We can help you through the difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf and administering the estate for you.

As part of our range of costs to deal with a probate matter where we deal with the whole estate we will:

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate lawyer 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 complete the probate application
• Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
• Draft a legal statement for you to sign
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• Obtain the Probate and send you any sealed copies that you have requested we obtain, collect and distribute all assets in the estate
• Prepare Estate Accounts

We anticipate this will take between 12 and 24 hours work at £275 per hour plus VAT @ 20% (£55) and disbursements. Total costs estimated generally between £3,300 and £6,600 plus VAT @ 20% (£660 to £1,320) but can exceed this sum for more complicated work or for contested estates. We will handle the full process for you. This quote if for estates where:

We will handle the full process for you. This estimates is where:

• There is a valid will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than six bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are 1-6 beneficiaries (and the location of all is known)
• 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 (IHT400)
• There are no claims made against the estate
• There are no foreign assets


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.

Where we need to claim unused Nil-Rate Band of deceased spouse or unused Residence Nil-Rate Band we will charge an additional £275 plus VAT @ 20% (£55) plus disbursements for each claim.

We will provide you with a written estimate of our costs at the outset of the matter. There may be issues that arise during the course of the matter which mean we might need to revise our costs estimate. We will always notify you if we need to do this.

Anticipated Disbursements

Disbursements are additional costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

• Probate application fee of £300. If any additional sealed copies of the grant are required, they will each cost £1.50 (1 per asset usually)
• Swearing of an Oath (only where necessary) £7 per Executor
• Bankruptcy only Land Charges Department Searches - £6 per beneficiary
• Approximately £285 for notices in the London Gazette and a local newspaper – This protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.

Potential Additional Costs

If there is no Will or if the Estate consists of shareholdings (stocks and bonds) or foreign assets there are likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with or distributed. We will discuss with you this in detail as the matter progresses and advise you of any additional fees.

The cost of selling or transferring a property is not included in this price, if you require this service please let us know and we will provide you with an estimate of costs for this service (estimated sale fees are available from our website).

Additional Services:

During the course of the matter it might be necessary to instruct third parties. This might for example be a valuer, surveyor or an accountant. If this is the case there will be additional costs.

How long will this take?

It will take about 6 weeks to gather the necessary information. Then the documentation needs to be prepared and agreed by you which normally takes a further 6 weeks. Once HMRC are satisfied and we send in the application for Probate the Probate Office will reply saying it will now take 16 weeks, Once we receive the grant of Probate then we can call in the Assets of the Estate and sell any house or other property. How long this takes depends on the nature of the property and other assets.

On average, estates that fall within this range of costs are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 3-6 months. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 1 to 2 months. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 1 to 2 months. House sales can extend this period.

This is only a typical timescale, more complex estates can take longer.

Taxes Payable on Estates

So far as the amount of tax and allowances is concerned, you may wish to contact that HMRC online Inheritance Tax calculator at https://www.gov.uk/valuing-estate-of-someone-who-died/estimate-estate-value
 
Key Stages

The key stages vary from application to application but in general they are:

1. Obtaining the list of assets and liabilities of the estate
2. Preparing the accounts and any necessary forms.
3. Applying for the grant of probate
4. Collecting in the estate assets
5. Settling the liabilities of the estate
6. Producing the estate accounts
7. Distributing the funds and assets

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

Our Probate Lawyers and their experience:

Paul Finn
Philip Dart
Martin Curnow
Alice Glenister