (lowest price accommodation available will always be used, and you will be given the option for us to instruct a local agent on your behalf).
The key stages of your matter are based on the presumption that you have entered a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing:
- Meet with your solicitor to provide instructions on what happened.
- We will consider initial disclosure, and any other evidence and provide advice.
- Arranging to take any witness statements if necessary (this will have an additional cost, of £215 + VAT per hour).
- We will explain the court procedure to you so you know what to expect on the day of your hearing, and the sentencing options available to the court.
- We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow up queries you have.
- We cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.
- We will attend court on the day and meet with you before going before the court. We anticipate being at court for at least half a day.
- We will discuss the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.
Timescale
- The duration of your case is always dictated by the Police and/or the Court service
Fees for all other work
As agreed with us on a case – by – case basis. This will usually be under an all – inclusive fee agreement or charged at out hourly rate, with an estimate given at the outset of instructions.
We can usually find a financially proportionate way to help you – call us today to discuss your needs.