Non Contested Probate

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

The length of time and costs involved in administering an estate largely depends on the size of the estate. We anticipate that it will take between 20 and 40 hours work at between £175 – £240 (+VAT) per hour. Total costs estimated at £6,000 – £8,000 (+VAT) to administer an average sized estate.

The rate of VAT is 20% and fees quoted are exclusive of 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. The costs incurred are likely to increase in the following circumstances

There is no valid will

There is more than one property

There are more than 2 bank or building society accounts

There are other intangible assets

There are multiple beneficiaries

There are disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets.

There is inheritance tax payable and the executors need to submit a full account to HMRC

There are any claims made against the estate, for example from the Department for Work and Pensions

If 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 £1.50p (1 per asset usually).

Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property held in the estate is not included.

Disbursements payable in addition:

Probate application fee of £155

Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary)

Notices  in the London Gazette and in the Local Newspaper – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors – approx cost £200 – £250

There may be other disbursements payable depending on the circumstances of 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.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6 – 18 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 12 – 20 weeks, once all information has been obtained. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 8 – 24 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 4 – 8 weeks.