Uncontested Probate

How much will the work cost?

• Fees are generally charged on an hourly basis due to the unique circumstances of each estate.
• For a simple estate, the anticipated time commitment is typically 10-30 hours.
• Estimated fee range: £3,000 – £9,000 + VAT (£3600.00 – £10,800.00 including VAT).

If helpful, an itemised estimate and scope can be provided once the estate’s complexity, asset profile, number of beneficiaries, and required HMCTS filings are clarified.

Potential disbursements (e.g. probate application fee, oath/statement of truth fees, bankruptcy searches, Land Registry fees, copy death certificates, and statutory notices) would be additional to the above professional fees.

*Hourly rates of your legal representative and those working on your matter will be provided at the outset of your instruction.

*Our current hourly rates are set out below and are subject to VAT, currently 20%.

If the matter is complex, there may be an additional fee calculated as a percentage of the estate: 0.75% of the value of the properties and 1.5% of the value of the other assets.  This additional fee will be subject to VAT.

The final cost will depend on the specific circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, fees will be at the lower end of the range. If there are several beneficiaries, a property, and multiple bank accounts, costs will be higher.

We will manage the entire process for you.

This quote, as an example, is for estates where:

• There is a valid will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 3 bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are 1 – 5 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.

What are disbursements?

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that must be paid to third parties, such as court fees, expert’s fees and counsel’s fees.  These expenses are usually deductible from the estate. We will handle payment of these disbursements on your behalf to ensure the process runs smoothly.

Which disbursements may apply to your matter?

Anticipated disbursements include:

• Probate application fee (if the estate is over £5,000): £526
• Extra copy of the probate – £2 each if obtained at the time of the grant, or £16 each
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches: £9 per beneficiary
• Placing a Deceased Estates notice:
• The Gazette: £103.60 + VAT per notice (£124.32 including VAT)
• Local newspaper notice: £215 + VAT (£258.00 including VAT)

Potential additional costs

• If there is no will or the estate consists of any shareholdings (stocks and bonds), additional costs may apply. These can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can provide a more accurate quote once we have more information.
• Additional copies of the grant, if required, will cost £2 each if obtained at the time of the grant, or £16 each (typically one per asset).
• The sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

What we will do for you – key stages

We will handle the full probate process for you including:

• Ascertaining the value of the deceased assets and liabilities
• Preparing the required estate accounts
• Submitting IHT accounts to HMRC
• calculating the inheritance tax if relevant
• completing and submitting the probate application

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 4 – 6 months. Typically:

• Obtaining the grant of probate (once submitted): 12 weeks
• Collecting assets: 8 – 16 weeks
• Distribute the assets: 2 – 6 weeks

Our team consists of qualified private client solicitors with expertise in probate matters, including contested probate cases.

For full details, please see the website page for Liora Torn-Hibler and Hannah Price for probate/letters of administration and estate administration and Raanan Berlad for contested probate