Probate Services
Aidan Squire is the fee earner that will deal with your probate matter. Aidan is a very experienced solicitor with over 40 years experience dealing with amongst other things, probate and can deal with all aspects of the estate for the executors from obtaining the grant of probate right through to the final distribution to beneficiaries and accounting to the executors.
These are based upon acting on behalf of either Executors named in a valid Will or acting on behalf of Beneficiaries who are entitled to the deceased’s estate where there is no Will.
- in acting for Executors or Beneficiaries we will identify legally appointed Executors or Administrators or beneficiaries
- We will accurately identify the type of Probate Application we require.
- We will obtain the relevant documents required to make the application.
- We will complete the application for a Grant and relevant HMRC forms.
- We will draft a legal Oath Fee to swear.
- We will make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
- We will obtain the appropriate grant and send two copies to you
- We will collect and distribute all assets in the estate
- We will deal with any additional matters arising in dealing with the things as set out above.
On average estates that fall within this range are dealt within the 6 to 12 months. Obtaining Grant of Probate in straight forward cases will usually take 8 to 16 weeks. The collecting in of the assets then follows which can be between 8 to 50 weeks. Once this has been done, we will distribute the assets which normally takes a further 3 to 4 weeks.
Get in touch with us - we're happy to help
Whetever your legal requirement reach out to us today and we’ll be happy to help where we can. Our quick enquiry form allows you to share some basic information with us to allow a personalised response, or you can simply view our contact details and get in touch with us however you choose.
How much will Probate cost and how long will it take?
Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets
We anticipate this will take between 15 and 50 hours work at £250 per hour. Total costs estimated at -£3,750-£12,500 (+VAT).
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. This quote is for estates where:
- There is a valid will
- There is no more than one property
- There are no more than 2 bank or building society accounts
- There are no other intangible assets
- There are 1-4 beneficiaries
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
- There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
- There are no claims made against the estate
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.
Disbursements included in this fee:
- Probate application fee of £215
- £7 Swearing of the oath (per executor)
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£5 per beneficiary)
- £84.60 Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
- £75 Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
Potential Additional Costs
If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information.
If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £10 (1 per asset usually).
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 this range are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 8-16 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 8-50 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2-4 weeks.