Probate

Probate Rates

A guide to our costs for providing Probate services

We work with our clients to provide the best service for them to suit their individual needs.

In some cases we can provide a fixed fee service for the work in particular where we are providing the Grant only service.

Full estate service

We can offer a full estate service where we will handle the full process for you.  This is known as assisting you with the administration of the estate.

This includes the following:

  • Establishing the value of and dealing with assets such as building society accounts, bank accounts, investment portfolios and shares
  • Establishing the value and dealing with liabilities
  • Completing the relevant tax documentation
  • Preparing the oath and associated documents for the application for the Grant
  • Assisting you with dealing with valuing the property, please note a separate conveyancing fee will be provided for the sale of a property
  • Communicating with the beneficiaries
  • Paying legacies
  • Managing risk for the Personal Representatives by dealing with Trustee Act Notices and bankruptcy searches
  • Ensuring inheritance is paid if due and all other taxes are cleared
  • Making interim payments
  • Preparing draft and final estate accounts

In respect of full estate administration we work on an hourly basis of £250 plus VAT.  We believe this is more straightforward for our clients as this means that you pay for the work actually done.  By way of guidance a small estate without any property and a single bank account can cost between £2,750 and £5,300 plus VAT.  After our initial meeting we will provide you with a cost estimate and keep you updated as the matter progresses.  Please note that larger more complex estate can cost between £10,000 and £35,000 depending upon the complexity.

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. Disbursements in addition to the hourly rate:

  • Probate application fee of £273.00 plus £1.50p per copy Will
  • Swearing of the oath if required – £5 plus £2 for additional documents
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary)
  • £100 (estimate) Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
  • £100 (estimate) Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

Potential additional costs

  • If a disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
  • If there are claims made against the estate this is likely to lead to additional costs.
  • If there are additional statements required for the Probate court such as affidavit of due execution
  • The cost of the conveyancing for dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

How long will this take?

It is difficult to predict how long estates can take to deal with as they are subject to various factors.  For example a house sale, taxation clearance. On average estates can take between 12 months and 48 months.

Grant only service

We are more than happy to discuss a fixed fee option with our clients in relation to obtaining the Grant only.  This is based upon the information provided by the client and depends on such matters as to whether there is tax to pay, transferable nil rate band available, the number and type of assets to be declared.

The fixed fee for estates with no tax to pay can range from £850 – £2,000. The fee is agreed in advance of clients deciding to instruct.

This service includes completion of the relevant tax documentation and the oath and other documents required to obtain the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration.

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. Disbursements in addition to the hourly rate:

  • Probate application fee of £273.00 plus £1.50 per copy Will

How long will this take?

For estates where there is an Excepted estate we aim to obtain the Grant within 4 weeks of the clients providing full instructions.  For estates where the full IHT400 account is necessary we aim to obtain the Grant within 8 weeks.  However please note this is subject to payment of IHT and any delays created by a backlog at HMRC or the Probate court.

Our Team

 

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Philippa Wright, Head of Wills and Probate

Philippa is a Solicitor and a full member of the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). She has extensive probate experience dealing with small and large estates both for cases of intestacy and on behalf of Executors.  One of the most complex matters involved dealing with an intestate estate which resulted in 35 beneficiaries.

 

Michaela McDonald, Solicitor

Michaela graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2015 with LLB and went on to study the LPC and LLM at the University of Law in Manchester.  Michaela joined Sedgwick Legal in 2014 prior to its merger with  McHale and Co in 2016, formally completing her training contract and qualifying in July 2019.

Michaela now specialises in Private Client matters including Wills, Probate, Powers of Attorney,  Court of Protection and advising the elderly on a range of issues.  She works across all of our offices in Altrincham, Heywood and Stockport and regularly visits clients in their home, care or hospital.