Probate - Small Estate Services

Administering an Estate can be a complex and stressful process at what is often a very emotional time. We can help with the burden of dealing with the Estate by advising you on, preparing the application and inheritance tax return, and ultimately obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf.  

We anticipate this will take 10 and 15 hours work from £185 - £220 per hour.  Total costs are estimated at £1,850 to £3,300 (excludes VAT and disbursements).

This service includes: 

• Up to a 1 hour consultation with a solicitor or Legal Executive at our offices
• Where there is no will acting on behalf of a surviving spouse or civil partner or adult children to  obtain the Grant of Probate
• Where there is a Will acting on behalf of the appointed Executors
• Obtaining valuations of the assets and liabilities in the Estate as long as there are no more than 15 organisations that we have to contact
• Arranging payment of funeral costs from one of the Deceased’s bank accounts
• Checking and putting in place house insurance if necessary (but not the costs of the same which will be deducted from the Estate)
• Advice on the Inheritance Tax position of the estate
• Drafting the Legal Statement to obtain the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
• Meeting at our offices with a Solicitor or Legal Executive to advise you on the Legal Statement and to obtain your signature thereto
• Obtaining the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration and court sealed copies
• Collecting of assets and payment of outstanding liabilities of the estate
• Distribution of Specific legacies
• Finalising any income tax /capital gains tax a payable by the estate with HMRC
• Preparation of Final Estate Accounts for your approval
• Distribution of the Estate to the residuary beneficiaries

 This service does not include:

• Where there is no Will and no surviving spouse or adult children
• Identifying beneficiaries of an intestate Estate
• Where a long form Inheritance Tax Return IHT400 is necessary
• Dealing with the sale any property in the Estate – conveyancing cost will be charged separately
• Potential disputes
• Variations to the Estate
• Dealing with the deceased’s business

If it becomes clear at our initial meeting that your matter requires additional work outside this service option then we will advise you of such at the initial meeting and provide you with details of the additional work required and confirmation of the additional charges.

VAT IS CURRENTRLY CHARGED AT 20%

* Fees correct as of February 2023

Disbursements which are the 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 and include the following:

• Probate application fee of £273 plus £1.50 for every court sealed copy of the Grant that we request
• Bankruptcy only Land Charges Department searches - £2 per beneficiary
• Land Registry fees payable if we transfer a property in the estate to a named beneficiary.  Such fees will be based upon whether the property is registered at the  Land Registry and the value of the property.  Further details will be provided at your initial meeting.

There may be other disbursements including fees for notices in the London Gazette and Local Newspapers that help protect against unexpected claims against the Estate or searches with Certainty to try ascertain whether a Will exists.   If this is necessary we will advise you of such at your initial meeting and provide you with details of the costs.

On average estates that fall into this range are dealt with within 4-6 months.  Typically obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration takes 10-14 weeks.  Collecting assets then follows which can take between 4-6 weeks.  Once this has been done we can pay the liabilities of the estate prepare the final estate accounts and distribute the assets which normally takes 2-4 weeks.

Jane Mawer is Head of the Private Client Department.  She has over 15 years experience within this area of law.

Faye Blair is a Solicitor with over eight years experience within the department.  

Jamie Dobbs is a Legal Executive. She is an integral member of the department and has extensive knowledge of this area of law having worked within the department for over 11 years.