We offer expert help in dealing with all aspects of Estate Administration, for as much or as little work as you would like us to do. In all cases, the pricing will reflect the complexity and amount of work involved. Any fees/costs or disbursements (charges payable to third parties for their services) which are subject to VAT at the current rate of 20% are listed as such.

The most popular options are:

1. A “Grant Only” service, for those Executors or Personal Representatives who can handle all the necessary fact-finding but need expertise in preparing the Grant of Probate applications and the Inheritance Tax Return of Estate Information.
   1. For obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf but there is no requirement to file a full IHT Return (Return of Estate Information only) and there is no post-Grant work required, we charge £1,000.00 + VAT and the following Disbursements (expenses paid to third parties):
      1. Executors Oath Swear – £10.00 plus £5.00 per exhibit, i.e. the Will and any Codicils (per Executor, no VAT)
      2. Probate Registry Fee – £155.00 (no VAT) if the value of the Estate is £5,000.00 or over – there’s no fee if the Estate is under £5,000.00
      3. Additional copies of the Grant of Probate – 50p per copy (no VAT)
      4. Post in the local newspaper – £59.85 (plus VAT)
      5. Post in the London Gazette – £69.50 (plus VAT)
   2. For obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf and filing an IHT Return and there is no post-Grant work required, we charge from £2,500.00 + VAT and the Disbursements (expenses payable to third parties) as listed above.
2. Full Administration Service, where we handle everything from start to finish.

For this service we charge from £2,500.00 + VAT with no upper limit until we have assessed the size and complexity of the Estate.

We do not charge an additional percentage fee based upon the value of the Estate.

Every estate is different, which is why we encourage you to Contact Us so we can provide you with an estimate outlining a range of potential fees to make sure that you get the right amount of support to meet your individual circumstances. We will update you regularly on your costs throughout the matter so you can stay in control throughout.

Matter Set-up Fee
At the start of your matter, we shall ask you for an initial payment in the sum of £80.00 plus VAT at 20% (so a total of £96.00). This is to allow for the work required in conducting the initial risk assessment, opening the file and setting the matter up on our Case Management System, carrying out the required due diligence and anti-money laundering checks.

This sum is in addition to the costs information set out above and is non-refundable.

Value Added Tax (VAT)
We are registered for VAT under VAT Registration No: 400 604 555. Our fees are therefore subject to VAT at the current rate of 20%.

Examples of other expenses subject to VAT at the current rate are listed above and a full breakdown would be given in our client care letter and throughout the course of your matter once this information became available.

Stages
Our Full Administration Service will include:

The Legal Work
Pre-Grant:

Checking the will is valid

Advising on inheritance tax (IHT) on the estate and tax reliefs which might be available

Where there is no will, checking the intestacy rules to identify beneficiaries and determine who is entitled to administer the estate

Explaining any trusts in the will

Preparing the papers to apply for the probate

Applying for and obtaining the Grant of Probate

Post-Grant:

Placing all statutory adverts to cover claims against the estate

Dealing with creditors’ claims against the estate

Protecting the executors from future claims

The Tax work
Pre-Grant:

Completing the compulsory HMRC returns relating to inheritance tax; IHT 400 for taxable estates and IHT205 where there is no inheritance tax

Finalising income tax returns

Finalising capital gains tax (if necessary)

Claiming available exemptions and reliefs and transferable allowances

Calculating inheritance tax and arranging to pay tax from the estate.

The Administration Work
Pre-Grant:

Valuing all assets and collecting them in

Post-Grant:

Paying funeral costs from estate funds

Contacting executors and beneficiaries, and regularly updating them during the estate administration

Contacting asset holding companies and corresponding with them during the estate administration

Paying debts and liabilities from the estate

Preparing estate accounts showing the executors and beneficiaries all monies passing in and out of the estate

Distributing the estate to the beneficiaries

The Land/Property Work
Pre-Grant:

Recommending suitable locksmiths and house clearance agents

Checking building and contents insurance is in place

Post-Grant:

Transferring ownership to joint owners (where held as joint tenants)

Transferring ownership to beneficiaries (additional fees apply)

Recommending estate agents for marketing and sale of any property

Appointing one of our specialist residential conveyancing lawyers to deal with the legal side of the sale (additional fees apply)

Additional Work
Pre or Post-Grant:

Varying the will for better tax advantages or to maximise welfare benefits

Dealing with claims against the estate or challenges to the will

Our service does not include:

• providing advice in relation to foreign assets, however we are able to co-ordinate advice with professional advisers in other jurisdictions in relation to assets held abroad but only to the extent specifically agreed in writing between us (which may incur an additional cost);
• providing advice in relation to dealing with actual claims made against the estate, or contentious matters in dealing with the administration of the estate – these would be a separate matter, however we are able to co-ordinate with other professional advisers on how this impacts the administration of the estate but only to the extent specifically agreed in writing between us (which may incur an additional cost)

The following factors are likely to increase the cost of your matter:

• not having all of the paperwork available, or having missing or incorrect information that needs investigation and correction
• third parties not responding to our communications promptly
• dealing with unusual or complex assets or items (for example: fine art; timeshares; shares in private companies etc)

As soon as any complications arise we will discuss these with you and agree the fee for the additional work being carried out in advance of any additional work being undertaken

We have set out some points to consider should you find yourself dealing with the administration of an Estate. Please click here for more information.