How we charge - Uncontested Probate

We are required by the SRA to provide information on our website regarding how our fees are calculated for certain types of matters. This information is below. Please note however that as a firm it is our policy to treat all clients and instructions as individuals and we would therefore welcome the opportunity to talk to you and provide an estimate that is tailored to your specific needs.

We estimate that our fee will be between at £1,500.00 - £4,500.00 + VAT (currently 20%) which is based on charging an hourly rate for the work undertaken. The hourly rate will depend on the qualifications and level of experience of the fee earner engaged on your matter

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 up to obtaining the grant of probate. This quote is for estates where:

• There is a valid will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 3 bank or building society accounts
• There are no shares
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are 1-4 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 in addition to this fee:

• Probate application fee of £273.00 (not subject to VAT)
• £1.50 per copy of the grant of probate required (not subject to VAT)
• Bankruptcy Search via Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 per beneficiary) (not subject to VAT)
• £150.00 - £300.000 for the post in The London Gazette and local Newspaper to protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. (not subject to VAT)

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.

Potential additional costs

• 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.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

Key stages of your case

• Identifying the executors and beneficiaries
• Checking the type of Probate application you will require
• Ascertaining the date of death balances
• Obtaining the relevant documents required to make the application
• Completing the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
• Preparing and making the application for probate
• Obtaining the Probate and distributing copies as necessary
• Collecting and distributing the assets of the estate

The precise stages may vary depending on your particular case but the above is a general guide.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 6-8 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 3-8 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2-8 weeks.