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Thank you for considering our probate services. Losing someone close to you brings a range of emotions, and the legal responsibilities that follow can feel overwhelming. Having compassionate, experienced support can make a difficult time much easier for you and your family.
Whether the person who has died left a Will or had significant assets, administering an estate can feel like a heavy responsibility. If there is a valid Will, the ‘Executors’ will usually need to apply for a ‘Grant of Probate’ to manage the estate. If there is no Will, if a Will is invalid or does not name an executor, an ‘Administrator’ will need to be appointed instead.
Why Choose Us
Our experienced team can guide you through every stage of the probate process, easing the administrative burden and offering sensitive, practical advice when key decisions need to be made. We understand that probate often comes at a time of grief, when the legal steps may feel unfamiliar or confusing.
We will provide a clear timeline for how long probate is likely to take and keep you updated throughout.
You can feel confident that you are our priority. Any member of our team will be on hand to answer your questions and offer reassurance whenever you need clarity or support. In most cases, our fees are paid from the estate, which means you may not need to fund the administration costs personally.
Many of our team members are STEP‑qualified professionals or are actively involved with the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly). These respected organisations set the highest standards in estate planning, probate, and lifetime legal care. Their involvement means you receive advice from specialists with advanced training, a deep understanding of complex estates, and a genuine commitment to supporting individuals and families during sensitive times. This added level of expertise gives you confidence that your loved one’s affairs are being handled with exceptional skill, care, and professionalism.
We are also proud to hold the Law Society’s Lexcel Accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to exceptional client care and rigorous practice standards.
Our Pricing
Probate costs can vary depending on the complexity of the estate and the work required.
- Fixed Fee Option:
For straightforward estates, we can offer a fixed fee for obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (together known as a Grant of Representation). Once obtained, the Executors or Administrators can then deal with the remainder of the estate administration.
Grant of Representation only (a fixed fee will be quoted if this service is required)
Item | Amount | + VAT at 20% | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
For grant of representation only, where an IHT Return is not required to be submitted | From £2,750 | £500 | £3,300 |
For Grant of Representation only, where the IHT 400 is required but estate is not subject to IHT (the long form of the IHT Return) | From £4,000 - £6,000 | £800 - £1,200 | £4,800 - £7,200 |
For Grant of Representation only, where the IHT 400 is required and estate is subject to IHT (the long form of the IHT Return) | From £15,000+VAT | From £3,000 | From £18,000 |
The above fees are for applications where the Personal Representatives are providing the necessary details of the assets/liabilities/lifetime gifts and in the required format. Sometimes the above range may be exceeded e.g if the number of assets/liabilities/lifetime gifts to be reported is very high.
- Hourly Rate Option:
For more complex estates or where you would prefer full support, we charge on an hourly basis.
Dealing with the full Estate Administration (Hourly Rate)
We understand that handling a loved one’s estate can feel overwhelming, especially during a time of loss. We’re here to guide you through every step. We will obtain the Grant of Representation for you and then continue to administer the estate on your behalf. As part of our retainer, we will:
- Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate practitioner
- Confirm the legally appointed executors, administrators, and beneficiaries
- Arrange valuations of all assets and liabilities in the estate
- Identify the type of application required
- Prepare and submit all necessary probate and HMRC forms
- Make the application to the Probate Registry for you
- Secure the Grant of Representation
- Collect all assets and settle any outstanding liabilities
- Distribute the estate in line with the terms of the Will
- Prepare a detailed estate account for the executors and residuary beneficiaries
The cost of administering the full estate will depend on a number of factors, including the number of beneficiaries, whether the estate includes property, the number of bank accounts or investments, and the overall value of the estate. Estates with multiple properties, investments, or assets typically require more time and therefore may involve higher fees.
We will handle the entire process for you and provide a clear range of costs based on the estimated time involved. Please note that the term “property” refers to a house that forms part of the estate. For example, if the deceased owned a property jointly with a spouse and that property passes automatically by survivorship, we would treat the estate as one with no property to administer.
Indicative fees are as follows:
Estate £50,000 - £100,000
No property, up to 6 accounts (no IHT return required)
| Fee Range | VAT (20%) | Total (inc. VAT) | |
| Legal Fees | £6,000 - £7,500 | £1,200 - £1,500 |
|
Estates £100,000 - £325,000
Includes a property and up to 12 investments (no IHT return required)
| Fee Range | VAT (20%) | Total (inc. VAT) | |
| Legal Fees | £7,500 - £13,500 | £1,500 - £2,700 |
|
Estates £325,000 - £650,000
Includes a property and up to 16 investments (no IHT return required)
| Fee Range | VAT (20%) | Total (inc. VAT) | |
| Legal Fees | £8,000 - £19,500 | £1,600 - £3,900 |
|
Estates £650,000 - £2,000,000 (IHT return required)
Includes a property and up to 30 investments
| Fee Range | VAT (20%) | Total (inc. VAT) | |
| Legal Fees | £9,000 - £60,000 | £1,800 - £12,000 |
|
Estates over £2,000,000
Pricing is agreed on a bespoke basis, depending on the complexity and scope of the estate.
Note: values stated refer to the gross value of the estate
| Partner | £360 - £450 |
| Legal Director | £340 |
| Senior Associate | £320 |
| Associate | £290 |
| Solicitor/Legal Exec | £270 |
| Paralegal | £210 |
Anticipated Disbursements
Item | Amount |
|---|---|
Probate Fee | £526 |
Sealed Copies for the Grant of Probate, cost per copy (1 copy per asset usually obtained): If obtained when applying for the Grant If obtained after Probate has been issued |
£16 |
Land Registry Search fee | £7 |
Post in the Local Newspaper | varies |
Post in the London Gazette | varies |
Additional Costs
The cost of selling or transferring a property is not included in the above prices. If you require this service, please let us know and a quote can be provided by our conveyancing team.
There may be additional disbursements if we have to deal with tracing a lost Will, tracing lost assets or replacing lost share certificates.
In some circumstances it may be necessary to pay a premium for an indemnity insurance policy, for example if beneficiaries can’t be traced.
If the estate is subject to Inheritance Tax (IHT) then it is likely that there will be additional disbursements for the cost of obtaining valuations for property, possessions and shareholdings.
Exclusions
Our fees usually fall within the ranges shown however there may be factors which would typically increase time spent and the cost of the fees involved. Where there is likely to be any additional cost, we will make sure you are informed of this at the earliest opportunity and a clear estimate of those extra costs will be provided.
In addition to the fees detailed above, an additional fee may be charged if the Estate involves any of the following:
- Sorting through numerous old papers
- Missing title deeds or share certificates
- Beneficiaries having to be traced e.g. because their contact details are not known
- There are trusts in which the deceased had an interest which need to be considered
- Pre and post death income tax returns
- Agricultural or business property
- Private company shares
- Foreign assets
- Specialist assets e.g. private collections
- Inheritance Tax or complex tax issues, and enquiries form HMRC
- Threatened, anticipated or actual litigation or disputes
- The renunciation of an executor
- A Will where the terms are unclear
- Tax advice
- Deeds of variation or disclaimer
- Other unusual or complex situations
Time Scales
On average, dealing with a typical estate will take between 5 – 24 months. Generally, the time taken to obtain the Grant of Probate is 3 - 6 months, followed by the collection of assets and distribution of the assets which may take a further 2 - 6 months. If the estate includes a property that is difficult to sell this can of course delay settling the estate. Some complex estates such as involving Inheritance Tax or income and capital gains tax considerations can take up to 2 years, or longer, to settle. The range takes into account handling everything from straightforward Estates through to more complex Estates.
Inheritance Tax
There are various factors that will affect any Inheritance Tax due on an Estate, including the size of the Estate and any measures that were put in place by the deceased to limit the Estate’s tax liability.
We do not believe that it would be sensible to attempt to provide at this stage an estimate of any tax that may be payable. We would advise you to look on the HMRC Website to calculate Inheritance Tax which may be due, the calculators can be found at: How to value an estate for Inheritance Tax and report its value: Estimate the estate’s value - GOV.UK
Key Milestones
With every transaction there are key milestones, which may vary according to individual circumstances. They may be as follows:
- Applying for Grant of Representation
- Obtaining Grant of Representation
- Settling Liabilities (including tax)
- Collecting funds ready for distribution (including selling Property)
- Distributing funds in accordance with the terms of the Will
- Producing Estate accounts