Fees & Legal Costs

Estates

Application for Grant Only

No Inheritance Tax to Pay

Payment of fees are due on appointment.
Our fees:

• Fixed Fee £800.00 + VAT*

Disbursements that are payable in addition to our fee:

• Court Fee £300.00 payable to HMCTS
• Office Copy of Grant £1.50 each copy

In order to complete an application, we will require valuations of the deceased’s assets and liabilities at the date of death.
Our work will include the completion of the IHT205 form and any additional statements for signing by the Executor(s)/Administrator(s) and submitting this along with the original Will to the Probate Registry.
If any additional cost were to arise, we would contact the Executor/Administrator before progressing.
*All charges that are subject to VAT will be charged at the current rate of 20%.
From the initial instruction to receiving the Grant, the anticipated time is around 16 to 18 weeks. Some applications can be completed online, which does speed up the process.

Application for Grant Only

Taxable Estate

Payment of fees are due on appointment.
Our fee:

• Fixed Fee £2,000.00 + VAT*

Disbursements that are payable in addition to our fee:

• Court Fee £300.00
• Office Copy of Grant £1.50 each copy

In order to complete an application, we will require valuations of the deceased’s assets and liabilities at the date of death.
Our work will include the completion of the IHT400 form and relevant accompanying schedules for signing by the Executor(s)/Administrator(s).
We will submit the IHT400 to HM Revenue & Customs together with the payment of Inheritance Tax. HMRC will return a receipt to us to confirm that the Inheritance Tax has been paid. This form is submitted to the Probate Registry, along with the original Will where applicable.
When we receive the Grant, we will pass this on to you to enable you to pay any liabilities, retrieve assets and make the final distribution of the estate.
If any additional cost were to arise, we would contact the Executor/Administrator before progressing.
*All charges that are subject to VAT will be charged at the current rate of 20%.
From the initial instruction to receiving the Grant, the anticipated time is around 16 to 18 weeks.

Estate Management

Our work will include applying for the Grant, collecting and distributing the assets and paying any liabilities for the estate.

Hourly Rates

The current hourly rates are set out below. We will add VAT to these at the rate that applies when the work is done. At present VAT is 20%. Our VAT registration number is 236153914.

• Sole Practitioner: £250.00 per hour [£25.00 per unit]
• Probate / Conveyancing Executive: £210.00 per hour [£21.00 per unit]
• Paralegal: £190.00 per hour [£19.00 per unit]
• Legal Assistants: £100.00 per hour [£10.00 per unit]

The hourly rate includes overheads and support staff.
Time is charged in 6-minute units. Each unit is charged at the rates specified above. The rates quoted are reviewed periodically to take into account increases in costs.
Normally the rates are reviewed with effect from 1 April each year. If a review is carried out before this matter has been concluded, we will inform you of any variation in the rate before it takes effect.
More complicated correspondence and telephone calls will be charged at the hourly rate for the actual time they take.
If your instructions mean we have to work outside normal office hours, we may increase the level of the hourly rate. We will notify you in writing of any increases.

Disbursements and Additional Charges

Disbursements are sums of money which will need to be paid to a third party on your behalf in connection with your matter. Disbursements are payable in addition to costs quoted. VAT will also be applied, at the applicable rate, to disbursements where relevant.
Frequently, it is difficult to estimate how many hours of work will be necessary to complete the matter. Any estimates provided as to fees are only a guide and must not be taken as a firm quotation, unless we have confirmed in writing that we shall charge a fixed fee.
We shall review the original estimate regularly and provide you with a revised estimate where applicable, giving the reasons for any changes made.
Alternatively, you may wish to set a limit on the amount of costs which can be incurred by us at this or any subsequent stage.
Visits away from the office are charged at £50.00 per visit. Mileage is also charged to home visits at 45 pence per mile. We will add VAT to these charges at the rate that applies when the work is done.
An Executors Handling Fee may be charged on matters where the firm have been appointed as executor in the administration of an estate. This will be charged at 1.5% of the estate value, excluding any property, and 0.75% of the property value, in addition to the hourly rate charges for work where applicable.

Conveyancing

Residential Purchase of a Property

Freehold Tenure

We cover all the work required to complete the purchase of your property.
This includes:

• Taking instructions
• Preparing the contract and supporting documentation
• Carrying out searches
• Raising the necessary enquiries to the seller’s solicitor
• Advising on joint ownership
• Arranging for the Contract and Transfer to be signed
• Agreeing a completion date
• Preparing the Property Report
• Exchange of Contracts
• Carrying out pre-completion searches
• Requesting purchase monies from your lender and yourself
• Completing the purchase
• Dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty
• HM Land Registry registration

Our fees range from £800.00 + VAT* to £1,200.00 + VAT* and disbursements, depending on the value of the property.
*All charges that are subject to VAT will be charged at the current rate of 20%.

Disbursements that are payable in addition to our fee:

• Search package
• Identification checks / Anti Money Laundering checks
• Stamp Duty
• HM Registry search
• Bank transfer fees
• Land Registration fee

Our fees will be set out to you at the onset of the purchase within our Client Care Pack and Terms and Conditions.
If any additional costs arise, we will inform you.
On all purchase matters we require an initial payment of £300.00.

Timescales

A purchase of a residential freehold property can take between 12 and 16 weeks from receipt of contract documentation.
This does depend on many factors, such as whether there is a chain. Where there is a chain, the pace is likely to be dictated by the slowest party.
Residential leasehold purchases are dealt with on an individual basis and if we have capacity at the time. Prices are available on request.

Residential Sale of a Property

Freehold Tenure

Our fixed fees range from £750.00 + VAT* to £1,200.00 + VAT* and disbursements, depending on the value of the property.
We deal with:

• Taking instructions
• Preparing the contract and supporting documentation
• Replying to any enquiries raised by the buyer’s solicitor
• Obtaining a mortgage redemption figure, if applicable
• Arranging for the Transfer and Contract to be signed
• Agreeing a completion date
• Exchange of Contracts
• Obtaining an up-to-date redemption figure and estate agent invoices, if applicable

Disbursements that are payable in addition to our fee:

• Title Register and Title Plan, and any associated Transfers, Conveyances and/or Leases
• Identification checks / Anti Money Laundering checks
• Bank transfer fees

If any additional costs arise, we will inform you.
An initial payment of £150.00 is payable on account at point of instruction.
For leasehold residential property sales, we will deal with these matters on an individual basis and if we have capacity at the time. Prices are available on request.

Timescales

A residential property transaction can take between 12 and 16 weeks from receipt of contract documentation.
This does depend on many factors, such as whether there is a chain. Where there is a chain, the pace is likely to be dictated by the slowest party.

Who Will Be Acting for Me?

Jannina Beckett

Sole Practitioner Solicitor
A wealth of experience of over 22 years on Estates matters, Elderly Client / Private Client matters, Court of Protection applications and Conveyancing.

Rebecca Whittle

Private Client Executive
A wealth of experience of over 18 years on Estates matters, Elderly Client / Private Client matters and Court of Protection applications.

Michael Grant

ACILEX Paralegal
A wealth of experience of over 18 years in Will writing and preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney.