Costs Information for Probate Work in Relation to Uncontested Cases

Applying for the grant of probate, collecting and distributing the assets

We anticipate this will take between 25 and 30 hours work at £250.00 per hour. Total costs estimated at -£5,500.00 – £7,500.00 (plus 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.
  • The estate is wholly within the UK.
  • There is no more than 1 property.
  • There are no more than 3 bank or building society accounts.
  • There are no other intangible 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.
  • There are no debts other than funeral expenses.

Disbursements not included in this fee:-

  • Probate application fee of £300.00, plus additional fees for extra copies of probate, if required.
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 plus VAT per beneficiary).
  • Circa £83.40 – £93.60 Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
  • Circa £127.30 Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

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.

Potential further 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, there will be a fee.
  • Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
  • Accountant’s fees for tax returns, if required.
  • Fees for dealing with the sale of property in the estate; or for transferring equity; or dealing with assets or other property related matters and such like will be charged at the Firm’s then prevailing rates.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6 – 12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 8 – 16 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 3 – 8 months.  Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 1 month.

Our Private Client Group consists of a Senior Associate Solicitor. Details of their experience can be easily accessed by clicking on the links below.