Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

We anticipate this will take between 5 and 9 hours work at £375 (+£70 VAT) per hour. Total costs estimated at £1875-3375 (+£375 - £630 VAT).

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is 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.

We will handle the full process for you. This quote is for estates where:

• •  There is a valid will
• •  There is no more than one property
• •  There are no more than 4 bank or building society accounts
• •  There are no other intangible assets e.g. shares or foreign assets
• •  There are 1-3 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

Disbursements NOT included in this fee:

• •  Probate application fee of 300
• •  Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£6 per beneficiary)
• •  Approx £98 + £19.6 VAT Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. This is often not needed.
• •  Approx £134 + £26.8 VAT Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims. This is often not needed

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle (but do not fund) the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Potential additional costs

• •  If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is 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.
• •  If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £1.50p each (1 per asset usually).
• •  Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
• •  Settling the deceased’s income tax affairs

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6-9 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 8-16 weeks from receipt of all relevant papers. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 3-6 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 3-4 weeks although it will take longer if a property is involved.

As part of our fee we will

• •  Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate 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
• •  Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
• •  Draft a legal statement for you to sign
• •  Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• •  Obtain the Probate and send a copy to you
• •  Collect and distribute all assets in the estate