How Much Does Probate Cost?

Below you will find a breakdown of our fees and what our charges include. For further information please do not hesitate to contact us for a confidential conversation with one of our lawyers.

Contact us

Contact

https://law.wpstaging.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Jan-Bw-white-background.jpg

Jan Atkinson Partner
Wills, Probate and Disputed Estates

    • “A full service team which punches above its weight – dealing with a range of UK and international clients, it is a great option for those who would prefer a non-central London firm.”

    • “Jan is excellent with clients. She approaches complex cases with confidence and skill”

    This range of probate fees apply where the estate administration is relatively straightforward and non- contentious, the deceased was domiciled in the UK and all estate assets are in England and Wales. If we are the executors and there is no immediate family to deal with practical matters, there may be additional charges due to the additional work involved.

    Our probate solicitor charges are based entirely on time spent working on the matter which is charged at the hourly rate of the fee earner/s working on the file. We do not charge a percentage of the value of the estate in addition to our standard charges.

    An initial fee estimate is given as early as possible and this is confirmed when full information about the estate assets, beneficiaries and relevant documents have been considered.

    If it appears at any point that additional work which was not originally anticipated is likely to be necessary, we will confirm this in writing and provide an updated fee estimate before starting any work. Additional costs could be payable on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off document is required), or at our hourly rates if more extensive work is needed.

    Our Fees

    Estate not subject to Inheritance TaxOur approximate fee
    Estate Value up to £5,000£1,250 plus VAT
    Estate value over £5,000 up to £1million£5,000-£10,000 plus VAT
    Estate value over £1million but no IHT due to spouse or charity exemption£8,000-£12,000 plus VAT

     

    Estate Subject to Inheritance Tax
    Our approximate fee
    If the estate administration is straight forward (for example there is a property and a bank account) then the charges will be towards the lower end of the scale. However, if the estate administration is more complicated (for example there are several share holdings, several bank accounts and a property) then the charges will be towards the higher end of the scale. £10,000 - £15,000 plus VAT

    To find out whether the estate is subject to inheritance tax please visit www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax

    What do our probate charges include?

    • Obtaining your detailed instructions.
    • Obtaining from you all deeds and documentation relating to the affairs of the deceased and reviewing.
    • Registering the death with the asset holders and obtaining confirmation of date of death valuations.
    • Checking that we have correct addresses for the beneficiaries.
    • Obtaining any formal valuations which may be required by HMRC.
    • Completing the Inheritance Tax account, and obtaining your approval.
    • Preparing the personal representative’s application for probate and arrange for it to be signed by you.
    • Obtaining from you the Probate fee and obtaining any necessary cheque for Inheritance Tax before submitting any Inheritance Tax to HMRC with the Inheritance Tax account. Alternatively, making a request for any Inheritance Tax to be paid direct to HMRC through the Direct Payment Scheme.
    • When the Inheritance Tax receipt account is returned from the Capital Taxes Office, submitting the application for the Grant of Representation.
    • When the Grant of Representation has been issued, registering it with all asset holders together with completed withdrawal forms to secure the release of estate monies.
    • Placing Trustee Act Notices in the appropriate publications, where required.
    • Ensuring all the deceased’s accounts are closed or transferred, as appropriate.
    • Arranging for the sale or transfer of any of the deceased’s shares.
    • Discharging all liabilities of the estate for which you have not taken responsibility.
    • Paying all pecuniary legacies and making interim distributions.
    • Finalising the deceased’s tax affairs.
    • If appropriate register the estate with HMRC as a complex estate.
    • Preparing draft estate accounts and obtaining your approval to these.
    • Obtaining clearance from the Capital Taxes Office that all tax has been paid and from HMRC to confirm that all Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax for the deceased and the administration period has been paid.
    • Making final payments to the beneficiaries from the estate.

    Potential Additional Costs
    Our charges do not include payment of disbursements. Disbursements are costs relating to your matter that are payable to third parties. The likely disbursements are as follows:

    1. £300 probate application fee plus an additional £1.50 per sealed copy of the Grant of Representation required.
    2. Approximately £250 fee for posting ‘Section 27 Trustee Act 1925’ notices which protect the personal representatives from unknown creditors. This is not compulsory.
    3. £2 per beneficiary bankruptcy search where necessary.
    4. Surveyors fees to value property, where necessary.
    5. Genealogists to trace missing beneficiaries, where necessary.

    Our charges also do not include dealing with the sale of any property on behalf of the estate as this will be dealt with by our conveyancing department.

    Rise in Probate Application Fee

    From May 2024 the probate application fee will rise from £273 to £300. It is the application for this Grant of Probate that attracts the fee. Only estates worth over £5,000 must pay this fee. The cost is recoverable from the estate, rather than a personal cost to the personal representatives.

    Much of the probate application process is now digitised and many argued that this should result in a reduction in costs, not an increase.

    How long does the process take?

    We estimate that it will usually take approximately 12 weeks to obtain a Grant of Representation and thereafter approximately a further 3-6 months to deal with the estate and to finalise all other matters, save perhaps for finalisation of tax returns. This may take rather longer as we are of course bound to an extent by tax years. This is an estimate based upon the assumption that third parties respond swiftly to requests for information and that there are no unexpected complications. If any such problems do arise, we will keep you fully informed. If they are likely to increase the amount of time we spend dealing with your file, we will notify you in writing and let you have a new costs estimate.

    There is currently a significant wait for a Grant of Probate to be issued. The Ministry of Justice has promised that the additional income will go towards the ‘continued improvement of service delivery’. Whether this will bring waiting times down to a reasonable level remains to be seen, but the intention is to recruit more staff in order to increase the applications that can be processed. This would certainly be welcome as the current delays can have an impact on the efficiency of administering an estate.

    Read our article What is Probate.

    Speak to a Wills & Probate Solicitor today

    Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you

      • [honeypot quickcontact-mobile id:quickcontact-mobile]






      Wills and Probate News and InsightsVIEW ALL

      1. international map and money
        9.6.2023

        High profile probate dispute of Vladimir Scherbakov

        Probate dispute of Russian billionaire’s missing will You’d imagine a wealthy businessman with assets in different countries would...

        Read more
      2. lady holding a cup
        22.5.2023

        Case Law: Dementia-Induced Mild Cognitive Impairment

        Introduction Dementia is a harsh reality for increasing numbers of families. Sadly, it means the disputed wills solicitors at Osbornes...

        Read more
      3. eu flags
        26.4.2023

        German Court Rules on EU Succession Regulation

        Succession laws vary from country to country which historically made the administration of cross-border estates potentially complex. Since 17 August 2015, the...

        Read more
      4. couple holding hands
        16.3.2023

        Are trusts protected from divorce?

        Can trusts protect an inheritance from your spouse? A trust is a separate legal entity. Neither spouse owns its assets....

        Read more
      5. the moon
        1.3.2023

        How to prevent someone contesting a will

        It is fairly rare in my experience for a parent to write a child out of their will but that...

        Read more
      6. primrose hill london
        8.2.2023

        Gifting Property to Children

        Can I gift property to my children? Gifting a property to your adult children is a relatively complex transaction but...

        Read more
      7. house in regents park london
        15.11.2022

        Contentious Probate Case Studies

        Contentious probate involving business assets Our contentious probate solicitors act for the defendants to a claim issued to pronounce in...

        Read more
      8. last will and testament disputes
        27.10.2022

        Contesting A Will Case Studies

        Will dispute on grounds of lack of capacity Our contesting a will solicitors acted for the claimants, the adult daughters...

        Read more
      9. Closeup of a hand signing
        2.8.2022

        Do you need to register your trust?

        The Trust Register was introduced in 2017 as part of anti-money laundering regulations. Previously, only trusts with a UK tax liability...

        Read more
      10. Businessman and Male lawyer or judge consult having team meeting with client, Law and Legal services concept
        19.7.2022

        Beware of appointing your children as executors

        Avoiding Family Conflicts in Estate Administration Where tensions exist between family members, making your children the executors of your will...

        Read more
      11. money in different currencies
        19.1.2022

        Is Jersey part of the UK for probate...

        Partington v Rossiter If you own assets in more than one country, it’s important to make a robust Will...

        Read more
      12. older man on a bench
        1.1.2022

        How to Divide Assets in a Blended Family

        In this article we look a scenario for someone who is making a will where they are married with children...

        Read more
      13. Elderly woman hold smartphone feels disappointed by received bad news
        18.11.2021

        Deputy Disputes

        Disputes between a deputy and family Disputes between a deputy and the family of the individual concerned, can escalate and...

        Read more
      14. Couple having counselling
        18.11.2021

        Particularly sensitive issues around mental capacity

        Mental capacity, the right to sex and the carer’s risk of prosecution  Does everyone have the right to a...

        Read more
      15. Woman signing document
        25.10.2021

        Inheritance Claims CFA Success Fee Judgment

        The Court of Appeal upholds the recoverability of CFA success fees in 1975 Act claims. An individual who claims reasonable provision...

        Read more
      16. scrap metal
        20.10.2021

        Evidence Needed When Contesting A Will

        ‘Scrap King’ Multi-million Inheritance Dispute Confirms the High Standard of Evidence Needed to Contest a Will   Gary Goodwin, son of...

        Read more
      17. inheritance tax form
        20.10.2021

        Dispute Surrounding Interpretation of Will

        The ‘nil rate band’ offers an incentive to testators to make their will in a tax-efficient manner, maximising the amount...

        Read more
      18. fraud file
        20.10.2021

        Handwriting Expert Witness Concludes Will Forgery

        Successful contesting a will claim following testimony of handwriting expert It’s not unheard of for an individual to forge...

        Read more
      19. couple holding hands
        20.10.2021

        Understanding Testamentary Capacity

        What is testamentary capacity? Testamentary capacity refers to a person’s legal and mental ability to create a valid will....

        Read more
      20. toy houses on coins
        20.10.2021

        Unsuccessful Inheritance Act Claim

        The case of Shearer v Shearer The recent reported case of Shearer v Shearer highlights that adult children cannot expect...

        Read more
      21. houses in ireland
        13.9.2021

        Worldwide Probate Dispute

        Considerable wealth and assets all over the world The deceased died in Ireland leaving very considerable wealth and assets all...

        Read more
      22. new york
        13.9.2021

        Estate administration with a value of £6million

        International estate valued at £6m In this international probate case, we are acting for the executors in an estate administration...

        Read more
      23. train in india
        13.9.2021

        International probate involving 17 properties

        International Estate Administration Osbornes Law represented the administrator of this international estate where the deceased was domiciled in India. Ongoing...

        Read more
      24. Uluru, Petermann, Australia
        13.9.2021

        Complex Probate Involving 4 Wills: Case Study

        Complex Probate Involving Four Separate Wills Introduction to the Case The case study relates to complex probate involving four separate...

        Read more

      VIEW ALL