PROBATE
SRA TRANSPARENCY INFORMATION
SRA Transparency Rules
Legal Practices in England and Wales such as Woolliscrofts Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Under the SRA Transparency Rules all such legal practices are required to publish information on prices and services in respect of specific types of legal work undertaken by them – including Probate work.
Probate Fees and Timescales
After the loss of a loved one, dealing with their estate can feel overwhelming at what is already a difficult time.
At Woolliscrofts, we understand that every family and every estate is different. Our experienced Probate team is here to guide you through the process, explain your options clearly and provide practical support every step of the way.
Whether you simply need help obtaining a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration or would like us to deal with the full administration of the estate on your behalf, we can provide as much or as little assistance as you require.
The information below is intended to give you an indication of our fees and the services we provide. If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances, please contact us and we will be happy to provide a tailored estimate.
Our Probate Services
We offer two levels of Probate service:
Grant Only Service
We obtain the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration on your behalf, and you deal with the administration of the estate yourself.
Estate Administration
We deal with the administration of the estate on your behalf, including obtaining the Grant, collecting assets, settling liabilities and distributing the estate to beneficiaries.
Grant Only Service
If you would like us to obtain the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration and you will deal with the administration of the estate yourself, we offer the following fixed fees:
Non-Taxable Estates
- Legal fees: £900 plus VAT (£1,080 including VAT)
- Probate Registry application fee: £300
Total cost: £1,380 including VAT and the Probate Registry application fee.
Estates Requiring a Full Inheritance Tax Return
- Legal fees: £1,800 plus VAT (£2,160 including VAT)
- Probate Registry application fee: £300
Total cost: £2,460 including VAT and the Probate Registry application fee.
Please note: This fixed fee includes the preparation of the Inheritance Tax return based on information and valuations provided by you. It does not include obtaining valuations or financial information from banks, investment providers or other third parties on your behalf.
These fixed fees apply to straightforward, uncontested matters where all information required to prepare the application and any Inheritance Tax return is provided by you.
What’s Included?
- Taking your instructions and advising you on the Probate process.
- Preparing the Probate application.
- Preparing the supporting legal documentation.
- Preparing the relevant Inheritance Tax return, where required.
- Submitting the application to HMRC, where required, and the Probate Registry.
- Dealing with routine correspondence relating to the application.
- Providing you with the Grant once it has been issued.
What’s Not Included?
- Administration of the estate.
- Collecting estate assets or settling liabilities.
- Preparing Estate Accounts.
- Distributing the estate to beneficiaries.
- Obtaining valuations of assets.
- Contacting banks, investment providers or other organisations to obtain financial information on your behalf.
- Selling or transferring property.
- Advice relating to disputed estates or claims against the estate.
Estate Administration
If you would like us to administer the estate on your behalf, our fees will depend on the complexity of the estate and the work involved.
Our fees for estate administration are usually charged on a time spent basis. The amount of work required will vary depending on factors such as the nature and value of the assets, whether Inheritance Tax is payable, the number of beneficiaries involved and whether any complications arise during the administration process.
The examples below are intended to provide an indication of the costs that may be involved. Every estate is different and we will provide you with a tailored estimate once we have received details of the estate.
Example 1 – Straightforward Estate
This example assumes:
- There is a valid Will.
- One residential property.
- Up to five bank or building society accounts.
- Up to three beneficiaries.
- No disputes between beneficiaries.
- No Inheritance Tax return required.
- No claims against the estate.
Estimated legal fees: £2,900 – £3,400 plus VAT.
Example 2 – Estate Requiring a Full Inheritance Tax Return
This example assumes:
- There is a valid Will.
- One residential property.
- Multiple bank accounts and investments.
- A full Inheritance Tax return is required.
- No disputes between beneficiaries.
- No claims against the estate.
Estimated legal fees: £4,300 – £4,900 plus VAT.
Example 3 – More Complex Estate
This example assumes:
- Multiple properties.
- A larger number of beneficiaries.
- A large investment portfolio with various financial institutions.
- Shareholdings, business interests or foreign assets.
- A significant amount of correspondence with third parties.
- Additional administration and investigation work.
Estimated legal fees: £7,000 plus VAT and above.
What’s Included?
Depending on the level of assistance required, our work may include:
- Initial advice to the Executors or Administrators.
- Identifying and valuing the assets and liabilities of the estate.
- Preparing the Probate application and obtaining the Grant.
- Collecting estate assets.
- Settling debts and liabilities.
- Corresponding with banks, financial institutions and other organisations.
- Preparing Estate Accounts.
- Distributing the estate to beneficiaries.
What Could Increase the Cost?
Costs are likely to be higher where:
- There is no valid Will.
- A full Inheritance Tax return is required.
- The estate includes multiple properties.
- The estate includes business interests, shareholdings or other complex assets.
- The estate includes foreign assets.
- There are numerous beneficiaries.
- Information about the estate is incomplete or difficult to obtain.
- Disputes or claims arise.
If additional work becomes necessary, we will discuss this with you and provide an updated estimate before carrying out that work.
Please note that our estate administration fees do not include conveyancing work in relation to the sale or transfer of property. If a property forms part of the estate and requires a sale or transfer, our Property Department will be happy to provide a separate estimate for that work.
Hourly Rates
In some cases, it may not be possible to provide a fixed fee or reliable estimate at the outset. This is usually because the estate is particularly complex or there are circumstances which make it difficult to predict the amount of work required.
Where appropriate, we may charge on a time spent basis. Our current hourly rates are:
- Solicitor: £260 plus VAT per hour
- Paralegal: £130 plus VAT per hour
Time is recorded in units of six minutes, and charges are based on the time spent dealing with your matter, including meetings, telephone calls, correspondence, reviewing documents, preparing applications and dealing with third parties.
Where work is charged on a time spent basis, we will provide you with an estimate of the likely costs at the outset and keep you updated if circumstances change.
Disbursements
Disbursements are payments made to third parties on your behalf and are charged in addition to our legal fees.
Typical disbursements may include:
- Probate Registry application fee: £300
- Additional copies of the Grant: £16 per copy
- Bankruptcy searches: £6 per person
- Official Copies of registered property titles: £7 per document
- Official title plans: £7 per plan
- Statutory notices under Section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925, if required.
- Asset searches, if required.
- Missing beneficiary or missing Will searches, if required.
- Property or asset valuation fees, if required.
The disbursements required will depend on the circumstances of the estate, and we will advise you of any anticipated costs at the outset of your matter.
Timescales
The time required to complete a Probate matter will depend on the complexity of the estate and the level of assistance required.
Once we have received all of the information needed to prepare a Probate application, the Probate Registry currently takes approximately 4–12 weeks to process most simple online applications, although this is outside our control and timescales may vary, especially when it is a paper application.
Where we are instructed to administer the estate on your behalf, a straightforward estate will typically take between 9 and 12 months to complete. More complex estates may take longer depending on the assets involved, whether property needs to be sold, whether Inheritance Tax is payable and the responsiveness of third parties.
Distribution of the Estate
Where Woolliscrofts is acting as Executor, we may not be able to distribute the estate immediately after obtaining the Grant.
Certain individuals may be entitled to bring a claim against an estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Such claims must generally be made within six months of the date on which the Grant is issued.
For this reason, we may need to delay making interim or final distributions to beneficiaries until the relevant limitation period has expired, or until we are satisfied that it is appropriate to make a distribution in the circumstances of the particular estate.
We will keep beneficiaries informed throughout the administration process and will make distributions as soon as it is appropriate to do so.
If you would like to discuss your circumstances or obtain a tailored estimate, please contact our Probate team who will be happy to help.
CALL OUR TEAM NOW ON 01782 204000
Alternatively send us a free no obligation enquiry by e-mail.
