Probate Pricing

Services offered

The private client department at Rutherfords LLP provides an understanding and efficient approach to handle estates for both executors and administrators to guide you with genuine expertise through the administration and to prepare the necessary tax returns and papers for applying for the grant of probate.

We offer a range of services including grant of probate only applications through to a full administration service for executors and can provide advice and assistance at any stage of the administration of the estate.

Rutherfords LLP are registered to apply for probate applications online to HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and to make online payment of probate fees.

Initial advice

To assist executors and administrators we offer a free 30-minute consultation with one of our private client team to discuss the administration of the estate.

This allows general advice to be provided to explain what this involves and what documents and enquiries will be necessary, and if a grant of probate is needed to administer the estate.

How do we charge? 

We offer fixed fees for advice only appointments (in addition to the initial 30-minute free consultation) of £250 plus vat (a total of £300) for one hour.

We also offer fixed fees for grant only applications as set out below.

For a full administration service our charges are based on either the time taken to administer the estate or as a percentage of the assets. Since every estate is unique, we provide a range of costs in this guide to enable an executor to decide how much assistance they require so that we can tailor the estimate to your specific requirements. We also offer fixed quote pricing as an alternative..

The following fixed fees for a grant only service apply to estates with assets within the UK, the executors or administrators reside in England or Wales, the estate does not include business or partnership assets or significant digital assets, and the assets of the estate are not in dispute or there is no potential challenge by a disappointed beneficiary.

Grant only service – non-taxable estate

Who is this suitable for?

This is a service for executors who require help to obtain the grant of probate for straightforward estates where no inheritance tax is payable but who wish to collect assets and pay debts and administer the estate themselves.

How much does this service cost?

Fixed fee of £950 plus vat of £190, a total of £1,140.

This includes calculating the gross and net value of the estate for inheritance tax purposes, calculating the net qualifying value of the estate, and completing the application online with My HMCTS, obtaining approval of the legal statement from the executors, arranging for payment of the probate court fee online, sending the original will and legal statements to HMCTS and obtaining the grant of probate.

Breakdown of costs:

Legal fees £950

VAT on legal fees £190

Disbursements:

• Probate court fee of £300.
• Official copies of the grant £6 (for 4 sealed copies at £1.50p)
• Official copy of property register £7 plus vat £1.40 (total £8.40)
• Special Delivery fee £8.45

Disbursements (plus vat where applicable) are payable in addition to our costs.

Grant only service – non-taxable estate and transfer of nil rate band

Who is this suitable for?

This is a service for executors who require help to obtain the grant of probate for straightforward estates where no inheritance tax is payable because of the availability of the nil rate band and the transferable nil rate band, but who wish to collect assets and pay debts and administer the estate themselves.

How much does this service cost?

Fixed fee of £1,250 plus vat of £250, a total of £1,500.

This includes calculating the gross and net value of the estate for inheritance tax purposes, calculating the net qualifying value of the estate, completing the application online with My HMCTS, obtaining approval of the legal statement from the executors, arranging for payment of the probate court fee online, sending the original will and estate tax return to HMCTS and obtaining the grant of probate.

Breakdown of costs:

Legal fees £1,250

VAT on legal fees £250

Disbursements:

• Probate court fee of £300.
• Official copies of the grant £6 (for 4 sealed copies at £1.50p)
• Official copy of property register £7 plus vat £1.4 (total £8.40)
• Special Delivery fee £8.45

Disbursements (plus vat where applicable) are payable in addition to our costs.

Grant only service – taxable estate – IHT400

Who is this suitable for?

This is a service for executors who require help to obtain the grant of probate for more complex estates where inheritance tax is payable (or would be payable without claiming tax relief or exemptions), and a full inheritance tax account IHT400 and supplementary schedules are required, but who wish to collect assets and pay debts and administer the estate themselves.

How much does this service cost?

Fixed fee of £2,000 (plus vat).

This includes: preparing the estate tax return IHT400 and supplementary schedules, calculating the inheritance tax payable, considering reliefs and exemptions to reduce the tax, claiming tax relief, applying to HM Revenue & Customs to agree the tax liability and arranging for payment of tax, submitting the probate summary IHT421, completing the application online with My HMCTS, obtaining approval of the legal statement from the executors, arranging for payment of the probate court fee online, sending the original will to HMCTS and obtaining the grant of probate.

Breakdown of costs:

Legal fees £2,000

VAT on legal fees £400

Disbursements:

• Probate court fee of £300.
• Official copies of the grant £6 (for 4 sealed copies at £1.50p)
• Official copy of property register £7plus vat £1.40 (total £8.40)
• Special Delivery fee £8.45

Disbursements (plus vat where applicable) are payable in addition to our costs.

Probate – full administration service

All full administrations will be charged an administration and archiving fee of £50 plus vat £10 (total £60).

Who is this suitable for?

This is a service for executors and administrators who require the reassurance of professional advice and assistance throughout the administration from obtaining initial instructions through to the distribution of assets to beneficiaries.

What does this service include?

We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf and administering the estate.

The following services are included:

• Making enquiries of assets and liabilities
• Obtaining probate valuations (which may include obtaining property and share valuations or valuations of house contents)
• Preparing a balance sheet of assets and liabilities for your approval
• Preparing the inheritance tax return
• Calculating the inheritance tax payable by the estate
• Considering the availability of tax relief and exemptions including spouse exemption, transferable nil rate bands and residence nil rate bands
• Completing the online application to HMCTS
• Arranging for online payment of court fees
• Collecting assets and arranging for payment of debts and liabilities
• Serving Trustee Act notices (if appropriate) to protect executors from unknown creditors
• Corresponding with HM Revenue & Customs in relation to inheritance tax, income tax and capital gains tax
• Distributing assets
• Arranging the sale or transfer of shares (by instructing a stockbroker if necessary)
• Arranging the sale of property (if appropriate)
• Arranging the transfer of assets to beneficiaries (including the assent of property)
• Completing the application to HM Land Registry to register the legal title to property
• Holding funds on the client bank account (to avoid the need for a separate executor`s account)
• Notifying beneficiaries of their inheritance
• Verifying the identity of beneficiaries
• Paying legacies and obtaining signed receipts
• Preparing estate accounts for the approval of executors
• Accounting to the residuary beneficiaries (cheque or direct bank transfer).

How much does this service cost?

Our fees are based on either the time taken to conclude the matter or a percentage of assets.

We do not charge a percentage of the estate as part of our fees in addition to an hourly rate.

The administration of an estate covers the period from when initial instructions are received from the executors to when estate accounts are prepared for the approval of executors and assets distributed to the beneficiaries.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For this reason, we can only provide a range of likely costs. 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.

The range of costs below is a guide.

Level 1 pricing structure – £3,000 to £5,000 (excluding vat)

We will handle the full process for you.

This is intended to cover relatively straightforward estates where:

• There is a valid will
• The executors reside within England & Wales
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 6 bank or building society accounts
• There are no digital assets
• There are between one and six residuary beneficiaries
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets
• There are no claims made against the estate
• No deed of variation is required

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs payable to third parties during the administration such as Probate Registry fees or Land Registry fees.

Disbursements (plus vat where applicable) are payable in addition to our costs.

Typical disbursements are:

• Probate application fee of £300
• Additional sealed copies of the grant (£1.50)
• Official copy of property register £7 plus vat £.40 (total £8.40)
• Special Delivery fee £8.45
• Bankruptcy Land Charges Department searches £6 plus vat (£1.20) total £7.20 per beneficiary
• £62.15 (+ vat) Trustee Act notice in The London Gazette – protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors
• £87.50 (including vat) Trustee Act notice in a local newspaper (this price may vary according to the particular newspaper) – protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors
• Property valuations by local agent (£150/£250 + vat unless instructed in the sale)
• Stockbrokers’ fees for share valuation (£50 to £200 depending upon the size and type of share portfolio)

Potential additional costs

• If there is no will or the estate consists of considerable share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs for the sale or transfer of shareholdings 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 an additional copy of the grant is required, it will cost £10.00 plus £1.50 for each additional copy.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included and a separate fixed cost can be provided by our residential conveyancing department.

Level 2 pricing structure – £5,000 to £10,000 (excluding vat)

We will handle the full process for you.

This is intended to cover more complex estates or complexities in the will including trusts which may include multiple properties, multiple bank accounts, personal possessions that may require individual valuations, and where a full estate tax return IHT400 and supplemental schedules are required.

In additional to the services set out above, the following additional services are included:

• Obtaining probate valuations of all properties
• Instructing a RICS surveyor to value property (if appropriate)
• Completing full inheritance tax account IHT400
• Calculating inheritance tax and interest payable
• Completing probate summary form IHT421
• Meetings with executors to discuss and agree tax returns and calculations
• Arranging for the payment of inheritance tax (and direct payment scheme if appropriate)
• Corresponding with HM Revenue & Customs and the District Valuer
• Reporting and amendments and preparing corrective tax account (if appropriate)
• Considering if capital gains tax is payable on disposal on assets during the administration
• Calculating savings and dividend income and declaring tax under the informal procedure
• Initial advice concerning potential claims against the estate including Inheritance Act claims for reasonable financial provision and relevant limitation periods
• If ongoing will trusts, providing initial advice and arranging to transfer assets to the trustees

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs payable to third parties during the administration such as Probate Registry fees or Land Registry fees.

Disbursements (plus vat where applicable) are payable in addition to our costs.

In addition to the disbursements detailed under level 1 costs above, this may include the following additional disbursements:

• RICS valuation reports (£350 to £500 + vat)
• Valuations of house contents (£200 + vat)

Level 3 pricing structure – from £10,000 (excluding vat)

This is intended to cover complex estate administrations which will include aspects of the work outlined for level 1 and level 2 cover above, where they maybe one or more of the following:

• Acting as professional executors (additional responsibility)
• Issues regarding the validity of the last will
• Executors who do not reside in England or Wales
• Beneficiaries who do not reside in the UK
• Overseas property or bank accounts
• Business or partnership assets
• Agricultural property
• Commercial or investment properties
• Applications for business property relief (BPR)
• Applications for agricultural property relief (APR)
• Issues regarding the domicile of the deceased
• Potential claims for reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance Act 1975
• Potential claims by disappointed beneficiaries
• Claims by the Department for Work & Pensions relating to lifetime benefits
• Tracing beneficiaries and instructing an enquiry agent
• Complex intestate administrations
• DNA testing of beneficiaries
• Estate planning and deeds of variation
• Considering tax planning and elections for inheritance tax and capital gains tax

How long will this take?

On average, estates are administered within 3 to 12 months (known as the executor`s year) depending upon the number and complexity of assets. The time period can be longer if the inheritance calculation or valuations are challenged by HMRC, or there is a property to be sold before the administration can be concluded.

Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes around 16 weeks with new online applications to HMCTS.

Some grants require a paper application (such as applying as attorney) and the timescale could be around 24 weeks.

Our service to you

As part of our costs we will:

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor or chartered legal executive to supervise the work on your matter
• Provide you with a dedicated team of probate lawyers and support staff
• Provide regular updates to you by telephone, email or letter
• Provide advice throughout the administration on the legal and practical issues of probate
• Be available for face-to-face meetings
• Access to a fixed price conveyancing service if property is sold by the estate (CQS)
• Access to a fixed price will service for executors or beneficiaries
• Quality assurance – we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
• Quality assurance – we are accredited by the Law Society for Lexcel (legal practice quality mark)
• Accountability – Internal complaints service
• Accountability – Access to the Legal Ombudsman if you are dissatisfied with our service

Private Client Team

The private client team consists of the following members:

Tony Illsley

Tony Illsley is a partner and head of the private client department.

A solicitor for more than 30 years with a strong litigation background and more than 15 years’ experience in charge of private client matters acting as a professional executor and trustee, attorney and court appointed deputy.

Panel solicitor for the Midlands Air Ambulance and NFWN.

Main caseload includes taxable estates, higher value estates, or estates with potential claims or complexity.

Current hourly rate £280 plus vat.

Rebecca Taylor

Rebecca Taylor is a chartered legal executive (FCILEx) qualified more than 9 years ago with private client experience of over 15 years.

Rebecca supports head of department Tony Illsley with taxable estates and high value claims in addition to running her own caseload of high value estate files (including farming estates and APR/BPR tax relief) and probate applications, wills (including wills for commercial clients) and lasting powers of attorney.

Current hourly rate £250 plus vat.

Michelle Green

Michelle Green is an experienced paralegal dealing primarily with wills and lasting powers of attorney and provides additional support to the probate team.

Current hourly rate £150 plus vat.

Katie Whelan

Katie is a trainee solicitor with a law degree who has successfully passed the legal practice course to qualify as a solicitor. Katie is currently completing her training contract with Rutherfords LLP and works in both the litigation and probate departments.

Katie`s hourly rate is £150 plus vat.