We have set out our estimated legal fees below. Please contact us for an estimate based on your particular circumstances.

Our costs for dealing with obtaining the Grant of Probate and administering the estate will depend on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of the estate, the type of assets and the terms of the Will.

The information set out below is intended to be a guide as to what our costs may be for dealing with particular aspects of an estate, but our total costs will depend on the individual circumstances of each case. We will provide you with an indication of the likely cost when we have had the opportunity to consider the particular circumstances relating to the estate.

For your convenience, all the fees that appear on this page already include VAT for complete transparency on what you will pay and to prevent you from having to work out the total fee yourself.

Disbursements are fees we are required to pay to other parties on your behalf, which you will then be required to reimburse us for. These prices are set by other parties and you will be required to pay these no matter which advisor you choose.

• Probate Registry fee: £155, plus £1.50 per copy of Grant of Probate
• Land Registry fees to transfer properties: typically £20 to £125 per property
• Bankruptcy search fees: £2 per name of beneficiary
• Income tax on estate income received
• Inheritance Tax, if applicable
• Capital Gains Tax on any gains realised by the estate on sales
• To place a notice in the London Gazette and local newspaper to advertise for creditors (which can protect the executors): £120 to £550
• Valuation fees for professional valuations of assets
• Ongoing utility and insurance costs

Additional Fees:

The fees set out above do not include estimates for additional measures outside the scope of estate administration that can often arise during the course of an administration, such as dealing with trusts which may arise under the Will or estate planning for the beneficiaries.

They also do not cover the costs of other departments within Kuits who may assist, e.g. our residential conveyancing team for the sale of a property, or our corporate team for the sale of shares in a business.

These costs also assume that matters are not contested, e.g. there is no claim by any of the beneficiaries for reasonable financial provision, and that the terms of the Will (or how the assets will pass in the event there is no Will) are clear.

• Taking initial instructions – we discuss with you (if possible, at a face–to-face meeting) terms of the will or how the assets will pass, the probate procedure and the initial information we will need in order to commence the application for probate and calculate the inheritance tax payable, if any
• We will have ongoing discussions with you to ensure that we have all the information relevant to the estate
• We will then prepare the relevant paperwork to enable the inheritance tax to be paid (if applicable) and for the application for probate to be made
• If instructed, we can then assist with these additional aspects:
  • Administering the estate by closing accounts and/or transferring investments and other assets
  • Distributing the estate to the beneficiaries
  • Preparing full estate accounts
  • Reviewing additional taxes payable during the administration such as income tax or capital gains tax
  • Considering estate planning measures applicable to the beneficiaries (e.g. to protect their inheritance for their family)

It is very difficult to estimate the timescales required to deal with administration matters, as these will vary in each case. However, we have provided some indicative information below of how long each stage may take. This is only a broad guide and as we progress your matter we would be in a better position to advise you of likely timescales.

Paul Bricknell – Partner

Graham Wood – Partner

Lauren Clyne – Partner

Elaine Roche – Partner