Probate Costs
Valuing the estate, applying for the grant of representation, gathering in the estate paying debts and distributing the assets
We anticipate this will take between 6 and 20 hours work at £200 plus VAT per hour depending on the size and complexity of the estate at a cost of between £600 and £4,000 plus VAT and disbursements.
The exact cost will 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, properties, shares and bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end.
We will agree in advance how much of the process we will handle for you. This quote is for estates where:
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
- There are no claims made against the estate
Disbursements include:
- Valuers fees;
- House clearance and rubbish disposal fees;
- The Probate application fee; currently £155;
- Sealed office copies of the Grant are 50p each at the time of application and £10 per copy subsequently;
- Swearing fees of £5 or £7 (per executor);
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£20 per beneficiary);
- A Statutory Advertisement in The London Gazette, which protects the executors and administrators against unexpected claims from unknown creditors or beneficiaries;
- Statutory Adversiment in local newspapers. The cost depends on the newspaper ad rates.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We can handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf where required.
Potential additional costs
- The sale of any land or buildings will be referred to a conveyancer for a separate quotation.
How long will this take?
On average estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 9 - 18 months, and a year would not be unusual.
Typically you have six months to value the estate and pay any Inheritance Tax due. It seldom pays to rush matters because of the risk of claims being made against the estate and many estates can be delayed by executor and or beneficiary disputes or by investigations by HMRC or the DWP triggered by the application for the Grant of Representation.