Probate and Administration costs – Rockstone Law Solicitors

Tel: 020 3720 1672

Our Fees

Cost for Probate and Administration

Our fees are in four categories:

Where there is a Will and no inheritance tax is payable.

Where there is a will and Inheritance tax and other taxes are payable

Where there is no Will (intestate) and no inheritance tax payable

Where there is no Will (intestate) and inheritance tax and other taxes are payable

PLEASE NOTE ALL FEES ARE EXCLUSIVE OF VAT/DISBURSEMENTS

CATEGORY 1 Where there is a Will and no inheritance tax is payable

Estimate Fixed fee based on potential work involved in dealing with the matter.

 

Fee: Our fees could be between £800-£3500.

Our Average fee £1,600. 

 

Hourly Rates: 

Senior Partner – £317.00 

lawyer- £120.00

 

On average, this type of work entails 12 hours of work.

 

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case. Such as:

 

  • The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
  • Failure to cooperate with advice
  • Hidden assets not being declared
  • It becomes a taxable estate by virtue of the discovered assets
  • Unforeseen complexities that may arise 

 

Costs are likely to be at the lower end range if the case is a straightforward matter which deals with a non-taxable estate where the deceased has left a will. 

 

Who will carry out the work? 

 

Senior Partner; or 

Lawyer supervised by a Senior Partner

 

All work carried out by a lawyer supervised by a Senior Partner, who retains ultimate responsibility of conduct of matters. 

 

What services are included in this? 

 

-Initial attendance and consideration of the options and assessing most appropriate way forward based on client’s circumstances; 

-Determining assets; 

-Informing all organisations with whom the deceased had assets; 

-Obtaining valuations for property and contents; 

-Assisting in arranging for the property to be placed on the market; 

-Completing the IHT 205; 

-Obtaining the grant of probate; 

-Preparing the oath and submitting the probate application; 

-Preparing a final estate account; 

-Distributing the assets. 

 

The costs quoted here do not include:

-Any court fees such as probate court fee and fees for additional copies of grant of probate.  https://www.gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are Find updated list of court fees.

-Other expenses where applicable such as swearing of oath fee of £5.00 per executor. Additional fee to this of £2.50 per executor if will is annexed. 

-London Gazette advertisement to protect against creditors of £185 plus VAT (Approx.) 

 

We will let you know at the earliest opportunity and before any such fees are incurred by yourself, if any of these are applicable. 

 

Time scale: 

On average estates that fall within this range are dealt with in between 3 months to 1 year from initial instructions. 

Typically obtaining the grant of probate takes 6-20 weeks from initial instructions. 

Collecting assets then follows which can take between 6-15 weeks from obtaining the grant of probate. 

Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets which normally take 2-4 weeks from collecting assets.

 

Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate based on the facts above. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case. 

 

 

 

CATEGORY 2: Where there is a Will and Inheritance Tax and other Taxes are payable

Our estimated Fixed fee based on the potential work involved:

 

Fee:  Between-£3,000 – £7,500 excluding all disbursements

Our Average fee-£4,200.00 excluding all disbursements

Plus value element being 0.75% of property value and 1% of liquid asset value in line with Law Society Guidelines.

 

Hourly Rates: 

Senior Partner – £317.00 

Lawyer – £120.00 

 

On average, this type of work entails 25 hours of work.

 

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case. Such as:

 

  • The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
  • Failure to cooperate with advice
  • Hidden assets not being declared
  • Disagreements between executors with respect to satisfying the tax bill
  • Unforeseen complexities that may arise 

 

Costs are likely to be at the lower end range if the case is a straightforward matter which deals with a taxable estate where the deceased has left a will.

 

Who will carry out the work? 

 

Senior Partner; or 

Lawyer supervised by a Senior Partner

 

All work carried out by a lawyer is supervised by a Senior Partner, who retains ultimate responsibility of conduct of matters.

 

What services are included in this? 

 

-Initial attendance and consideration of the options and assessing most appropriate way forward based on client’s circumstances; 

-Determining assets; 

-Informing all organisations with whom the deceased had assets; 

-Obtaining valuations for property and contents; 

-Assisting in arranging for the property to be placed on the market; 

-Completing the IHT 400 and supplemental documentation; 

-Satisfying the IHT bill by arranging with the executors either for payment to be made from the estate on an instalment basis or arranging for lump sum to be paid by arranging for release of sums from deceased’s assets; 

-Obtaining the grant of probate; 

-Preparing the oath and submitting the probate application; 

-Preparing a final estate account; 

-Distributing the assets. 

 

The costs quoted here do not include:

 

-Any court fees such as probate court fee and fees for additional copies of grant of probate.  https://www.gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are Find updated list of court fees.

-Other expenses where applicable such as swearing of oath fee of £5.00 per executor. Additional fee to this of £2.50 per executor if will is annexed. 

-London Gazette advertisement to protect against creditors £185 plus VAT (Approx.) 

 

We will let you know at the earliest opportunity and before any such fees are incurred by yourself, if any of these are applicable. 

 

Time scale: 

On average estates that fall within this range are dealt with in between 3 months to 18 months from initial instructions. 

Typically obtaining the grant of probate takes 6-25 weeks from initial instructions. 

Collecting assets then follows which can take between 6-15 weeks from obtaining the grant of probate. 

Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets which normally take 2-4 weeks from collecting assets.

 

Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate based on the facts above. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case. 

 

 

 

CATEGORY 3: Where there is no Will (intestate) and no inheritance tax payable

Our estimated Fixed fee for potential work:

Fee: Between £2, 000- £7,000. 

Average price £3,500.

 

Hourly Rates: 

Senior Partner – £317.00 

Lawyer – £120.00 

 

On average, this type of work entails 20 hours of work. 

 

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case. Such as:

 

  • The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
  • Failure to cooperate with advice
  • Disagreements between family members as to who should be personal representative
  • Difficulties establishing whether a will was made
  • Disagreements between beneficiaries
  • Unforeseen complexities that may arise 

 

Costs are likely to be at the lower end range if the case is a straightforward Letters of Administration matter which deals with a non-taxable estate where the deceased has died intestate.

 

Who will carry out the work? 

 

Senior Partner; or 

Lawyer supervised by a Senior Partner

 

All work carried out by a lawyer is supervised by a Senior Partner who retains ultimate responsibility of conduct of matters.

 

What services are included in this? 

 

-Initial attendance and consideration of the options and assessing most appropriate way forward based on client’s circumstances; 

-Determining who is entitled to be the personal representative of the estate; 

-Determining who are the beneficiaries to the Estate by reference to intestacy law; 

-Determining the assets; 

-Informing all organisations with whom the deceased had assets; 

-Obtaining valuations for property and contents; 

-Assisting in arranging for the property to be placed on the market; 

-Completing the IHT 205; 

-Preparing the oath and submitting the application for Letters of Administration; 

-Preparing a final estate account; 

-Distributing the assets. 

 

The costs quoted here do not include:

 

-Any court fees such as probate court fee and fees for additional copies of grant of probate.   https://www.gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are Find updated list of court fees.

-Other expenses where applicable such as swearing of oath fee of £5.00 per executor. 

-Law Society Gazette Wills & Whereabouts advertisement of £300-£500.

-London Gazette advertisement to protect against creditors £185 plus VAT (Approx.) 

 

We will let you know at the earliest opportunity and before any such fees are incurred by yourself, if any of these are applicable.

 

Time scale: 

On average estates that fall within this range are dealt with in between 5 months to 18 months from initial instructions. 

Typically obtaining the Letters of Administration takes 7-26 weeks from initial instructions. 

Collecting assets then follows which can take between 6-15 weeks from obtaining the Letters of Administration. 

Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets which normally take 2-4 weeks from collecting assets.

 

Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate based on the facts above. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case. 

 

 

 

CATEGORY 4:Where there is no Will (intestate) and inheritance tax and other taxes are payable

Our estimated Fixed fee for dealing with the matter:

Our Fee: Between £3,200- £10,000. 

Average fee £5,000

Plus 0.75% of property value and 1% of liquid asset value in line with Law Society Guidelines.

 

Hourly Rates: 

 

Senior Partner – £317.00 

Lawyer- £120.00 

 

On average, this type of work entails 30 hours of work.

 

The exact number of hours it will take depends on the circumstances in your case. Such as:

 

  • The amount of supporting evidence that we need to consider
  • Failure to cooperate with advice
  • Disagreements between family members as to who should be the personal representative
  • Difficulties establishing whether a will was made
  • Disagreements between personal representatives with respect to satisfying the tax bill
  • Unforeseen complexities that may arise 

 

Costs are likely to be at the lower end range if the case is a straightforward Letters of Administration matter which deals with a taxable estate where the deceased has died intestate.

 

Who will carry out the work? 

 

Senior Partner; or 

Lawyer supervised by a Senior Partner

 

All work carried out by a lawyer is supervised by a Senior Partner who retains ultimate responsibility of conduct of matters. 

 

What services are included in this? 

 

-Initial attendance and consideration of the options and assessing most appropriate way forward based on client’s circumstances; 

-Determining who is entitled to be personal representative of the estate; 

-Determining who are the beneficiaries to the estate by reference to intestacy law; 

-Determining the assets; 

-Informing all organisations with whom the deceased had assets; 

-Obtaining valuations for property and contents; 

-Assisting in arranging for the property to be placed on the market; 

-Completing the IHT 400 and supplemental documentation; 

-Satisfying the IHT bill by arranging either arranging for the personal representatives to make payment on an instalment basis or for arranging for release of sums from the deceased’s assets to make a lump sum payment; 

-Preparing the oath and submitting the application for Letters of Administration; 

-Preparing a final estate account; 

-Distributing the assets. 

 

The costs quoted here do not include:

 

-Any court fees such as probate court fee and fees for additional copies of grant of probate.  https://www.gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are Find updated list of court fees.

-Other expenses where applicable such as swearing of oath fee of £5.00 per executor. 

-Law Society Gazette Wills & Whereabouts advertisement of £300-£500.

-London Gazette advertisement to protect against creditors £185 plus VAT (Approx.) 

 

We will let you know at the earliest opportunity and before any such fees are incurred by yourself, if any of these are applicable. 

 

Time scale: 

-On average estates that fall within this range are dealt with in between 5 months to 18 months from initial instructions. 

-Typically obtaining the Letters of Administration takes 7-27 weeks from initial instructions. 

-Collecting assets then follows which can take between 6-15 weeks from obtaining the Letters of Administration. 

-Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets which normally take 2-4 weeks from collecting assets.

 

Please note the anticipated number of hours and fees are an estimate based on the facts above. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case.

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