We believe in providing clear, transparent, and proportionate legal fees. Wherever possible, we will discuss the likely costs with you at the outset and keep you informed throughout your matter so that you have a clear understanding of the work being undertaken and the costs involved.
We are happy to discuss your requirements in advance and, where appropriate, may be able to offer a fixed fee for specific legal services.
Initial Consultation
Our initial consultation fees range from £170 to £400 plus VAT, depending on the level of expertise and seniority of the solicitor conducting the meeting.
Following your initial consultation, we will explain the likely next steps and, where possible, provide an estimate or fixed-fee proposal for the work required.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid may be available for certain types of legal work, subject to applicable financial eligibility and other requirements. The rules and eligibility criteria can change from time to time.
For the most up-to-date information, please visit the UK Government’s Civil Legal Advice service.
If you are unsure whether your circumstances may qualify for Legal Aid, please contact us and we can discuss your position with you.
Civil Litigation Fees
Debt Recovery
Our debt recovery team has extensive experience advising clients on a wide range of matters involving unpaid debts and commercial or consumer debt recovery.
We aim to resolve matters efficiently and proportionately, encouraging negotiation wherever possible to avoid unnecessary legal costs. Where court proceedings or enforcement action becomes necessary, we can advise and represent you through the relevant process.
Your matter will be handled by Cherin Sparrow, Solicitor, under the supervision of Amanjit Lalli, Solicitor and Director.
Cherin Sparrow – Solicitor
Cherin qualified as a solicitor in 2018 and is an experienced litigator who advises on a broad range of civil litigation matters, including debt recovery and collection.
She takes a pragmatic approach to disputes and seeks to encourage early negotiation and settlement wherever appropriate. Where a matter cannot be resolved without litigation, she can guide clients through the court process and advise on the most appropriate strategy.
Debt Recovery – Fixed Fee Information
Our fixed-fee debt recovery arrangements apply where a claim relates to an undisputed unpaid invoice and enforcement action is not required.
If the debt is disputed at any stage, or if additional work becomes necessary, we will discuss the position with you and explain the likely additional costs before undertaking further work where appropriate.
Depending on the circumstances, further work may be offered on a fixed-fee basis, such as preparing a one-off letter, or charged according to our applicable hourly rates where more extensive work or litigation is required.
Please contact us for further information about our debt recovery fees.
Probate & Estate Administration Fees
We are committed to providing clear information about the costs involved in probate and estate administration.
We can assist with obtaining a Grant of Probate where the deceased left a valid Will, or a Grant of Letters of Administration where the intestacy rules apply. We can also assist with the administration of the estate following the issue of the relevant Grant of Representation.
Your matter will be handled by Nazmin Sultan Khan, Solicitor, under the supervision of Amanjit Lalli, Solicitor and Director.
Nazmin Sultan Khan – Solicitor
Nazmin qualified as a solicitor in 2020. She obtained her Law Degree from the University of Westminster before completing the Legal Practice Course (LPC).
She has extensive experience in the legal sector and has developed particular expertise in Wills and Probate, advising clients on both contentious and non-contentious probate matters.
Our Probate Fees
Our probate and estate administration services are charged on an hourly-rate basis. We do not offer a fixed-fee service for probate matters. You will only be charged for the work carried out on your behalf.
Hourly Rates
| Fee Earner | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Director | £400.00 + VAT |
| Solicitor | £250.00 + VAT |
| Trainee Solicitor | £150.00 + VAT |
| Paralegal | £100.00 + VAT |
The overall cost will depend on the nature and complexity of the estate and the level of assistance required. Factors may include whether we are instructed to obtain the Grant of Representation, administer the estate, or undertake both stages, as well as the number and type of assets involved.
Applying for Probate
Where we are instructed solely to apply for the Grant of Probate or other appropriate Grant of Representation, we anticipate that the work will require approximately 5–10 hours at £250 per hour plus VAT.
Our estimated legal fees are therefore:
£1,250–£2,500 + VAT at 20%, plus applicable disbursements.
This is an estimate and not a fixed fee.
The work may include, but is not limited to:
- Providing a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor
- Identifying the legally appointed executors or administrators
- Identifying beneficiaries
- Establishing the appropriate type of probate application
- Obtaining the documents required for the application
- Preparing the Probate Application and relevant HMRC forms
- Preparing the legal oath or statement required
- Submitting the application to the Probate Registry
- Obtaining the Grant of Representation
- Providing the Grant securely to you
Estate Administration Following the Grant
Where we are instructed to administer the estate following the issue of the Grant of Representation, we anticipate approximately 5–20 hours of work at £250 per hour plus VAT.
Our estimated legal fees are therefore:
£1,250–£5,000 + VAT at 20%, plus applicable disbursements.
This is an estimate and not a fixed fee.
The work may include, but is not limited to:
- Identifying and collecting estate assets
- Dealing with financial institutions and other asset providers
- Paying outstanding debts and liabilities
- Considering relevant lifetime tax issues
- Distributing the estate to beneficiaries
- Preparing and updating estate accounts
- Corresponding with beneficiaries and relevant third parties
The final cost will depend on the circumstances of the estate. For example, an estate involving a single beneficiary, one residential property, and straightforward bank accounts is likely to require less work than an estate involving multiple beneficiaries, several properties, numerous financial accounts, investments, trusts, or other complex assets.
Estates Covered by This Estimate
The above estimate is based on an estate where:
- There is a valid Will
- All assets are located within the UK
- There is no more than one residential property
- There are no more than two bank or building society accounts
- There are no other significant intangible assets
- There is one beneficiary who is not a charity
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries
- There is no inheritance tax payable
- The executors are not required to submit a full account to HM Revenue & Customs
- There are no claims against the estate
- There is no requirement for Trust Registration
If the circumstances differ materially from those outlined above, the amount of work required and therefore the overall costs may increase.
Disbursements
Disbursements are expenses payable to third parties in connection with your matter, such as court fees and certain search or publication charges. Where appropriate, we can arrange payment of these costs on your behalf.
Potential disbursements include:
- Probate application fee: £273.00
- Additional copies of the Grant: £1.50 per copy, normally one copy per asset where required
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches: £2.00 per beneficiary
- Office copy entries: £3.00 plus VAT per property
- London Gazette notice: approximately £100–£250 plus VAT
- Local newspaper notice: approximately £50–£250 plus VAT
The actual amount of any disbursement may vary depending on the circumstances of the estate and the requirements of the relevant third party.
Potential Additional Costs
Additional work and costs may arise where an estate is more complex than the circumstances covered by our estimate.
For example:
- Where there is no valid Will and the intestacy rules apply
- Where the estate includes shares, stocks, bonds, or other investments
- Where there are multiple properties
- Where there are multiple beneficiaries
- Where beneficiaries dispute the division or administration of the estate
- Where inheritance tax is payable
- Where a full HMRC account is required
- Where Trust Registration is required
- Where claims are made against the estate
- Where additional investigations or correspondence are required
The sale or transfer of property is not included in our probate fees. We do not undertake conveyancing work.
Our estimates also do not include any tax liabilities that may arise, including Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax, interest, or penalties.
Where additional work becomes necessary, we will discuss the circumstances with you and provide updated costs information where appropriate.
How Long Does Probate Take?
The timescale will depend on the complexity of the estate, the information available, and the response times of third parties and relevant authorities.
For estates falling within the circumstances described above, administration will typically take approximately 6–18 months.
Obtaining the Grant of Probate or other Grant of Representation will typically take approximately 6–8 weeks, although this can vary depending on the circumstances and how quickly information concerning the deceased, the estate’s assets, and liabilities can be established.
Contested Probate
Where probate becomes contentious or disputes arise concerning the validity of a Will, entitlement to an estate, the conduct of an executor, or other estate-related matters, the work will be charged separately.
Contested Probate: £250.00 + VAT per hour, plus applicable disbursements.
The overall cost will depend on the nature and complexity of the dispute, the parties involved, the amount of evidence required, and whether the matter can be resolved through negotiation or requires formal court proceedings.
Wills Fees
How Much Do We Charge for Wills?
We offer the following fees for the preparation of straightforward Wills:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single Will | £300.00 + VAT |
| Mirror Wills | £500.00 + VAT |
The above fees apply to straightforward Will instructions. Where more complex arrangements are required, including trusts, business interests, international assets, or more complicated inheritance provisions, we will discuss the additional work and costs with you before proceeding.
Clear & Transparent Costs
We understand that legal costs are an important consideration when dealing with probate, estate administration, litigation, or Will preparation.
Our aim is to provide clear information from the outset, explain the work required, and keep you informed if circumstances change. If you would like to discuss your circumstances and obtain an indication of the likely costs involved, please contact our team.
