Probate Pricing

probate and administration of estates.

Discover more about our Wills & Probate service today and find out how our expert team can help you.

Details of our fees for estate administration, including probate, is available below.

The prices set out will, in most cases, be the amount you pay. However, there may be occasions where your circumstances are more complicated, and we may have to agree a different price with you.

We believe in being open about prices and giving you price certainty with fixed fee options. We have itemised the options available for you and you can decide which option is right for you.

fixed fee options.

We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate for the executors (if there is a will) or the administrators (where there is no will). In this section we set out our fixed fee prices. These prices apply on the basis the executors/administrators will provide us with full details of the assets and debts of the estate and their values as at the date of death.

our price:

Simple estate – fees starting from £1,500 + VAT (£1,800)

Complex estate – fees starting from £3,000 + VAT (£3,600)

This includes:

  1. a dedicated and experienced probate lawyer to work on your matter
  2. an initial meeting (which typically lasts no longer than one hour)
    • to identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
    • accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require
    • advising on the probate process
    • advising the executors or administrators on their duties and responsibilities
    • advising on the information required to obtain Probate to enable you to prepare a list of the assets and liabilities and their values.
  3. reviewing and checking that the information provided to us is accurate and in accordance HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) rules.
  4. Obtaining an Inheritance Tax (IHT) reference and completing the relevant IHT forms.
  5. Calculating the IHT due and preparing IHT payment forms, if applicable.
  6. ensuring that the correct IHT exemptions and reliefs are claimed.
  7. drafting a legal statement for you to sign.
  8. making the application to the Probate Court on your behalf.
  9. obtaining the Probate and sending the Probate to you.
  10. free safe storage of the original Probate.

other costs:

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. These include:

Probate Court Fee – £300 with additional copies charged per copy (no VAT).

Copies of the deeds to the deceased’s property – Approximately £5 + VAT per property

Protection from unexpected claims from unknown creditors – Approximately £200 + VAT

ID check – £20 + VAT per person

our timescales:

Simple estate

From receipt of the list of the assets and debts and their values from you, it will take us approximately 2 weeks to prepare the probate application for you to sign.

The Probate Court takes on average 16 weeks to issue the Probate.

Complex estate

From receipt of the list of the assets and liabilities and their values from you, it will take us approximately 3-4 weeks to prepare the IHT forms and probate application for you to sign.

HMRC takes on average 4 weeks to notify the Probate Court that Probate can be granted.

The Probate Court takes on average 16 weeks to issue the Probate.

complete service.

The fixed fee service is not for everyone. Bereavement can be an emotionally traumatic experience and this can make dealing with the administration of the estate a daunting prospect. Even if you are not directly affected by the death, you may still want a helping hand through the whole administration process. We can offer this help through our complete service where we will deal with every aspect of the estate from beginning to end.

Every estate is different and our price will be bespoke to you. We will take into account the information available at the outset to provide you with an estimate. We do understand that sometimes it is difficult to provide us with all of the information at the outset and it’s sometimes difficult to foresee all the issues that may arise and so we will make sure that if such issues arise we will keep you updated with costs information periodically.

our prices:

Our costs are based partly on the value of the estate and partly on the time spent dealing with the matter.

The time element is based on the time spent by the solicitor on the particular matter. Our time is normally charged at the rates set out in the table below, plus VAT and typically can range from £3,000 to £20,000 but for a large and/or complex estate, the time charge can be higher.

Paralegal – £150-£160 per hour

Trainee solicitor – £180-£190 per hour

Solicitor and Chartered Legal Executive (with up to four years’ post qualification experience) – £220-£250 per hour

Solicitor and Chartered Legal Executive (with more than four years’ post qualification experience) – £250-£280 per hour

Senior Solicitor and Senior Chartered Legal Executive – £280-£320 per hour

Partner – £320-£350 per hour

For the value element, the starting point is 1% of the gross estate where Howell Jones LLP are not Executors, or 1.5% where any partners or members of the firm are Executors. There are some further modifications;

  1. In calculating the gross estate, the value of the deceased’s interest in his or her residence is halved.
  2. In calculating the gross estate, some assets, for example a share in a property passing by survivorship, may be excluded from this charge.

The value element reflects the importance of the matter and consequently the responsibility imposed on the firm, and other factors such as the complexity of the matter and the skill involved.

the probate stages

The stages and processes which need to be completed in order to administer the estate are set out as follows:

Stage 1

  • Meeting with a dedicated and experienced probate lawyer to work on your matter:
    • to identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
    • accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require
    • advising on the probate process
    • advising the executors or administrators on their duties and responsibilities
    • advising on the information required to obtain Probate
  • Initial correspondence to investigate and obtain various valuations for all assets and liabilities
  • Prepare Schedule of Assets and Liabilities

Stage 2

  • Prepare relevant Inheritance Tax (IHT) forms and all relevant schedules
  • Obtain an IHT reference from HMRC where necessary
  • Calculate the IHT due on the estate and ensure that the correct Inheritance Tax (IHT) exemptions and reliefs are claimed
  • Prepare the IHT payment forms where necessary and liaise with banks to arrange payment of the IHT due on submission of the IHT Tax Return to HMRC

Stage 3

  • Draft legal statement for you to sign
  • Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
  • Obtain Probate

Stage 4

  • Collect in all assets
  • Pay all known liabilities
  • Advertise for creditors
  • Liaise with property solicitors regarding the sale of any property*
  • Finalise IHT
  • Prepare and finalise Income Tax to date of death
  • Prepare and finalise Tax Returns for the period of administration
  • Prepare and finalise Capital Gains Tax
  • Obtain HMRC clearance for all taxes
  • Carry out bankruptcy and ID checks on all beneficiaries
  • Pay legacies
  • Deal with any transfer assets to beneficiaries named in the Will
  • Make interim distributions
  • Obtain receipts

*conveyancing costs are not included

Stage 5

  • Finalise Estate Accounts
  • Send signed Estate Accounts to residuary beneficiaries
  • Prepare R185 tax certificates
  • Distribute the estate
  • Obtain receipts

other costs:

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. These include:

Probate Court Fee – £300 with additional copies charged per copy (no VAT).

Copies of the deeds to the deceased’s property – Approximately £5 + VAT per property

Protection from unexpected claims from unknown creditors – Approximately £200 + VAT

ID check – £20 + VAT per person

our timescales:

On average, a taxable estate takes about a year to complete but there are some which complete in a much shorter timescale and some which may take longer.

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