Private Client Fees & Pricing | Wills, Probate & Estate Planning Costs | Donaldson West LLP

Our Approach to Fees

Our fees will be priced according to the level of service you require. We will give you clear guidance on fees at the outset and we will only update our original quotation if, during the estate administration, it becomes necessary to carry out further work on your behalf. 

You can find information below on the estimated cost of dealing with your case assuming that the work is within our standard scope of work. VAT will apply to these fees.

Wills

Simple Wills  

Single             £350 + VAT = £420
Mirror             £600 + VAT = £720

Trust Wills

Single             £450 + VAT = £540
Mirror             £700 + VAT = £840

Simple Codicils

Single             £250 + VAT = £300
Mirror             £400 + VAT = £480

Lasting Powers of Attorney

1 x LPA           £500 + VAT = £600
2 x LPA           £800 + VAT = £960
4 x LPA           £1,000 + VAT = £1,200

Plus registration fees – usually £92 per document

 

Estate Administration

Applying for the Grant Only

In certain circumstances, we offer a fixed fee to obtain a Grant only. This is based on drafting the application using the information that you provide to us by the Executor(s). This can be between £1,000 - £3,000. More complex Estates, especially involving Inheritance Tax, will attract a higher fee and will generally be undertaken on a time only basis. If any further investigative work is required, we can assist you with this and give you clear guidance on the additional fees involved. 

Administration of Estates  

In most cases, these can be prepared on a time basis of:

• £4,000 - £10,000 plus VAT where the estate is under £1,000,000. If it is necessary to apply for the transferable nil rate band allowance and/or residence nil rate band allowances an additional fee may be added.
  The transferable nil rate band allowance can be claimed if one spouse, who predeceases the other, leaves their entire estate to the remaining spouse. 
• Estates above £1,000,000 will generally attract a minimum fee of £10,000 plus VAT.
• Please note, dealing with transfers of stock market based investments may give rise to additional fees.

Disbursements Not Included in the Fees

Disbursements are costs that are related to your matter and payable to third parties and usually include: 

• Probate application fee which will depend on the value of the estate. An additional fee of £16 is charged per sealed copy required.
• Other disbursements may be applicable depending on the circumstances, for example, advertisements for creditors – usually in the region of £250.

How Long will this Take? 

Typically 4 - 6 weeks to obtain a Grant for an excepted estate and between 7 - 10 weeks for taxable and non-taxable estates if you provide us with accurate values for the assets and liabilities of the estate at the initial meeting. Time periods can vary because we rely on third parties during the application process (for example, HMRC to settle the inheritance tax). 

Our fees will depend on the circumstances in each individual 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 and investments, costs will be at the higher end.

We will handle the complete administration for you. Before we begin, we will give you clarity on costs, explaining the work that will be covered. 

We anticipate this will take between 8 - 20 hours’ work.  We estimate that the total cost will be as mentioned above. The hourly rate of the person dealing with your matter will depend on their experience.

When calculating fees, we will take into account the following factors:

• There is a valid Will and no complications are likely to arise in proving this at the Probate Registry. 
• There is only one property.  (Our probate fees do not include conveyancing fees to sell the property).
• There are no more than six bank or building society accounts. 
• There are no other cash assets or investments. 
• All the assets are in the UK. 
• There are between one and five beneficiaries. 
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries regarding the division of assets. 
• Whether inheritance tax is payable and the executors need to submit a full account to HMRC. 
• There are no claims made against the estate. 

Disbursements, such as Probate application fees, are additional to our costs.

Potential additional costs: 

• If there is no Will, or if the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds), more than six bank or building society accounts or additional assets, there are 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 we are the executors and therefore have to register the death and make the funeral arrangements, visit the property and sort through paperwork, deal with personal chattels and the clearance of the property, the additional costs could vary significantly. 
• If any additional copies of the Grant are required, they will cost £1.50 (VAT not applicable). One per asset is usually required. 
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.  
• Any tax issues that may arise, are not included. 
• If there have been multiple life time gifts and the application of exemptions and reliefs where applicable.

How Long will this Take? 

On average, estates are dealt with within 6 months. Typically, obtaining the Grant of Probate takes generally at least 16 weeks and often longer if the Estate is subject to Inheritance Tax. Liquidating assets then follows, which can take up to the remainder of the time estimate. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes between 1 - 2 weeks and provide Estate Accounts for the executors and beneficiaries. 

As part of our fee we will:

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced Probate fee earner to work on your matter. 
• Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries. 
• Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require. 
• Obtain the relevant documents required to make the Application. 
• Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms. 
• Draft a Statement of Truth for you to swear. 
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf. 
• Obtain the Probate and sealed office copies. 
• Collect all assets in the estate. 
• Settle any liabilities and make payments of cash legacies and personal items. 
• Distribute the estate to the residuary beneficiaries.

Who will Work on my Matter?

All work is carried out by a qualified lawyer. If you instruct us, we will advise you as soon as possible who will be working on your matter and who the supervisor is. Full details of our team are available for viewing here: Our People.