Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration - What will it cost?

What will it cost?

Our fees and costs will be dependent upon the size and complexity of the estate being dealt with and the issues we encounter when identifying, contacting and dealing with executors, administrators and beneficiaries. It will also depend upon whether we are dealing with the administration of the whole estate or simply carrying out parts of the requirements and whether there are any trusts.

Therefore, if we are only dealing with obtaining a grant of probate, not only can we provide you with a fixed price but we can also assure you that our charges will be much lower than if we are dealing with a full administration of an estate – in which case we will charge on an hourly basis + an element to reflect the value of the estate.

The following charges are, therefore, dependent upon the work done.  Please check with us so that we can provide you with a more accurate assessment.

Simple Cases

Matter	Charge £	VAT (at 20%) £
Grant of Probate only – no inheritance tax	1,250	250
Grant of Probate only – with inheritance tax	2,500	500
Value element in relation to the above	No value element if we are only obtaining the grant.	N/A
Straightforward Deed of Variation of the will	500	100
Assent of Registered Property	500	100

Complex cases

We charge on the basis of the time spent with an hourly rate of £250 for a Consultant, £125 for an Associate and £75 for a Solicitor. The firm’s charges will usually amount to between 1% and 5% of the gross value of the estate. VAT at the current rate of 20% will also be chargeable.

The exact cost will also depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end.

The firm’s charges will be closer to 3% of the gross estate where the estate is more straightforward, for example where:-

• There is a valid will;
• There is no more than one property;
• There are no more than 3 bank or building society accounts;
• There are no other intangible assets;
• There are multiple beneficiaries;
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs;
• There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC; and
• There are no claims made against the estate

In the event the estate doesn’t fall in line with the above guidance i.e. there are multiple properties, shareholdings and possible Inheritance Tax liability then the firm’s charge will realistically be closer to 3% of the gross value of the estate but we will agree costs with you at the outset before commencing any work on your behalf. We would also be happy to discuss fixed fees for Grant only applications.

Disbursements

Disbursements are 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. These include:

• Probate application fee – approximately £300
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches – £2 each
• £24.60– £119.15 Adverts in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
• £200 – £300 Adverts in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
• Assets Search – comprehensive search for unknown assets – £185 plus VAT (20%).
• Statutory searches – £150-£300 per beneficiary
• Valuation fees – dependent entirely on the type of asset being valued (e.g., realty, shares, chattels, art works)

Potential additional costs

• If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information.
• If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £0.50 each.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included. Please see our conveyancing fees for further information.
• Setting up a trust – £1000 – 1500 + VAT (20%)
• Transferring property to trustees – £1500-£2000 + VAT (20%)

As an example of our charges we would estimate that a transaction might cost as follows:

Where there is no inheritance tax – £1500 – £2500 + VAT (20%) charged on an hourly basis (although we will agree a fixed fee) at the rate of £250 + VAT(20%)  per hour for a senior solicitor.

With Inheritance Tax – £250 + VAT (20%) per hour is generally the minimum.  It is very difficult to give a precise upper limit as it depends entirely on the estate and whether there are assets abroad and questions of foreign domicile etc.  Again, charged on an hourly basis.

A value element may be added if this firm acts as executors or the estate is complex.  The value element is charged at 1% – 5% of the value of the estate.

 

Who will be carrying out the work?

The work will be undertaken by

Ahisha Safdar: Law with IT BA Hons graduate, at Blakewater Certus since 2017 and qualified as a solicitor since 2023, specialising in conveyancing, including conventional and Islamic Finance transactions. Previously handled noise-induced hearing loss, personal injury, debt collection, and complaints.