Cost Estimate 

How we calculate charges 
 
Our charges will be based upon the time which we spend dealing with the work which includes preparing and working on papers, meetings, hearings, travelling, making and receiving telephone calls, correspondence etc. The hourly rates charged for the time spent on the work are detailed below. Routine letters and telephone calls are charged at 1/10th of the hourly rate. 
Hourly rates  
 
Senior Solicitor £215 +VAT @20%* 
Support £120 +VAT @20%* 
 
We review our hourly rates anually as they are subject to increase due to market forces from time to time. If so you will be notified in writing before an increase in implemented. 

Divorce  

Sole applicant (undefended) and applicant one in a joint application, agreed fee of £700+VAT @20%*. 
Court fee of £593*. 
Respondent in divorce (undefended) and applicant two in a joint application, agreed fee of £500+VAT @20%*. 
 
Costs will be confirmed on receipt of instructions. 
 
In all cases before we carry out any work for you we will outline our costs in writing in a client care letter which you then approve. You will receive regular reviews of our costs and regular statements and updates on costs and timings. 

Matrimonial Finances  

Based upon our hourly rates £215+VAT @20%*. 
Court fee for Form A of £303*. 
Court fee for Consent order of £58*. 
 
Costs will be confirmed on receipt of instructions. 
 
In all cases before we carry out any work for you we will outline our costs in writing in a client care letter which you then approve. You will receive regular reviews of our costs and regular statements and updates on costs and timings. 

Private Children Matters  

Based upon our hourly rate of £215+VAT @20%*. 
Court fee £255* (if applicable). 
 
Costs will be confirmed on receipt of instructions. 
 
In all cases before we carry out any work for you we will outline our costs in writing in a client care letter which you then approve. You will receive regular reviews of our costs and regular statements and updates on costs and timings. 

Wills 

Simple Single Will from £250+VAT @20%*. 
Simple Mirror Wills from £399+VAT @20%* for a couple. 
Will with an occupational or life interest from £350+VAT @20%*. 
Will with an occupational or life interest for couples from £499+VAT @20%*. 
Codicils from £125+VAT @20%*. 
Codicils for couples from £175+VAT @20%*. 
 
If there are more complex issues i.e severing tenancy, trusts etc then additional costs will be confirmed on receipt of instructions. 
 
In all cases before we carry out any work for you we will outline our costs in writing in a client care letter which you then approve. You will receive regular reviews of our costs and regular statements and updates on costs and timings. 

Lasting Powers of Attorney  

Based upon £250+VAT @20%* per LPA. 
Office of the Public Guardian costs of £82* per LPA. 
 
Costs will be confirmed on receipt of instructions. 
 
In all cases before we carry out any work for you we will outline our costs in writing in a client care letter which you then approve. You will receive regular reviews of our costs and regular statements and updates on costs and timings. 

Other Fees 

Electronic ID Checks Fee £12+VAT @20%*. 

Probate 

We offer a free appointment to enable us to give you initial advice at what is a difficult time. At that meeting we will provide you with an overview of what the costs are likely to be and the work that we may carry out for you.  
We do not charge a percentage of the value of the estate. We only charge for the work carried out by us.  
 
Your work will be carried out by Garfield Wallett who is an experienced solicitor and a member of STEP.  
 
The complexity of probate applications varies depending on a number of factors such as: 
 
Value of the estate 
Whether there was a valid Will 
Number of beneficiaries 
Number and types of assets involved 
Enquiries 
 
As part of any fee quoted we will: 
 
Provide you with an experienced Solicitor and support from our team 
Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries 
Ascertain the value of the estate, if necessary 
Accurately identify the type of probate application you will require 
Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application 
Complete the probate application and the relevant HMRC forms and liaise at this stage with HMRC, if necessary 
If the estate is subject to Inheritance Tax, calculate the Inheritance Tax payable in order to apply for the Grant of Probate 
If the estate is taxable, liaise with the relevant financial institutions to pay the said tax 
Submit the relevant papers to the Inland Revenue and/or the Probate Court on your behalf 
Obtain the Probate 
Dealing with any queries the Inland Revenue may have to include paying the balance of any Inheritance Tax owed 
Completing further forms if the value of the estate has changed since the probate valuations and either more tax is payable by the estate or repayable to the estate from the Revenue 
Collect and distribute all the assets 
 
If you need assistance in administering the estate i.e. collecting in and then distributing the estate the fees quoted will be towards the higher end of the range. The fees will also be towards the higher end of the range quoted if there are multiple accounts and beneficiaries. 
 

Probate Applications Can Generally Be Divided Into The Following Areas Of Work: 

TYPE OF WORK 
COST 
TIMESCALE 
COMPLEXITY FACTORS  
INCURRING FURTHER 
COSTS 
Obtaining a grant of probate in a simple estate. 
£750 + VAT @20%* 
3-9 months 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This fee is only applicable if the Executors have identified the full value of the estate. 
Obtaining a grant and administering an estate where there is a valid Will. 
 
No Inheritance Tax to pay. 
£1,000 – £5,000 + VAT @20%* 
6 - 12 months 
If there are shareholdings (stocks and bonds) involved further work will be required depending on how they are to be dealt with.  
Obtaining letters of administration where there is not a Will (an intestacy) and administering the estate. 
 
No inheritance tax to pay. 
£1,200 – £5,000 + VAT @20%* 
6 - 12 months 
Further work may be required to locate missing beneficiaries by instructing a specialist firm who will charge their costs separately at the tune of instruction. 
Obtaining a grant/ letters of administration and administering the estate where no inheritance tax is payable but a full Inheritance Tax Return required. 
£2,500 – £6,000 + VAT @20%* 
6- 12 months depending upon HMRC time scales  
In some cases a full inheritance tax return will be required even though inheritance tax is not payable. 
Valid Will or intestate. 
 
Inheritance tax payable. 
 
Full inheritance tax return required. 
£5,000 – £15,000 + VAT @20%* 
6 - 12 months dependant upon Inland Revenue time scales  
A taxable estate will require a full tax return setting out the details of each asset. Additional work may be required when claiming nil rate bands from a former deceased spouse’s estate as the former spouse’s estate value would also need to be established. 
In all cases before we carry out any work for you we will outline our costs in writing in a client care letter which you then approve. You will receive regular reviews of our costs and regular statements and updates on costs and timings.  
 
 
 

Additional Costs and Timings 

If disputes between beneficiaries or executors arise, then this is likely to lead to an increase in costs. 
 
Please note: that when dealing with the Inland Revenue, it is difficult to give an exact timescale as to how long matters will take to complete. 
 
If Inheritance Tax is not payable, but a full Inland Revenue Return needs to be done, we have to wait for the Inland Revenue to return important documents prior to making the Application for Probate. Therefore, any timescale will depend upon how long it takes for the Inland Revenue to deal with the said forms. If inheritance tax is payable The Inland Revenue have twenty weeks to raise any enquiries on any forms submitted and thereafter their investigations can continue beyond the time-frame given. 
We will give you a more accurate quote once we have ascertained further information regarding the estate. We would also ensure that you are kept updated with regards to timescales and issues which may cause further delay in dealing with an estate. 
 
Please note that due to the ongoing restrictions caused by COVID, Government departments, Court's, the Probate registry and other institutions may have further delays in processing information which may lead to delays in your case. If so you will be advised.  
 
Please note that we do not carry out conveyancing services, however we can provide you with the details of the Law society service "find a solicitor" or Review Solicitors to assist you in this process.  

Disbursements 

During the running of any application, we anticipate that the following disbursements may be required: 
TYPE 
COST 
VARIABLE FACTORS 
Probate application court fee. 
£273 + £0.50 per additional copy* 
Fixed fee. 
Commissioner’s fee. 
£5.00 + £2 per person per exhibit 
Costs will vary on number of exhibits and number of personal representatives. 
Office Copy Entries. 
£3.00  
Number of office copies obtained depending on number of properties and whether both leasehold and freehold titles registered separately. 
Bankruptcy searches. 
£2.00 + VAT @20%* 
Number of personal representatives and beneficiaries against whom searches need to be made. 
Advertisement in the London Gazette to protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. 
£69.50 - + VAT @20%* 
The costs of an advertisment may change due to market forces. If so you will be updated in writing.  
Advertisement in local newspaper. 
 
 
Searches provided by Will Certainty  
Registered will search  
Combined will Search  
Protect will Search 
£175 - £200 + VAT @20%* 
 
 
£38 + VAT @20%* 
£95.00 + VAT @20%* 
£221 + VAT @20%* 
The charges will vary depending on the cost of the relevant local newspaper. You will be updated in writing.  
 
 
Search for a registered will  
Searches including for a registered will and searches nationally for an unregistered will  
Protect will search performs all of the above searches plus a section 27 Notice  
*Subject to change by HMCTS/OPG/GOVERNMENT