Get in touch
If you have any enquiries please fill out this contact form and one of our lawyers will be in touch.
Full Estate Administration
We can help you through this difficult process by not only obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf, but to distributing assets, managing liabilities, and handling tax obligations with HMRC, we provide expert assistance every step of the way.
Initial Fixed Fee Consultation
We offer an initial fixed-fee meeting for probate matters in the sum of £350 plus VAT. This consultation gives you the opportunity to meet with an experienced member of the team and understand your options. This meeting then allows us to provide you with our initial advice and help you feel confident in the next steps.
If you choose to instruct us following the meeting, the cost of this consultation will be deducted from the total fee.
How much does this service cost?
Your probate fee estimate will be provided after an initial consultation with your Lawyer. During this meeting, they will discuss the specifics of the estate and provide a tailored estimate based on the complexity of the estate and the services required.
We estimate our fees to typically be 1.5 – 4% of the value of the estate. VAT will be charged at 20% on top of this and information regarding likely disbursements is set out below.
We are unable to offer a fully accurate estimate until we have complete details of the estate. Once we have all the necessary information, we will provide you with a tailored fee.
The estimated figures provided above may change depending on the complexities involved. However, if we encounter any unexpected complications or complexities during the process that may affect the scope of work, we will inform you as soon as possible. We aim to ensure transparency, so you know exactly what to expect.
Should any additional fees be required due to unforeseen issues, we will provide you with a revised estimate and seek your approval before proceeding. Our goal is to keep you informed and ensure the process remains smooth and efficient.
Our charges are typically based on the time spent on the matter, although other factors will also be considered such as, the complexity of the matter, the importance and urgency of the matter to you; and the skill, effort, specialist knowledge and responsibility involved in dealing with the estate on your behalf.
Our hourly rates vary depending on the level of experience of the practitioner(s) assigned to your matter. Our hourly rates range from £170 – £410 plus VAT and are reviewed on an annual basis. The time spent will be charged in units of one-tenth of an hour.
To ensure the highest standard of service and compliance with all legal requirements, our probate specialist solicitors are supervised by an appropriate qualified practitioner. Nicola Weldon, Partner and Head of Department, will have overall supervision for the department.
We anticipate that estates within this range will be dealt with within 12 months, though the timeline may vary depending on factors beyond our control.
We will, however, make every possible effort to ensure that it is completed as soon as is reasonably practicable and to keep you updated throughout the process.
Probate can become more complex due to differing factors, such as:
- Large estates with a wide range of assets, such as investments, stocks and shares.
- The number of bank accounts and building societies
- Business interests or assets.
- Agricultural assets or elements.
- Whether there is a Will or not
- Foreign assets or foreign Will and corresponding with overseas lawyers.
- Minor or vulnerable beneficiaries.
- Inclusion of any Trusts
- Debts and liabilities
- Number of beneficiaries and if they need to be located
- Whether a full HMRC Inheritance Tax Account is required
- Additional tax implications including Income Tax, Administration tax or Capital Gains.
Additional Services
The following services are not included within our full estate administration. However, we may be able to assist through specialist teams within the firm or trusted professional contacts. Additional fees will apply, and we will discuss these with you before any work is undertaken:
- Sale or transfer of property, including conveyancing.
- Ongoing trust administration.
- Deeds of Variation.
- Disputed estates, Will challenges and contentious probate matters.
- Claims against the estate.
- Beneficiary tracing services.
- Overseas assets and foreign probate matters.
- Business, agricultural or commercial assets requiring specialist advice.
- Specialist tax advice, including Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax and Trust Tax matters.
- Beneficiaries’ personal tax affairs.
- Insolvent estates.
- Court applications or proceedings.
- Property clearance, maintenance and asset management.
- Independent financial or investment advice.
- Professional valuations and other third-party services.
Where any of these services are required, we will be happy to discuss the options available and provide details of any additional costs before proceeding.
Potential Disbursements:
VAT will be charged at 20% on top of our fees and information regarding likely disbursements is set out below.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of disbursements, where possible, on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
- Probate court fee of £526 or estates with a value exceeding £5,000 (+ £2 each per office copy)
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 + VAT per beneficiary)
- Land Registry office copies £7 + VAT
- Advertisements in The London Gazette and a Local Newspaper – to protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors are approximately £250 + VAT depending on the newspaper.
Other costs
- Onboarding fee – £35+VAT
As part of our fee
- Initial Advice and Guidance: Once instructed, an experienced probate practitioner will guide you through the process and explain your responsibilities as an Executor or Administrator. We will discuss the information and documentation required, answer any initial questions, and provide a clear overview of the steps involved. Where a Will is available, we will review it to confirm its validity and ensure it complies with the relevant legal requirements. We will identify the legally appointed Executors or, where there is no valid Will, establish who is entitled to act as Administrator. We will also identify the beneficiaries of the estate.
- Estate Valuation: We will assist in gathering information about the estate’s assets and liabilities. This may include obtaining valuations for property, investments, bank accounts and personal possessions, together with confirming any outstanding debts. Accurate valuations are essential for both probate and tax purposes.
- Notifying Relevant Organisations: We will contact and correspond with the relevant institutions and organisations, including banks, building societies, insurance companies, investment providers and government departments, to notify them of the death and obtain the information required to administer the estate.
- Inheritance Tax Reporting: We will assess whether Inheritance Tax is payable, calculate any tax due and prepare the necessary forms for submission to HMRC. If tax is payable before the application can be submitted, we will guide you through the payment process.
- Probate Application: Once all required information has been gathered and any tax reporting completed, we will prepare and submit the probate application to the Probate Registry.
- Grant of Probate Issued: The Probate Registry will review the application and, if everything is in order, issue the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration where there is no valid Will). We will monitor progress and deal with any queries raised during the application process.
- Collecting Estate Assets and Settling Liabilities: Following receipt of the Grant, we will collect in the estate assets and ensure any outstanding debts, liabilities or claims against the estate are dealt with appropriately. This may include settling funeral expenses, credit cards, utility bills and other liabilities.
- Preparing Estate Accounts: We will prepare detailed estate accounts showing all assets, liabilities, income, expenses and any distributions made during the administration. These accounts provide a clear record of the administration of the estate.
- Distributing the Estate: Once all liabilities have been settled and the administration is complete, we will distribute the estate to the beneficiaries in accordance with the Will or, where there is no Will, the rules of intestacy.
- Ongoing Support and Communication: Throughout the administration, we will provide regular updates and keep you informed of progress, ensuring you have clear guidance and support at every stage of the process.
Ellisons is a trading name of Ellisons Legal LLP. Ellisons Legal LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 8001031) | © Ellisons