Wills and Estate Services

Our Wills and Estate includes Probate services and pricing is not as straightforward like some other professional services provided. However, we would try to give estimates as close as possible.

 

For details of applicable Disbursements, please see below.

 

Our costs may increase where there are more assets or beneficiaries involved or if there are other factors that might extend the time spent on the estate matters (see “Other Factors” sub-heading below).

 

Assuming there is no Inheritance Tax to pay and the short form Inheritance Tax account is required, our fees are likely to be £1,500 to £2,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

​

​​

Straight-forward estates with no Inheritance Tax (“IHT”) to pay

In general, where there is:

• a valid Will,

• no Inheritance Tax to pay (and a short form of the HMRC Inheritance Tax account is required),

• there are a few different assets (say up to 3 assets)

• and fewer than 3 beneficiaries

Our costs are likely to be in the region of £2,000 to £3,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

​

​

Estate with Inheritance Tax to pay

In general, where there is:

• a valid Will,

• up to 5 beneficiaries

• and up to 10 assets to deal with

• but there is Inheritance Tax to pay (and a full HMRC Inheritance Tax account is required)

We would estimate the costs to be in the region of £6,000 to £8,000 plus VAT and disbursements

​

​

Intestate Estate

Where there is no Will, the deceased is said to have died “Intestate”. An Intestate estate is generally more complex (and therefore sometimes more costly) to deal with. We therefore estimate that an estate with:

• no more than 3 assets

• and 3 beneficiaries,

• and no Inheritance Tax to pay (and where a short form of HMRC Inheritance Tax account is sufficient)

We would estimate the costs to be in the region of £3,000 to £4,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

​

​

Disbursement Costs

In addition to our legal fees, there will be a number of further disbursements, which the estate will incur in the course of the administration. We shall discuss with you which of the following costs will apply to your matter.

Costs which will be incurred in all estates:

• Probate Registry: application for grant: £300.00 + £1.00 per sealed office copy

• Oath swear fee: £10.00 per Executor or £7.00 per Administrator + £5.00 for each codicil where applicable

​

​

Estimated total costs on lowest values

• Grant only: £2,000 inc VAT (assuming 4 copies of grant required)

• Estate no IHT: £3,000 inc VAT (assuming 4 copies of grant required)

• Estate with IHT: £9,500 inc VAT (assuming 10 copies of grant required)

• Intestate estate: £4,500 inc VAT (assuming 4 copies of grand required)

​

Please note: any inheritance tax (IHT) due is payable directly to HMRC; will be due in addition to the costs above and is not included in our estimates of costs.

Further Disbursement costs which will be incurred in some, but not all estates:

• Land Registry Search: (to confirm property ownership): £3.00 - £8.00;

• Section 27 Trustee Act Notices: Approximately £250.00 (newspapers vary);

• Bankruptcy searches: £3.00 per beneficiary;

• Certainty – National Wills Register search: £90.00 plus VAT.

​

​

Other Factors

There are a number of factors which can complicate the administration of an estate and which can make it more time consuming to deal with, these include:

• Large numbers of beneficiaries

• Large numbers of legacies

• Large share portfolios

• Disagreement or protracted correspondence between parties

• Executors or beneficiaries who require a high level of support or input from us

• Charity beneficiaries who require a higher level or information for their own records

• Queries raised by HMRC

• DWP claims against the estate

• Assets outside of the UK or unusual assets

• Missing beneficiaries

• Properties which are difficult to sell or deal with in some way

• Large numbers of lifetime gifts or other factors which will need to be accounted for to HMRC

• Any kind of dispute in relation to the Will

​

This list is not exhaustive and is designed to give you an idea of the sorts of factors that can increase the time and costs involved in administering an estate.

​