Sparlings Solicitors - Our Charges - Probate

CHARGES - PROBATE (Uncontested)

Applying for the Grant, collecting and distributing the assets

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 anticipate this could take between 10 and 40 hours work at £225 to £395 per hour plus VAT (hourly rates vary depending on which fee earner handles the matter and the level of expertise required). Total legal charges are estimated at £2,250 to £15,800 plus VAT

We will handle the full process for you. This quote is for estates where:

• There is a valid will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 5 bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets
• There are up to 4 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

Disbursements are not included in this fee and are as follows:

• Probate application fee of £273 (in the event the Estate is worth over £5,000, no fee if the Estate is worth £5,000 or less
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary)
• Post in The London Gazette and local paper – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors, if requested by you – up to £250

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.

Lay Executors

In addition to the charges outlined above, where we are instructed by Lay Executors (i.e. the firm’s Partners are not Executors) the firm currently charges a limited value-added fee based upon the value of the Estate, of 1% of the value of the gross Estate and 0.5% of any property in the Estate.

Professional Executors

In cases where we are appointed as professional executors, either solely or with a client, we also charge a fee based upon the value of the estate in addition to the hourly charges set out above. This is known as the value element, the fee for which is calculated at 1 ½% of the value of the gross Estate and 0.75% of any property in the Estate. This additional fee reflects and recognises the increased risk to, and responsibilities placed upon, the firm associated with being appointed as an executor in our own right.

Potential additional costs

• If there is no Will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there are likely to be additional costs that could vary 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 of Probate are required, they will cost £1.50 per sealed copy.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 9 to 12 months. Typically, obtaining the Grant of Probate takes 3 to 6 months. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 3 to 6 months. Liabilities must be settled e.g. the funeral account, any income tax due to the date of death. Once this has been done and all outstanding matters have been resolved, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2 to 4 weeks.