Probate

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

We anticipate this will take between 10 and 50 hours’ work priced dependant on who is completing the work. Total costs estimated at £2,650- £13,250 plus VAT plus estimated disbursements of £873.58. Most of the work will be done by Adrian Bart-Williams who charges £265 per hour plus VAT.

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. The quote is for estates where:

• There is a valid will
• There is no more than two properties
• There are no more than three bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are one to four 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 included in this fee:

• Probate application fee of £155
• £7 for Swearing of the oath (per executor)
• Bankruptcy- only Land Charges Department searches (£12 per beneficiary)
• £62.15 plus VAT for an advert in the London Gazette- Protects against
  unexpected claims from unknown creditors
• £400 plus VAT for an advert in a Local Newspaper- This also helps to protect against unexpected claims
• £95 plus VAT for Will search

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 (stock and bonds), there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is 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 cost 50p if requested at the time.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

How long will this take?
On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 3-6 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 4-6 weeks. Due to changes in the court system, the length of time for courts to deal with a probate situation can be substantial. There is no standard time as it depends on where the registry application is made to. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 12-15 weeks. Please note for statutory advertisement may have to allow for a minimum of 10 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes about a month, though the sale of property could take months.

Fixed fee
An option for a fixed fee can be provided upon request, but this will be priced per job, rather than at a standard amount.
As part of our fixed fee we will:

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor to work on your matter
• Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
• Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require
• Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
• Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
• Draft a legal oath for you to swear
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• Obtain the Probate and securely send two copies to you
• Collect and distribute all assets in the estate

The costs will range between £2,650 to £13,250 plus VAT.

Hourly rate