Our fees for probate work

We bill for probate on a time basis, not as a percentage of the estate. For most estates, especially larger ones, this keeps costs down considerably compared with a value-based fee structure.

Day-to-day work on your case would be carried out by one of our directors, who are licensed to conduct probate work by the ICAEW, at a cost of £225 + VAT per hour.

Every estate is different, so rather than quote a single figure, we have set out some worked examples below showing typical costs and what is involved at each stage.

Basic probate service

Most commonly, executors approach us to deal with the Inheritance Tax forms and probate application, which is our basic service that involves the following:

Identifying and establishing the extent of the estate for probate and Inheritance Tax purposes
Arranging for the assets and liabilities of the estate to be valued
Preparing the appropriate Inheritance Tax forms and other legal documents to obtain the grant of probate
Making the application for grant of probate
Filing the Inheritance Tax forms with HMRC and liaising with them on their enquiries

The activities normally take around a month to complete, depending on the circumstances of the estate and the responsiveness of other parties.

How much does a basic service cost?

Our service is tailored to assist executors, while keeping costs in mind. We can provide estimated fees at the initial meeting depending on the circumstances of the estate.

Dealing with the aspects of an estate that has a Will, a property, five bank accounts and an investment portfolio would have an estimated cost of £2,000 + VAT, plus any disbursements.

Comprehensive probate service

We also provide a more comprehensive probate service, which involves:

Advising on the Inheritance Tax efficiency of the estate
Identifying and establishing the extent of the estate for probate and Inheritance Tax purposes
Arranging for the assets and liabilities of the estate to be valued
Preparing the appropriate Inheritance Tax forms and other legal documents to obtain the grant of probate
Making the application for grant of probate
Filing the Inheritance Tax forms with HMRC and liaising with them on their enquiries
Collecting in the assets and settling the liabilities of the estate
Preparing estate accounts
Distribution of the estate in accordance with the terms of the Will, or in the absence of a Will, the laws of intestacy

These activities will take at least three months to complete, but it may take years depending on the complexity of the estate and the responsiveness of other parties.

How much does a comprehensive service cost?

Our fees for this service would start from £5,000 + VAT, plus any disbursements, depending on the complexity of the estate.

Disbursement fees

Disbursements are costs relating to the estate that are payable to third parties, such as court fees or the issuing of statutory notices.

One of the key costs involved in the probate process is the Probate Registry Fee, which is charged at £526 plus £2.00 per sealed copy of the grant requested at the same time as the application. The Probate Registry Fee quoted is subject to change in the future.