If we are instructed in relation to the administration of an estate, our services can include the following:-

• Collecting information to ascertain the value of assets within the estate
• Advising on inheritance tax payable on the estate
• Drafting the necessary tax return to HMRC, which is required regardless of whether there is any tax to pay
• Preparing the application for the Probate Registry
• Collecting in all the assets held within the estate from the various asset holders or transferring them to the relevant beneficiaries
• Drafting the final estate accounts for the executor / personal representative
• Arranging the distribution of the estate to the beneficiaries. Our costs for acting in an estate matter will be charged on an hourly fee basis. The solicitor undertaking this work will be one of our Partners Eleri Jones who has been undertaking probate work since 2013, and her hourly fee is £200 plus VAT. The time it takes to obtain a Grant of Probate and administer an estate will depend on various factors including the size of the estate and the amount of work required to be done.

On average the cost of administration is as follows:-

an estate valued under £150,000 will have charges of £1,500 plus VAT

An estate valued between £150,000 and £300,000 will have charges of £3,000 plus VAT

An estate valued between £300,000 and £600,000 will have charges of £6,500 plus VAT

An estate valued between £600,000 and £800,000 will have charges of £10,000 plus VAT

The above costs are average costs, however we will endeavour to provide a more detailed quote once we obtain detailed instructions in relation to your specific estate.

The average cost will increase if claims are made against the estate or if there is a dispute between the beneficiaries, or if a deed of variation is needed to vary the terms of the Will.

There will be disbursements incurred in any administration matter and are not included in the above-mentioned costs. The disbursements usually incurred in an estate matter are as follows, and do not attract VAT

Probate registry fee – £155

Copies of the Grant of Probate - £1.50 per copy

Oath swearing fee – £7 per executor

Bankruptcy search fee – £2.00 per name

Statutory advertisements – £216.00

The timescale to administer an estate will vary with each matter depending on the value, the number of assets to be dealt with and the number of beneficiaries. On average an estate with a value of less than £150,000 takes 10 – 12 weeks to conclude whereas an estate with a larger value takes an approximate 5 – 6 months. The key stages of the probate process include the collating of the information relating to the assets and liabilities of the estate at the date of death, the completion of the tax return, the completion of the Oath, the obtaining of the Grant of Probate / letters of administration (depending on whether there is a valid Will at the time of death), the collation of assets and the distribution of the estate.