Price & Service Information 

Probate and Estate Administration Service

As well as completing the application, applying for the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration, as appropriate and completing the Inheritance Tax Return if required. We will also undertake the administration of the estate for you. This will include collecting in the assets, preparing the Estate Accounts and distributing the estate to the beneficiaries. 

Costs 

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. We will always provide you with a tailored fixed fee quote for your individual matter. Usually, our fees will be paid from the estate. 

We have set out below some examples to give you a general indication of the likely costs in a number of different scenarios. In the examples below we have provided values of estates by way of illustration. We always base our fixed fees on the complexity of the matter. Whilst complexity may increase with value this is not always the case. 

In all the examples below the following assumptions apply:

• There is a valid Will
• All assets are in the UK 
• There are no intangible assets 
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
• There are no claims made against the estate
  

Disbursements 

In addition to our fees, disbursements will also be payable. Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Probate Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. 

Typical disbursements (including VAT at 20% where applicable) that may be incurred:   

• HMCTS Probate Registry fee of £300 (plus £1.50 for each additional copy of the Grant) 
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary)
• Approximately £150-£300 for a notice in The London Gazette and a local newspaper – This protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors
• Land Registry Office Copy Entries (£3 per title) 

Please note the above list is not exhaustive.

Services included

As part of our fixed fee, we will:

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced 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
• Prepare the Inheritance Tax Return
• Complete the application for the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration as appropriate 
• Make the application to HMCTS Probate Registry on your behalf
• Obtain the Grant 
• Collect in the assets of the estate 
• Prepare the Estate Accounts 
• Distribute the estate to the beneficiaries
  

Potential additional costs

• If there is no Will or the estate consists of any shareholdings (stocks and bonds) there are likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information
• Any work that may be required in relation to Trusts 
• The preparation of a Deed of Variation 
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included

If any additional information or circumstances arise that were not known at the beginning of the matter, which increase the complexity of the estate. We may need to revise the original quote. If this situation arises, we would always discuss this with you prior to providing you with a revised quote.   

How long will this take?

On average, standard estates are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the Grant of Probate takes 2-4 months (provided no Inheritance Tax is payable). It will take longer where Inheritance Tax is payable and/or a full Inheritance Tax Account has to be submitted to HMRC. Once the Grant is obtained the administration of the estate usually takes a further 4-8 months. More complex estates may exceed these timescales.   

The time it takes depends on a number of factors including the complexity of the estate and the speed of response of other organisations such as banks, building societies, the Probate Registry and HMRC. We will provide you with regular updates during your matter.