Our charges and timescales

Dependent upon complexity, probate will usually take between 15 and 40 hours of work by our team. Their rates are outlined below plus VAT at 20%. Total costs are estimated at £5,000 to £15,000.

General information
Partners £400 – £800 per hour
Associates/Consultants £260 – £400 per hour
Junior Associates £150 – £260 per hour
Trainees/Paralegals £120 – £150 per hour

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, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end.

We will handle the full process for you. The above estimate is for estates where all of the following apply:

  • there is a valid will
  • there is no more than one property (note that this does not include the costs of sale);
  • there are no more than 2 bank or building society accounts;
  • there are no other intangible assets;
  • there are up to 2 beneficiaries;
  • there are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets: if disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs; and
  • there are no claims made against the estate.
Disbursements not included in this fee

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

  • Probate application fee of £155 (where the net estate is above £5,000) plus £1.50 per copy grant.
  • £7 Swearing of the oath (per executor).
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary).
  • £84.60 for publicising in London Gazette and a range of prices for local/national newspapers to protect the estate against unexpected claims.
  • There may be other disbursements depending on the nature of the estate.

VAT may be added to some disbursements.

The charges above do not include taxes that may be payable by an estate, the person who has died and their Personal Representatives or beneficiaries such as:

    • Inheritance Tax – this is a complicated tax as it can take a long time to agree the amount payable with HMRC;
    • Income Tax; and
    • Capital Gains Tax.
Potential additional costs

If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there are likely to be additional costs which could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quotation once we have more information.

Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within the above range are dealt with within 12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 3 to 4 months. Collecting assets, agreeing and settling debts and IHT and distributions to beneficiaries can take between 8 and 9 months.