Fee structure for Probate/ Letter of Administration

Our charges for probate / Letter of Administration in collecting and distributing the assets in its administration of estates are dependent on the number of assets within the estate, the number of beneficiaries, whether or not tax is payable (and any reliefs required to be claimed) and complexity of the assets within the estate.

Estate administration, including:

  • Applying for the grant of probate/letters of administration;
  • Resealing foreign grant of probate/letters of administration; and
  • Administering the estate post-grant of probate/letters of administration.

Legal cost for our service

The exact cost will depend various factors like number of beneficiaries, assets, bank accounts etc. For example, if there is only 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 of the range.

The estimate below 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 no more than 3 beneficiaries
  • There are no disputes between beneficiaries on the division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to a significant 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
  • All assets are in the UK
  • There are no shareholdings

The Pricing

The pricing involved applying for a Grant, collecting, and distributing the assets can generally be anticipated involving between 6-10 hours wherein the hourly rates of our Partners, solicitors, trainee solicitors, or the para-legal who work on the file can range from £350 - £125 together with 0.5% of the value of the estate.

Disbursements

  • Probate application fee of £215 (subject to changes) plus £50 for ten additional copies
  • Swearing of the oath (£7 per executor)
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary)
  • Post in The London Gazette (£100) – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
  • Post in a Local Newspaper (£350)– This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

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

If we agree on a fixed fee the work will include:

1. Pre grant of probate/letters of administration

  • taking your initial instructions;
  • reviewing documentation to form a view on the assets and liabilities of the estate;
  • advising you on your duties as executor/administrator;
  • corresponding with utility companies to register the death and to close the accounts in due course;
  • corresponding with private pension companies, banks and other investment companies to register the death and request date of death balances;
  • preparing the oath for executors/administrators; and
  • lodging the oath for executors/administrators with the probate registry and obtaining the grant of probate/letters of administration

2. Post grant of probate/letters of administration

  • liaising with you as to the completion of the account closure forms for the assets within the estate and lodging these with the appropriate asset holders;
  • paying any outstanding liabilities;
  • paying legacies under the Will/intestacy (if applicable);
  • preparing and submitting statutory notice for creditors (if applicable);
  • producing full estate accounts, for your approval;
  • contacting the beneficiaries and providing interim and/or final distributions of the estate;
  • liaising with you throughout; and
  • Disbursing costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as probate fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf.

How long will this take

This is a very difficult question to answer as every administration is different. Generally, the more money or assets somebody has the longer it will take.

General

Please note the range of fees are an estimate based on the facts above and is entirely subject to and conditional upon the terms set out and agreed in our Client Care Letter which will be issued at the appropriate point in time. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case.