Estate Administration  Fees

Probate

 

How much does our service cost?

Please note VAT is currently 20% and this is correct at the time of posting.

 

Full estate administration – work to include the listed information below

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We can provide you with a detailed estimate once we have reviewed your instructions.

 

We carry out the work at hourly rates (see below), however we can provide the following as a guide:

 

A typical non taxable estate, with clearly identifiable beneficiaries would be in the region of £3,000 - £5,000, plus VAT and the disbursements listed below.

 

A taxable estate would be in the region of £4,000 - £7,000 plus VAT and the disbursements listed below.

 

Please see further information below regarding intestacy cases and any extra work that needs to be carried out.

 

If the matter is a high value or a difficult case then we reserve the right to add a value element as follows:-

 

Solicitor not acting as an Executor

Value of gross estate less residence                   1% plus VAT

Value of residence                                                  0.5% plus VAT

 

Solicitor acting as an Executor                                       

Value of gross estate less residence                   1.5% plus VAT

Value of residence                                                  0.75% plus VAT

 

These charges would be notified to you in writing prior to them being applied to your account with us.

 

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs that need to be paid in relation to the estate administration that do not form part of our fees. They are costs paid to third parties and are typically the following:

• AML (Anti Money Laundering check) fee – £30 plus VAT (£6) total £36

 

• Probate Registry fee of £300 (no VAT)*

 

• Copy of the grant of probate £1.50 (no VAT)*

 

• Statutory notice fee – this depends on the local newspaper however the charges are generally between £200 - £300 for the London Gazette and a local newspaper.

 

• Landmark search fee for unclaimed assets – approximately £250

 

• Land Registry search of the official register £3 (no VAT) and plan £3 (no VAT)

 

• Bankruptcy fee - £2 (no VAT)

 

• Property valuations – estate agents or RICS valuers fees – these depend on the organisation instructed, however a RICS valuation is typically between £200 - £300 plus VAT.

 

• Genealogists fee – we cannot provide an estimate for these charges, however we will obtain an estimate before commending instructing any firms

 

• Property clearance fees – as above we cannot provide an estimate for these charges.

Those items listed with * will all need to be paid in relation to our grant only service

 

Inheritance Tax

Inheritance Tax is payable on the value of a person’s taxable estate which is currently that which generally exceeds £325,000 at a rate of 40% plus any income tax/capital gains tax that may be assessed.

 

Timescale

At PJE Solicitors we offer two services in relation to estate administration and probate matters.

Firstly, we offer a full estate administration service, this comprises of the following (as a guide only – each case is different and requires bespoke advice):

 

• We offer an initial meeting so that we can review the will and advise you on the same. If there is no will then we can advise you of the intestacy rules and how these will apply. We will complete a full estate questionnaire with you to gather the necessary information in order for you to deal with the estate.

 

• Once instructed we will write to all asset and liability holders to establish the date of death balances.

 

• We will check the ownership of any properties or land with the Land Registry.

 

• We can arrange for any property to be valued, either by a local estate agent, or if necessary by a RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) qualified surveyor.

 

• Once we have the information we require we will complete the paperwork to apply for probate. At this stage we will review the assets and liabilities and establish whether the estate is subject to inheritance tax – we will advise you of this and how to pay the tax.

 

• We will submit the paperwork to the Probate Registry, this will either be done via our online portal with the Probate Registry or via the post.

 

• Once we receive the grant of probate we can advise you of the need to place statutory notices.

 

• We will collect in all the assets and pay any liabilities.

 

• We will contact all beneficiaries named in the will, or those entitled under intestacy and settle any legacies.

 

• We will prepare draft estate accounts for approval and then distribute the estate in accordance with the will or the intestacy rules.

 

Additional work that will not be required in all cases:

• In some cases it will be necessary for us to consult with a genealogist company in particular in relation to cases where there is no will (intestacy). This is to establish the correct person is instructing us. We may also require a genealogist family tree to establish the correct beneficiaries of the estate.

 

• Any work that is carried out in relation to properties, such as sales or transfers are dealt with by our conveyancing department. There is a separate charge for this work and they will advise you of this.

 

• We may also require the advice of an accountant, in particular in relation to income tax and capital gains tax. There is a separate charge for this and we will advise you before we instruct an accountant.

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The process to obtain a grant of probate depends on the specific circumstances of each case. It can take three to four months to have the necessary information to apply for the grant of probate. This depends on the financial institutions and whether a property needs to be valued.

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The completion of the matter also depends on third parties such as HMRC (in particular if there is inheritance tax to pay) and the Probate Registry. The wording of the will and the intestacy rules can also affect the timescale as we will need to contact all beneficiaries and may need to instruct a genealogist company.

Generally a straightforward estate administration can take twelve months to complete.

 

 

Details of lawyers who may work on the matter

Name                          Qualifications                                 Position                                  Year qualified                 Hourly rate

Phillip John Evans     BA, Solicitor – Senior Partner      Solicitor, Senior Partner       1985                                 £260 plus VAT

Laura Miles                LLB, Solicitor                                  Associate Solicitor                 2011                                 £240 plus VAT

Jonathan Mogford    LLB, Solicitor                                  Solicitor                                   2012                                 £230 plus VAT

 

 

Details of supervisors

Name                            Qualifications                                 Position                                 Year qualified             Hourly rate

Phillip John Evans       BA, Solicitor – Senior Partner      Solicitor, Senior Partner      1985                            £260 plus VAT

 

 

Grant Only Service

We are also able to obtain a grant of probate for you, however this will not involve us being instructed to deal with the work mentioned above.

If we obtain the grant of probate we submit the paperwork on the basis of the information you have provided and we do not carry out any additional work other than this.

You will be responsible for collecting in all assets and liabilities and ensuring that the estate is distributed in accordance with the will or the intestacy rules.

We are unable to offer this service for estates subject to inheritance tax.

 

Our Fees

Please note VAT is currently 20% and this is correct at the time of posting.

Grant only service

Our charges to obtain a grant of probate only are £650 plus VAT = £780. There are additional disbursements (as listed above).

We are unable to offer a grant only service for any estate subject to inheritance tax