We will always speak to clients at the outset so that we can have a more accurate idea of the work involved in each particular case. The actual costs will depend on the amount of work to be done and the greater the number of assets to deal with, the longer the work will take to complete. Legal fees involved for issuing a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration usually start at around £1,500 plus VAT and actual disbursements such as the fee to the Probate Registry for applying for Probate. However, we are aware that fees can vary a lot depending on individual circumstances and so we wish to ensure that, in preliminary discussions, we know the full circumstances of the case so that we can deal with costs in detail.
Once the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration has been obtained, we will work with clients to facilitate the distribution of the Estate. As a guideline, costs are likely to be in the region of at least a further £1,500 plus VAT but this is something we need to review and keep you informed about as the matter progresses.
Our fees are charged on an hourly basis, meaning that we only charge for the actual time spent in dealing with your case. Our current hourly rate is £250 plus VAT.
Please note that in the Administration of the Estate, before it can be distributed, there will need to be Public Notices (newspaper advertisements). The cost of these Notices depends on the size of the advertisement and need to be placed in both the London Gazette and a local paper. The approximate costs of these advertisements will be £250 to £300 including VAT.
On occasions it may be necessary to instruct a third party such as a tracing agent to find a beneficiary. These costs cannot be anticipated in advance and will depend entirely on the amount of work the tracing agent has to carry out. We will always discuss these costs with you beforehand if this service is required and will liaise with the tracing agent involved as to the amount of work being done.