Pricing - Wills and Probate
Private Client Costs
March 2024
Our Fee Earner rates are:
Hourly Rate
| Partner | £270.00 per hour + 20% VAT |
| Solicitor | £260.00 per hour + 20% VAT |
| Legal Executive | £260.00 per hour + 20% VAT |
| Caseworker/Paralegal | £240.00 per hour + 20% VAT |
| Trainee | £195.00 per hour + 20% VAT |
Wills
| Hourly Rate | £240.00 - £270.00 + 20% VAT |
| A simple single Will | £250.00 + 20% VAT (Total £300.00) |
| Simple Mirror Wills | £475.00 + 20% VAT (Total £570.00) |
| Complex Wills | £hourly rate for work undertaken + 20% VAT |
| A simple single Codicil | £220.00 + 20% VAT (total £264.00) |
| Two simple Codicils | £250.00 + 20% VAT (total £300.00) |
| Living Will/ Advance Directive | £220.00 + 20% VAT (total £264.00) |
Please note: Any complex Wills and Codicils or Wills including a Trust/s, a large number of legacies/gifts or result in a number of redrafts, will be charged at the hourly rate of £240/£270 + 20% VAT (total £288/£324 per hour) and an estimate of costs will be provided before any work is undertaken.
A 10% reduction on our fees will be offered as a package deal where Wills and LPAs are prepared at the same time.
Estates – Grant of Probate and Estate Administration
Grant of Probate only - between £850 - £1,550 + 20% VAT (total £1,020 - £1,860 inc 20% VAT)
Our total fees will be dependent on the complexity of the Application, the amount of information provided by the Personal Representatives and whether we are required to make enquiries of the relevant institutions to obtain date of death valuations.
Anticipated Additional Disbursements
| Court Fees | currently £273.00 plus £1.50 per sealed copy |
| Swear Fees (if necessary) | £5.00 plus £2.00 per additional document |
| Bankruptcy Search fees | £2.00 + 20% VAT (relating to the deceased and each beneficiary per distribution) |
| Land Registry Copy documents | £3.00 + 20% VAT (if applicable) |
Administration of an Estate - £ between 1.5% and 2% of the gross value of the Estate + 20% VAT.
Please note: A provisional estimate of costs will be provided initially, with a revised estimate provided once the Estate assets are known.
Variation of a Will
A simple Deed of Variation - £350.00 + 20% VAT (total £420.00)
Please note: Any complex Variations will be charged at the hourly rate of £240/£270 + 20% VAT (total £288/£324 per hour).
Lasting Powers of Attorney
The preparation of Lasting Power of Attorney (“LPA”) for:
- Property and Finance
- Health and Welfare
| One type of LPA for one person | £300.00 + 20% VAT (total £360.00) |
| Both types of LPA for one person | £500.00 + 20% VAT (total £600.00) |
| One type of LPA for two people | £450.00 + 20% VAT (total £540.00) |
| Both types of LPA for two people | £650.00 + 20% VAT (total £780.00) |
Anticipated Additional Disbursements
| Court Registration fee | £82.00 per LPA registered |
| Medical Capacity Assessment fee. Charged by the relevant medical professional | Variable (if applicable) |
A 10% reduction on our fees will be offered as a package deal where Wills and LPAs are prepared at the same time.
Enduring Powers of Attorney
Please note: A new Enduring Power of Attorney (“EPA”) cannot be created following a change in legislation in 2007. An existing EPA cannot be amended.
The registration of an existing EPA at the Office of the Public Guardian - £500.00 + 20% VAT (total £600.00)
Anticipated Additional Disbursements
| Court Registration fee | £82.00 |
| Medical Capacity Assessment fee. Charged by the relevant medical professional | Variable (if applicable) |
General Power of Attorney
The preparation of a General Power of Attorney - £240/£270 + 20% VAT (total £288/£324)
Deputy Application
The Application for a Deputy Order – Costs fixed by the Court
Up to £950.00 + 20% VAT (up to total £1,140.00)
Anticipated Additional Disbursements
| Medical Capacity Assessment fee. Payable to the relevant medical professional | between £50.00 – £300.00 |
| Court Application fee | £385.00 |
| Court Appointment of Deputy fee | £125.00 |
| Legal fees | up to £950.00 + 20% VAT (up to total £1,140) (to be authorised by the Court) |
| Court Supervision fee | between £0.00 – £800.00 (per year) |
| Court Security Bond | between £200.00 – £800.00 (to be confirmed by the Court). |
This Firm anticipates that all expected costs have been included in the fees detailed.
What is Included
Wills
Taking instructions, providing any ancillary advice regarding potential Tax consequences, and the draft document for approval.
Estates – Grant of Probate and Estate Administration
Grant of Probate
Taking instructions, completing the relevant Inheritance Tax Return, drafting the Legal Statement, settling the Inheritance Tax position (if applicable) and making the Application to the Probate Registry.
Estate Administration
Taking instructions, obtaining the date of death figures, completing the relevant Inheritance Tax Return, drafting the Legal Statement, making the Application to the Probate Registry, encashing the assets, distributing the Estate, providing Estate Accounts and settling the Tax position for Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax for the administration period (if applicable).
Variation of a Will
Taking instructions, providing any ancillary advice regarding potential Tax consequences, providing the draft document for approval and registration at the Court (if applicable).
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Taking instructions, providing the draft document(s) for approval, obtaining or providing the Certificate Provider’s Statement, service of the relevant Notices and registration of the Power(s) at the Office of the Public Guardian.
Enduring Powers of Attorney
Taking instructions, assessing capacity or arranging for the assessment of capacity, service of the relevant Notices and registration of the Power at the Office of the Public Guardian.
General Power of Attorney
Taking instructions, undertaking the relevant due diligence, and preparing the Power.
Deputy Application
Taking instructions, drafting the Application forms, obtaining the Medical Assessment, service of the relevant Notices, and making the Application to the Court.
Timescales
Wills
You can expect to receive the draft Will / Codicil / Living Will/Advance Directive for approval within 2 to 3 working days following instructions.
Estates – Grant of Probate and Estate Administration
The application for the Grant can only be made once the relevant information has been received relating to the Estate assets and debts, and once the Inheritance Tax position is cleared with HM Revenue and Customs. This can range from 1 month to 6 months depending on the nature of the Estate.
The time frame for obtaining a Grant of Representation is currently a minimum of 8 weeks for an Estate with no IHT and a minimum of 12 weeks for an Estate with IHT to pay, following the application to the Probate Registry.
Variation of a Will
You can expect to receive the draft Deed for approval between 3 - 5 working days following instructions.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
You can expect to receive the draft LPA(s) for approval between 3 – 5 working days following instructions.
The usual time frame for receipt of the registered LPA following Application to register at the Office of the Public Guardian is currently between 4 and 8 months.
Enduring Powers of Attorney
The Application for registering the EPA can only be made once the relevant information has been received relating to the service of Notices upon interested parties and those Notices have been served.
The usual time frame for receipt of the registered EPA following Application to register at the Office of the Public Guardian is currently between 4 and 8 months.
General Power of Attorney
You can expect to receive the draft Power for approval between 3 – 5 working days following instructions.
Deputy Application
The Application for the Deputy Order can only be made once the Medical Capacity Assessment has been received and the relevant information relating to the Applicant’s assets and debts has been obtained.
Once the Application is with the Court of Protection, the statutory time frames will be applied pending the Court authorising, or otherwise, the Court Order.
Please note: The timescales provided are only a guide, and we will do everything to complete your instructions in the timescales given. The Courts do not provide definitive timescales, and, as such, we can only provide approximate timescales.
Key Dates of note:
- Inheritance Tax needs to be paid within 6 months of death, if it is a chargeable Estate
- Where Statutory Advertisements are lodged, there is a 2 month notice period from the date of the Notice
- Where no Indemnity for Early Distribution is entered into there is a 6 month notice period for distribution from Estates, calculated from the date of the Grant of Representation