Price Transparency
The SRA (under the ‘SRA Transparency Rules’) requires authorised firms to publish mandatory pricing information in relation to certain types of legal services.
The services provided by QualitySolicitors A-Z Law which are covered by the Transparency Rules are: Conveyancing (residential), Immigration (excluding asylum, Probate (uncontested) and Employment tribunals (unfair/wrongful dismissal).
Immigration
We charge fees based on hourly rates. Under normal circumstances our fees range from £1000 to £1500 (+VAT) for an initial application. For settlement and citizenship application our fees range from £700 to £900. VAT is currently charged at 20%.
The exact cost of an application will of course depend upon the circumstances of your case, such as:
- the amount of supporting evidence available.
- whether the case is straightforward or more complex; and
- whether you are applying with your dependants.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
These can include (but not limited to):
- Interpreter and/or translation fees. The costs for these services will vary depending on the extent to which they are required, the company used as well as the complexity of your case.
- Independent expert. We will let you know as soon as possible if we consider an expert report is necessary.
- If we are required to attend with you your biometric enrolment appointment, there will be additional disbursements in respect of our mileage/travel expenses.
The costs quoted here do not include:
- Any Home Office fees and Immigration Healthcare Surcharge for making the relevant application. You will pay them to the Home Office directly as part of the application process
- Where the Home Office refuses your application, advice and assistance in relation to any appeal.
- Additional fees will be incurred if the advice required is beyond the scope indicated above.
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.
Main Tasks
- Considering whether the application is for entry clearance, leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain.
- Discussing your case and assessing your eligibility under the Investor rules.
- Liaising with you and your other advisers (where relevant) in relation to the necessary pre-application documentation to be compiled.
- Advising on the process and documentation required to make the relevant application, together with the strategy for demonstrating that you meet the relevant requirements within the UK Immigration Rules.
- Preparing, completing, and submitting your online application forms and reviewing all supporting documents.
- Providing detailed instructions for biometric appointment including what documents to submit and a cover letter if necessary.
- If a Home Office interview is required, providing clear advice on what is required.
- Giving you advice about the outcome of the application and any further steps you need to take.
Timescale
We will normally be able to submit this type of application within three weeks of you instructing us, but we will let you know at the earliest opportunity if it is likely to take longer than this. We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application.
How long a case takes depends on the amount of work involved. A case can end up taking a different shape from that envisioned at the start. Accordingly, it can be difficult at this early stage to give you an accurate prediction of the time it will take to conclude. As matters progress, we should be in a better position to advise you of the likely timeframes.
Probate (uncontested)
The pricing for Probate (uncontested) work depends on the complexity of the matter. Our hourly rates typically range from £80 to £250 (excluding VAT) depending upon the complexity of your matter and the level of experience required. The price range for dealing with various cases are as follows:
- A straightforward application for the Grant of Representation (Probate): Fixed fee pricing from £500 +VAT and disbursements).
- Grant and transfer of the property (£1,000 plus the court fee plus land registry fees depending on the value of the property).
- Medium complexity administration of the entire estate: £2,000 - £6,000 (+VAT and disbursements).
- High complexity administration of the entire estate: £6,000 - £10,000 (+VAT and disbursements)
Factors that could make a case more complex and increase the costs:
- Where we are appointed executors or given power of attorney to deal with the estate;
- Substantive collection of paperwork, investigations at the deceased persons property or of significant volume of documents;
- Completing inheritance tax accounts for submission and arranging payment of the inheritance tax due to HMRC;
- Dealing with utility bills or substantive liabilities, placement of s27 notice to creditor adverts;
- Defending any claims brought against the estate;
- The number of beneficiaries and the increased compliance necessary to identify and settle payment.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the probate registry. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Disbursements can include but are not limited to payments to advertisers for s27 notice to creditor adverts, land registry applications where necessary to ensure ownership of property and identification and anti-money laundering searches.
- Probate fee is £155 plus £1.50 per copy of the grant
- Bankruptcy searches are £2.00 per client
- Land Registry office copy entries - £3.00
Timescale
The average process takes between 4-6 months if this is a standard probate matter however if this becomes more complex this can increase the time to up to 3 years and this will increase the costs.
Employment
Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal depend on the complexity of the case. The price range for dealing with various cases are as follows:
- Simple case: £6,000 - £8,000 (+VAT)
- Medium complexity case: £8,000 - £16,000 (+VAT)
- High complexity case: £16,000 - £25,000 (+VAT)
Factors that could make a case more complex and increase the costs:
- If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
- Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person
- Making or defending a costs application
- Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties)
- The number of witnesses and documents
- If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g., if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
- Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal
- The number of days a Final Hearing is listed for. This will be known early on in the case so a more accurate costs estimate can be given.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as medical experts. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Depending on the complexities of the matter Counsel are sometimes required. Counsel's fees are estimated between £1,000 to £1,500 excluding VAT per day (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).
Main Tasks
The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:
- Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
- Entering into ACAS pre-claim early conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached
- Preparing claim or response
- Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
- Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
- Preparing or considering a schedule of loss
- Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
- Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
- Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
- Preparing bundle of documents
- Reviewing and advising on the other party's witness statements
- Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
- Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel if Counsel are used.
The stages set out above are an indication and if some of the stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. A large part of the costs in a case are incurred at the end of the end in the preparation for and attendance at the Final Hearing. If a case settled early on the costs will be significantly less than the ranges given above. You may also wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages, for example drafting the claim or defence and drafting witness statements. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.
Timescale
The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim ACAS early conciliation, your case is likely to take 4-12 weeks depending on how early you instruct us. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 9 – 12 months. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.
VAT will be charged at 20%.
Please note that all estimates are given in good faith, but our fees may be higher or lower than estimates given. Should it become apparent at any time during the matter that significant further work will be required or if any difficulties have arisen which might make an increase in our fees necessary, we will inform you in writing before incurring extra costs.
The estimated fees below are reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
Residential Purchase Pricing
Our fees cover the legal work required to complete the purchase of your property, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty).
Freehold Residential Property
| Description | Amount | VAT | Subtotal |
| Legal Fees | From £1,600.00 | From £320.00 | From £1,920.00 |
| Minimum Fee for Acting on Behalf of the Mortgage Lender (if applicable) | From £350.00 | From £70.00 | From £420.00 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax Form Completion Fee | £100.00 | £20.00 | £120.00 |
| Estimated Total | From £2,460.00 |
Leasehold Residential Property
| Description | Amount | VAT | Subtotal |
| Legal Fees | From £1,600.00 + £350.00 Leasehold Supplement | From £390.00 | From £2,340.00 |
| Minimum Fee for acting on behalf of the mortgage lender (if applicable) | £150.00 | £30.00 | £180.00 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax Form completion fee | £100.00 | £20.00 | £120.00 |
| Estimated Total | From £2,640.00 |
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees and search fees. Which disbursements are payable will vary depending on your matter type.
| Description | Amount | VAT | Subtotal |
| Property Search Fees (Local Authority, Water and Drainage, Environmental and Planning) – These vary depending on the location of the Property | £150.00 to £350.00 | £150.00 to £350.00 | |
| HM Land Registry Priority Search | £3.00 | £3.00 | |
| Bankruptcy Search Fee (per name) | £2.00 | £2.00 | |
| HM Land Registry Search Fee | £3.00 | £3.00 | |
| Seller’s Solicitors Check | £10.00 | £2.00 | £12.00 |
| Telegraphic Transfer Fee per Transfer | £25.00 | £25.00 |
Anticipated Disbursements
Please be aware that where applicable, such as with leasehold property, there may be additional fees/disbursements which are payable to the freeholder, management company and/or managing agents, such as:
- Notice of Transfer fees
- Notice of Charge fees (if the property is to be mortgaged)
- Deed of Covenant fees
- Certificate of Compliance fees
We are unable to provide an estimate for the above as it varies between freeholder, management company and/or managing agents. However the range of fees for the above items are usually between £50 to £150 per item but you will not always be charged for all the above items. We will confirm details of these additional costs as soon as we receive the information from the relevant parties.
You should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as we receive this information.
Stamp Duty Land Tax & Land Registry Fees
Stamp Duty is a tax payable on the purchase of land. The amount depends on a number of factors such as the purchase price of your property, whether you are buying your first home or own other properties. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website.
Registration at HM Land Registry
This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMLR's website.
Residential Sale Pricing
The estimated fees below are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Our fees cover the legal work required to complete the sale of your freehold or leasehold property.
Residential Sale
| Description | Amount | VAT | Subtotal |
| Our Fees |
From £500.00 to £1,500.00 |
£100.00 to £300.00 |
£600.00 to £1,800.00 |
| Land Registry official copies | £12.00 | £12.00 | |
| Telegraphic Transfer Fee per Transfer | £25.00 | £25.00 | |
| Buyer’s Solicitors Check | £10.00 | £2.00 | £12.00 |
| Estimated Total | £1,286.00 to £1,849.00 |
Drafting & Execution of a Simple Will
| Description | Amount | VAT | Subtotal |
| Our Fee | From £395.00 | £79.00 | £474.00 |
(If a medical report has to be obtained or the Will involves tax planning, then our hourly charge shall apply)
Codicil
| Description | Amount | VAT | Subtotal |
| Our Fee | From £225.00 | £45.00 | £270.00 |