Wills

For a straightforward Will, prices start at £120 plus VAT of £24 currently.
For joint Wills for a couple, prices start at £200 Plus VAT of £40 currently.
More complex Wills with provision for over 4 beneficiaries or where there are additional properties and trusts required - £250 plus VAT of £50 currently.
Muslim Wills - every Muslim should consider a Will when residing in England. The Civil intestacy rules which apply without a Will do not follow any form of Shariah law and would just leave your estate along the route of intestacy.
These are priced the same as above i.e. £120 plus VAT for a simple Will or £250 if there are complex issues needing to be dealt with.

Full Administration of the Estate

It is difficult to accurately predict fees as there can be so many different aspects of an estate, but as a general guide where the matter is uncontested and there is a Will, fees are likely to be in the region of £1,000 up to £5,000 plus VAT and disbursements, unless the Will is complex or the estate is of a high worth, where fees are likely to be higher, but these will be discussed with you at our first meeting.

We calculate our fees by reference to our hourly rates, which are currently between £175 and £200 Please note that we do not follow the Law Society guidance to charge an additional percentage of the estate and keep to the hourly rate. We use the term disbursements to mean costs related to the case, which are payable in relation to the administration of the estate, such as :-

  • Probate Court fee of £155 plus £1.50 per copy of the Grant
  • Bankruptcy Search of £2 per beneficiary
  • Statutory Advertisements for creditors of approx. £200
  • Search of the National Wills register (Certainty) for any newer Wills from £36
  • The cost of dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included. We do not carry out conveyancing work, but would refer you to a reputable firm who are competitive and professional in their approach

What is included:-

  • The advice and experience of a dedicated Probate Solicitor
  • Identifying the legally appointed executors/administrators and beneficiaries
  • Registering the death with the relevant financial authorities and gathering the necessary evidence to complete the application for the Grant.
  • Dealing with HMRC and the Probate Registry to obtain the Grant, collect assets, settle liabilities and prepare full estate Accounts
  • Liaising with HMRC and DWP
  • Carrying out bankruptcy checks on beneficiaries
  • Distributing the estate and obtaining the necessary receipts
  • On average it takes 10 weeks to obtain the Grant and the whole administration should be completed within 8 months, which may be dependant upon the sale of any property.

Grant Only Service

We offer this service if you are able to provide us with all necessary information and we are able to just apply for the Grant on your behalf by completing and submitting the necessary forms the Probate Registry and to HMRC on your behalf. Provided that there is no Inheritance Tax payable, our fees are £600.00 plus VAT plus the Application fee of £155.00 and £1.50 per additional copy of the Grant of Probate.

If Inheritance Tax is payable or a full Inland Revenue account is necessary, our fees are £1500.00 plus VAT and the same Application fee of £155.00 plus £1.50 per copy of the Grant of Probate.In general most estates do not attract Inheritance Tax unless the total value of the estate is over £500,000, where it is a single person or first of a couple to pass away and £1,000,000 where the person is the survivor of a couple and they inherited all of their spouses estate so they are allowed to use the exemption which their spouse had not already used upon their passing. This would be discussed with you further at our first appointment.

Deeds

It may be your choice or desirable to provide for others or to avoid tax consequences to vary a gift and this requires a Deed of Variation - £250 plus VAT of £50.
Similarly, a beneficiary may not want the gift left to them in a Will and may renounce that gift or may not wish to be an Executor to administer the estate so would require a Deed of Renunciation- £150 plus VAT of £30 currently.

Deputyship

Where there is a standard non-contentious Deputyship Application to deal with a relatives affairs where they are no longer capable – our fees are in accordance with the Court of Protection fixed costs, which are currently £950.00 plus VAT and the Court fee of £365.00.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

These are also known as LPAs and relate to financial matters and health and welfare which provide for you when you are no longer able to deal with your own affairs. This is a simpler and cheaper option to Deputyship and can be carried out by you to give the power to a close trusted relative to make decisions for you should you become unable. As we live longer and are more likely to become incpable, these options are becoming more popular and desirable to allay anyone's fears for the future.

For a single LPA of either nature £400 VAT of £80 currently.
For two LPAs ( ie both types) £600 plus VAT of £120 currently.
For four LPAs (ie for both types for a couple) £900 plus VAT of £120 currently.
Each LPA needs to be registered and the Court fee for this is now £82 per LPA unless you are on a low income, in which case we would include the fee remission application in our fee above.

Powers of Attorney

Sometimes it is useful to allow someone you trust to assist with your affairs for a period of time or for a specific purpose such as if you were working abroad so a Power of Attorney may be needed- £150 plus VAT currently of £30.

Contact us today, in Oldham, Salford and Manchester, to find out more about our family law services.

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