Probate Fees
We can help you through this difficult process by either obtaining the grant for you or assisting you with the full administration of estate.
Costs Information
We offer two fee options for our clients when dealing with probate.
- Obtaining a Grant only
This is charged either on a fixed fee basis or in accordance with our hourly rate, which is £220.00 per hour plus VAT.
We require you to provide us with values of all assets and liabilities in the estate. Once we have received the requisite information, we can complete the inheritance tax return forms and return the Grant to the Personal Representative so that they can administer the estate.
It is difficult to give a definitive guideline as each estate is different. Fees are likely to be in the region of £1,850.00 plus VAT.
In simple cases a Grant can be obtained within 4 weeks of receiving your instructions and valuations of the assets and liabilities of the estate from you.
- Obtaining a Grant and Administering the Estate
A full administration covers everything from writing to the banks for the probate value of all bank accounts, obtaining valuations of any property, completing the inheritance tax return forms and applying for the Grant. Once the Grant is received, we collect in all the monies, deal with any liabilities, make payment of any inheritance tax and prepare estate accounts and distribute the estate to beneficiaries in the Will, or if there is no Will, in accordance with the intestacy rules.
| Gross Value | Fixed Fee |
| Up to £100,000.00 | £2000.00 plus VAT |
| Up to £200,000.00 | £4000.00 plus VAT |
| Up to £325,000.00 | £3000 – £4000 plus VAT |
| Between £325,000.00 and £650,000.00 | 1.5% of gross value plus VAT |
| Between £650,000.00 and 1m | 1.5% of the gross value plus VAT |
| Above 1m | 2% of the gross value plus VAT |
Additional Information
where my fixed fee maybe higher
Where factors exist with your matter that may result in additional work, such as the need for a higher degree of attention, care, mitigation, representations, etc… this will be indicative of the hours we will need to spend on your case and may result in higher fees being charged in accordance with our hourly charge rate. Additional work, example, conveyancing of any property in the estate, bringing income tax affairs up to date to the date of death, preparing a Deed of Variation or dealing with a trust that comes to an end on the death will be charged for separately with your agreement.
below. Principal Solicitor – Adam Sofi: £240 plus VAT
disbursements
Please note that the prices quoted below do not include any disbursements payable to third parties that may be incurred on your matter. You will be notified of such fees or anticipated fees at the start of your matter or when they arise. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smooth process. Any such fees can include the following.
- Probate Court Fee £155.00 plus 50p for each copy required fees
- Bankruptcy Search Fee £2.00 per search (this will be high if the beneficiary lives abroad)
- Statutory Advertisements, if required, on average £230.00
VAT
VAT will be charged at the current prevailing rate which at present is 20%.
Key stages in the probate process
The stages will vary depending on the circumstances although most cases will generally involve:
- Meeting with the executors or the family to take instructions and discuss the process
- Obtaining details of assets and liabilities of the estate
- Preparing an inheritance tax return and probate application
- Collecting in the deceased’s assets and settling any liabilities
- Distributing the estate and finalising the tax position
Who is responsible for my case
The work will be undertaken by Adam Sofi who is a Solicitor and the Principal of this office and who has over 10 years experience in this field. Adam deals with all aspects of trust and estate administration and has been appointed and acted as executor and trustee on many occasions.
How long will the administration of the estate take
The Grant of Probate typically takes approximately 12 weeks. Straightforward estates can be concluded within a matter of a few months. Complex estates tend to take an average of 6-9 months to complete.
