Fee for Uncontested Probate

Probate is a court process for the gathering of the assets of a deceased’s estate, paying debts and taxes and distributing what is left to those named as executors in the Will.

Uncontested Probate means that there are no disputes over the Will and/or distributions of assets. Below is information on legal fees, disbursements and the length of time it will take to complete your matter.

Legal Fees and Disbursements

Legal fees is the amount you will be required to pay for all work carried out by us in acting on your behalf from commencement of your case to the agreed completion.

  • Our average standard legal fees for an uncontested probate matter is between £1,200 to £4,500 plus VAT.
  • The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter.

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 £325,000 in bank or building society accounts;
  • There are no other intangible assets;
  • There are 1 – 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;
  • 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;
  • All assets are located in England and Wales;
  • There is no tax clearance awaited for either Inheritance Tax or Income Tax.

There are a number of factors that could make the matter more complex and in turn increase the costs. These can include but are not limited to:

  • Disagreements between executors and/or beneficiaries;
  • Complexity of the tax position;
  • Difficulties in obtaining information from third parties – financial institutions, executors, etc;
  • Delays in property or other assets being sold;
  • Post death Deeds of Variation;
  • Corrective accounts and or claims for loss relief;
  • Consideration of Capital Gains Tax position including deeds of appropriation;
  • Negotiations with district valuer and HMRC;
  • Further enquiries received from HMRC.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smooth process:

  • Probate application fee of £155;
  • Additional copies of grant of probate £1.50 per copy;
  • Bankruptcy only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary);
  • Adverts in the London Gazette and adverts in the local newspaper;
  • Electronic money transfers £35 plus VAT.

Potential additional costs

  • If there is no will or the estate consists of any shareholdings (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;
  • Dealing with the sale of 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 is taking approximately 8 – 10 weeks.

Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 6 to 12 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2 – 4 weeks.

Contact

Annabelle Vaughan Partner

Annabelle specialises in Wills, Probate, Attorneys and residential conveyancing. Annabelle was admitted in 1988 and became a partner in 1992. She is a member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).

For more information

For more information about using our professional services for uncontested probate matters please get in touch either by telephone on 01344 622141 or email info@campbellhooperco.co.uk. We would be delighted to speak to you and provide you with an estimate bespoke to your needs.