Probate Fees
Transparent Legal Fees
We understand that dealing with the loss of a loved one is an incredibly emotional and stressful time
That is why we believe in being completely transparent about probate fees and estate administration. Our aim is to make the process as straightforward and manageable as possible, with no hidden fees or surprises.
Hourly Charging Rate
We provide a detailed estimate of costs in your initial Client Care Letter, outlining an expected range of legal fees. While disbursements (third-party costs) are additional, we will always give you a clear indication of what these are likely to be. To keep you fully informed, we review and update your costs regularly, either every three months or when fees approach the upper end of the original estimate, whichever comes first.
Typical Disbursements
Disbursements are third-party costs incurred during the process. These are payable in addition to our professional fees. If you only require obtaining a grant of probate, we can agree a fixed fee of £950 plus VAT.
- Probate Registry Fee Currently £300 for estates over £5,000, plus £16 per additional copy of the Grant.
- Oath or Statement of Truth Fee If applicable.
- Land Registry Fees For official copies of title documents or registration of property sales.
- Bankruptcy Search Fees £2 per beneficiary or transaction, to confirm no bankruptcy issues before distribution.
- Section 27 Trustee Act Notices Published in the London Gazette and a local newspaper to protect executors from unknown claims. Costs vary, typically £200-£300.
- Valuation Fees For property, shares, or personal possessions (e.g., antiques, jewellery)
- Estate Agent Fees If a property is sold, these are usually a percentage of the sale price.
- Conveyancing Fees Legal fees for selling estate property.
- Accountancy Fees If tax returns or estate accounts require professional input.
- Storage or Clearance Fees For securing or clearing estate property.
- InfoTrack Fees Charges for using InfoTrack to obtain documents efficiently; passed on at cost with no markup.
Where we are appointed to act as Professional Executors and a property forming part of the estate is sold, we will charge a fee equivalent to 1% of the gross sale price of the property.
This fee is in addition to our standard estate administration charges and reflects the additional work involved in overseeing the sale process, including instructing agents, reviewing offers, liaising with conveyancers and ensuring the sale proceeds are correctly accounted for within the estate.
Book your free initial consultation
We can discuss your legal matter and we will provide guidance on likely costs.
How Our Legal Fees Are Calculated
Our charges are based on the time our professional staff spend working on your matter, calculated at our standard hourly rate. This is a standard approach to costing for legal services and reflects our expertise and experience in working on your matter.
Our current rate is £270 per hour. This is reviewed annually.
We maintain detailed time records for all work undertaken, which we refer to as Work in Progress (WIP). These records are available to you upon request. This WIP is recorded on your individual ledger on our case management system. We also manually record all work undertaken including emails, file notes, attendance notes and letters sent and received on a paper file.
Time is recorded in six-minute units, in line with standard legal practice. For example:
- A 30-minute meeting is recorded as 5 units (5 x 6 minutes).
- One hour equals 10 units.
This method applies to all aspects of work on your file, including meetings, telephone calls, document review, preparation, administration, and research.
Examples:
- A standard letter or routine email is typically charged at 1 unit (6 minutes).
- More complex correspondence may be charged at a higher number of units.
- Review and research is recorded literally as are meetings and longer calls.
Bank Transfer Fees
We charge a fee for transferring funds electronically via Telegraphic Transfer (CHAPS) or Faster Payment. Our current fee is £40 + VAT per transaction. This service is typically used for:
- Sending the purchase price to a seller’s solicitor
- Transferring sale proceeds to you
- Redeeming a mortgage
- Distributing funds to beneficiaries or executors in probate cases
Clarity and Confidence in Your Legal Costs
We provide a detailed estimate of costs in your initial Client Care Letter, outlining an expected range of legal fees. While disbursements (third-party costs) are additional, we will always give you a clear indication of what these are likely to be. To keep you fully informed, we review and update your costs regularly, either every three months or when fees approach the upper end of the original estimate, whichever comes first.
Clear legal advice, delivered with care.
Speak with our friendly team today for professional legal advice you can trust