Wills and Probate Fees
Our fees to administer uncontested estates where all the assets are in the UK, including both testate and intestate and taxable and non-taxable estates are as follows:
Our hourly rate is presently £250.00 plus V.A.T. (£300 including V.A.T.)
In the vast majority of cases we anticipate the work required to be undertaken will take us between 12 and 46 hours work, on average estates are dealt within 4 to 12 months, estate accounts are prepared for approval before it is distributed.
Total estimated costs are, therefore, likely to fall between £2,500 and £8,000 plus V.A.T. (£3000 to £9600 including V.A.T.).
We DO NOT charge different prices based on the value of the estate involved, nor do we charge a percentage of the value of the estate involved. We only charge for the time that is spent on the matter.
The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. However, the cost to administer the majority of estates does, in our experience, fall midway between the range of costs set out above.
We will give you a more accurate estimate for the work required once we have more information, a clearer idea of what is involved and, of course, before we start work.
We will handle the whole process for you and the range of costs set out above is for estates where:-
If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs.
There are no claims made against the estate.
There is no investigations of HMRC or DWP.
Transfer or sale of a property fees are not included.
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 will include some or all of the following:-
- Probate application fee of £300.00 - non vatable, including one copy.
- Bankruptcy only Land Charges Department Searches (£2 per beneficiary)
- £142.98* post in The London Gazette – protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
- £75* post in a local newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
- Valuation fees - Non vatable.
- Inheritance tax - Non vatable, depends on the value of the estate.
* Non-vatable
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but we will give you details of any other disbursements which may be applicable to your matter when we have more information.
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
- Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
- Obtain the Probate and securely send a copy to you
- Collect and distribute all assets in the estate and pay the liabilities
Re-mortgage Fees & Disbursements
RE-MORTGAGE OF A RESIDENTIAL FREEHOLD OR LEASEHOLD PROPERTY
Legal fees - £295 to £395 plus V.A.T. (£354 to £474 including V.A.T.).
This is regardless of the value of the property. There are also the search fees and disbursements as per the purchase of a property.
Sales Fees & Disbursements
SALE OF A FREEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your home, including paying the estate agent.
Legal fees - £825 plus V.A.T. - £2,000 plus V.A.T. (£990 to £2400 including V.A.T.).
The amount of our costs will vary according to the value of the property and the complexity of the transaction. On average our costs are £895 plus V.A.T. per transaction, (£1074 including V.A.T.).
Land Registry copy documents: £6.00 to £21.00 (Non-vatable).
This will depend on how complicated the title is and how many documents are referred to in the Land Registry title.
Electronic money transfer fee: £30.00 plus V.A.T. (£36 including V.A.T.).
This is an administration fee to transfer money electronically if required.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
SALE OF LEASEHOLD PROPERTY
An additional fee is added to our freehold costs for dealing with the leasehold aspects of the sale. The fee is £200 plus V.A.T. (£240 including V.A.T.). There may be additional disbursements the landlord or agents may charge.
On average we expect to complete the sale of a property between 2 and 4 months.
Purchase Fees
PURCHASE OF A FREEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty land Tax (Stamp Duty) if required.
Legal fees; £645 plus V.A.T. - £2,000 plus V.A.T. (£774 to £2400 including V.A.T.).
The amount of our costs will vary according to the value of the property and the complexity of the transaction. On average our costs are £725 plus V.A.T. per transaction (£870 including V.A.T.).
Additional legal fees where a mortgage is being obtained - £195 plus V.A.T. (£243 including V.A.T.).
These costs are for dealing with the requirements of the mortgage lender and are payable by the person buying the property.
Search fees – Up to £400 (inclusive of V.A.T.)
This means the local search, drainage search, environmental search and metalliferous mining search and the level of these costs can depend on the exact location and size of the property.
H.M. Land Registry registration fee - £40.00 to £910.00 (no V.A.T.)
These are dependent on the value of the property and whether or not an application can be made via the land Registry Portal.
Electronic money transfer fee - £30.00 plus V.A.T. (£36.00 including V.A.T.).
This is an administration fee to transfer money electronically, if required.
Land Registration searches and bankruptcy searches - £3.00 to £6.00 (Non-vatable).
These searches are carried out immediately prior to completion.
Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on a purchase) - (Non-vatable).
This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay using HMRC’S website or we can do this for you.
PURCHASE OF LEASEHOLD PROPERTY
An additional fee is added to our freehold costs for dealing with a leasehold property of £200 plus V.A.T. (£240 including V.A.T.). There may be additional disbursements the landlord or agents may charge. These are variable, refer to them directly for details.
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential freehold or leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:
- Take your instructions and give you initial advice
- Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed
- Receive and advise on contract documents
- Carry out searches
- Obtain further planning documentation if required
- Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
- Give you advice on all documents and information received
- Go through conditions of mortgage offer
- Send final contract to you for signature
- Draft Transfer
- Advise you on joint ownership
- Obtain pre-completion searches
- Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
- Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
- Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
- Complete purchase
- Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
- Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
How long will my house purchase take?
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes 8-16 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 16 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension-of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 12 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.
Our fee assumes that:
a. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
b. this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease
c. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
d. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
e. no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.
Other Services Fees
Our hourly rate is presently charged at £250 plus V.A.T. (£300 including V.A.T.) and the cost estimate will be given at the outset of the matter once we look at the individual case, together with details of any other disbursements (expenses) that may be payable.