Probate Pricing

At Ashtons Legal, we handle every complexity of estate administration, from fairly straightforward to highly complex multi-jurisdictional estates.

There are so many variables with an estate administration which will impact the total costs of administration.

Our costs firm likes to take a flexible approach to our legal fees wherever possible and provides various cost options for you to consider. For example, we can offer a time-spent hourly rate cost option or a fixed fee cost option, depending upon the circumstances of the estate.

Timescales

Timescales are calculated from the date on which we receive substantive instructions. Please be aware that much of the process involves liaising with outside agencies, such as financial institutions and HMRC, whose timescales are outside our control.

On average, for a straightforward estate not liable to Inheritance Tax with no property to sell, the full administration takes in the region of 18 – 24 months.

On average, the full administration takes 24 – 36 months for a relatively straightforward estate liable to inheritance tax with one property to sell.

However, there are more variations within this scenario that are out of our control, e.g., selling/transferring the property, updating the property title at the Land Registry, communication from the HMRC, and other third parties.

Estates that involve more complex Inheritance Tax issues can typically take from 24 months to 48 months to complete the full administration. Factors that can impact on this timescale include:

• Significant lifetime gifts
• Claims for Residence Nil Rate Bands and completing a full Inheritance
• Tax account
• Claims for Business or Agricultural Property reliefs or for a reduced rate of Inheritance Tax and completing a full Inheritance Tax account
• Protracted correspondence with HMRC on Inheritance Tax, Capital
• Gains Tax and Income Tax
• Administration of business or other complex assets
• Management and allocation of a substantial investment portfolio
• Overseas Assets
• Digital Assets
• Interests under Trusts and their registration with HMRC
• Trust Registration Service.

Our charges

Initial Consultation and Reporting Letter

We offer a consultation with one of our experienced probate lawyers to discuss your situation and how we can help. Following this meeting, you will receive a reporting letter of advice setting out the probate process and the roles and responsibilities of an Executor/Administrator. This can be in person or via Microsoft Teams.

Our fees for this consultation and reporting letter will be in the region of £650 – £1,000 plus VAT.

Grant of Probate Only

In some cases, you may only wish us to obtain the Grant of Probate. Depending on the complexity of the estate, we have set out three cost examples for obtaining the Grant of Probate based on you providing full and accurate information:

• Where the estate is an excepted estate, and a full Inheritance Tax account is not required, our typical fees range from £2,500 – £3,500 plus VAT.
• Where the estate is not liable to Inheritance Tax but requires a full Inheritance Tax account, e.g., including substantial assets or claims are needed to secure reliefs from Inheritance Tax, our typical fees range from £4,000 – £6,000 plus VAT.
• Where the estate is liable to Inheritance Tax and requires a full Inheritance Tax account, our typical fees range from £5,000 – £8,000 plus VAT.

Full Estate Administration

Our clients often wish us to handle the entire estate administration for them. This means that our team will deal with everything, so you do not have to take on any of the work yourself.

Our probate lawyers will ensure the administration goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible, with the aim of removing any worry or stress for you.

Depending on the complexity of the estate, we have set out three cost examples for carrying out the whole estate administration on your behalf:

• Where the estate administration is straightforward and a full Inheritance Tax account is not required, our typical fees range from £7,000 – £10,000 plus VAT.
• Where the estate is not liable to Inheritance Tax but requires a full account, e.g., including substantial assets or claims, to secure relief from Inheritance Tax, our typical fees range from £12,000 – £18,000 plus VAT.
• Where the estate is liable to Inheritance Tax and requires a full Inheritance Tax account, our typical fees range from £16,000 – £25,000 plus VAT.

When instructed, we provide the Executors/Administrators with a detailed scope of work tailored to the estate’s specific circumstances.

Potential additional costs

The legal fees for dealing with the sale or transfer of any property or land, any claim or dispute or a Trust are not included in the example above.

Complex Aspects

Administration of estates involving factors such as significant lifetime gifts, claims for Business or Agricultural Property reliefs or for a reduced rate of inheritance tax, or protracted correspondence with HMRC, or administration of business or other complex assets, including management and allocation of a substantial investment portfolio, overseas aspects, interests under trusts or heritage assets are likely to involve an increase in costs which we will discuss and agree with you.

External disbursements payable to third parties

There may be fees payable to third parties, which include:

• A probate fee payable to the HM Courts and Tribunals Service – £300
• For each official copy of the grant required – £1.50
• Statutory advertisements in The London Gazette and a local newspaper to protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors – approximately £250
• Valuation fees
• Searches
• Insurance premiums
• If there are overseas assets, there may be charges relating to resealing the Grant and instructing overseas lawyers to assist in the collection of these assets.

Our Probate Solicitors’ hourly rates

At Ashtons Legal, we believe in ensuring that all work is done at the right level but with the ability to call upon the skills and expertise of our senior lawyers as necessary.

Our team is ready to assist you and your family. You can meet our team here: Ashtons Legal Probate team.

All our illustrative ranges have been calculated on the following hourly rates.