Probate (uncontested)

Services / Pricing: Probate

All instruction received in an estate derive from the Personal Representative taking on the responsibility of administering the estate. This could either be via their appointment through the deceased’s Will, or, as an entitled beneficiary under Intestacy. The services offered by Morgan LaRoche Solicitors to Personal Representatives is dependent on how the Personal Representatives seek assistance and instruct our Firm.

Throughout any instruction received by a Personal Representative, Morgan LaRoche Solicitors wish to make it clear that our Offices will be acting on behalf of the deceased’s estate, for which the Personal Representatives are representing. Should a Personal Representative seek advice in their personal capacity, this will not form part of the estate administration or any costs agreed in respect of the estate.

The Services offered by Morgan LaRoche Solicitors, and the costs accompanied with such services, will depend on the type of instructions received by the Personal Representative. Morgan LaRoche Solicitors costs are broken down as follows:

Fixed Fee Probate

TYPE OF INSTRUCTION

Application for the Grant of Probate/Letter of Administration, where all information of the deceased’s financial estate is provided by the Personal Representatives.

This quote is for estates where:

Morgan LaRoches Solicitors do not check the information provided by the Personal Representatives and will expect the Personal Representatives to Indemnify the Firm against any incorrect or incomplete information provided.
There is no inheritance tax payable and the Personal Representatives are not required to submit a full account to HMRC.
There are no disputes over the appointment of the Personal Representative. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs.
The estate is not an Insolvent Estate.
There is no requirement to obtain Probate Valuations of Assets.
There are no searches carried out with appropriate third parties to confirm, whether, the Will being administered is the Last Will & Testament of the deceased.
There are no searches carried out with appropriate third parties (Genealogists) to confirm, whether, a Personal Representative is entitled to apply for probate under the Intestacy Rules.
There is no consideration of the deceased’s Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax liabilities.
There are no claims made against the estate.
This quote does not apply if Morgan LaRoche Solicitors are instructed in the full administration of the estate.

Should the estate seek further advice in respect of any of the above points, this is likely to lead to an increase in costs.

In addition to the above, a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration application is likely to incur the following:

Probate application fee of £273.00 plus £1.50 for every official copy of the Probate requested at the same time as submitting the Probate Application.
Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 plus VAT per deceased, personal representative and beneficiary).

COSTS

Grant of Probate, no inheritance tax return – fixed fee £1,450.00 (plus VAT)
Grant of Probate, to include the preparation and submission of the inheritance tax return – minimum fee of £2,000.00 (plus VAT)

Personal Representatives Report

This Report is designed to provide Personal Representatives with complete guidance and information on the responsibility of their appointment.

COSTS starting from £500.00 (plus VAT)

Deed of Variation

This is when an entitled beneficiary wishes to disclaim or change their entitlement under a Will or Intestacy.

This quote is for a simple Deed of Variation that is agreed by all parties concerned and does not include instructions that:

Require approval of HMRC.
Require approval of the Courts.
Are in dispute with all parties concerned.

Should the estate seek further advice in respect of any of the above points, this is likely to lead to an increase in costs.

COSTS £650.00 (plus VAT) Per Deed of Variation.

Deed of Renunciation

This is when an appointed Executor under a Will wishes to remove themselves as an appointed Executor for administering an estate and/or acting under any Trusts created by the deceased’s Will.

This quote is for a simple, non-contested, Deed of Renunciation, and does not include:

Estate that are subject to Court Proceedings.
Advice to remaining Executors on the administration of the estate further to the signing of a Deed of Renunciation.

Should the estate seek further advice in respect of any of the above points, this is likely to lead to an increase in costs.

COSTS £250.00 (plus VAT) Per Deed of Renunciation.

In respect of any additional instructions received to that of those detailed above, costs will be dependant of the individual circumstances of the Estate and instructions received by the Personal Representative’s to Morgan LaRoche Solicitors. Any further instruction will be charged at an hourly rate of:-

Director – £295 plus VAT;
Associate Director – £260 plus VAT;
Associate Solicitor – £230 plus VAT;
Solicitor – from £160.00 plus VAT;
Trainee Solicitor – £135 plus VAT.

HOURLY RATE PROBATE

TYPE OF INSTRUCTION

Full Administration of an estate, when the gross estate for Inheritance Tax purposes (as identified on the HMRC forms accompanying the probate application, namely IHT 205 or IHT 400), amounts to the sum of £1m or less.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of each estate. For example:

If there are multiple beneficiaries.
If there is a property/ies owned by the deceased, whether in their sole name or joint names with another. Plus, whether such properties are owned as Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common.
If there are any shares held by the deceased.
If there are multiple bank accounts/savings/investments held by the deceased.

Costs are likely to be at the lower end of the range the less work that is needed to be carried out to administer the estate.

Morgan LaRoche Solicitors will handle the full process of administering the estate on behalf of the deceased. This quote is limited to estates where:

There is a valid Will.
There is no more than one property.
There are no more than 5 bank accounts/savings/investments.
There are no other intangible assets.
There are 3 beneficiaries.
There is no disputes between beneficiaries on the division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs.
There is no inheritance tax payable and the Personal Representatives are not required to submit a full account to HMRC.
If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
The estate is not an Insolvent Estate.
There are no searches carried out with appropriate third parties to confirm, whether, the Will being administered is the Last Will & Testament of the deceased.
There are no searches carried out with appropriate third parties (Genealogists) to confirm, whether, a Personal Representative is entitled to apply for probate under the Intestacy Rules.
There is no consideration of the deceased’s Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax liabilities.
There are no claims made against the estate.
There are no disputes of whom is to act as the Personal Representative.

Should an estate not fall within the above parameters of advice needed and work anticipated, Morgan LaRoche will provide a more accurate quote of costs, once all estate information has been obtained and examined.

In addition to Morgan LaRoches’ Costs, the following Disbursements are likely to be incurred:

Probate application fee of £273.00 plus £1.50 for every official copy of the Probate requested at the same time as submitting the Probate Application.
Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 plus VAT per deceased, personal representative and beneficiary).
£69.50 plus VAT, for a post in The London Gazette – This protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. These fees are set by Independent Third parties and may be subject to change in respect of each estate.
Approximately, £150.00 plus VAT, for a post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims. These fees are set by Independent Third parties and may be subject to change in respect of each estate.
Certainty Will Search fee of up to £199.00 plus VAT. This is a search which checks whether deceased had registered with the National Wills Register details of their last Will and Testament. On carrying out such search a further insurance protection is offered if a Will comes to light following the administration of the estate and distribution of funds. The cost of such insurance is dependent on the value of the estate and differs with each estate. This search offers Personal Representatives with protection in the event of an incorrect distribution of estate funds.
Financial Assets Register Search fee of approximately, £250.00 plus VAT. This search allows the Personal Representative to check the extent of the deceased’s financial estate to ensure that they fully complete the administration of the deceased’s estate before arranging to distribute the estate.
Share Registrars Fees. It is difficult to provide an estimate of such fees, as they differ in each estate and with each share registrar.

Disbursements are costs related to an estate that are payable to third parties. Morgan LaRoche Solicitors will handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process, but the estate will be responsible for the cost of such disbursements.

COSTS – We anticipate this will take on average (depending on the amount of work involved) between 25 and 35 hours work at an hourly rate of:-

Director – £295 plus VAT;
Associate Director – £260 plus VAT;
Associate Solicitor – £230 plus VAT;
Solicitor – from £160.00 plus VAT;
Trainee Solicitor – £135 plus VAT.

Total costs estimated based on Associate Solicitor’s charge out rate at:

Between £5,750.00 (plus VAT) and £8,050.00 (plus VAT), for work carried out by an Associate Solicitor.
Between £7,375.00 (plus VAT) and £10,325.00 (plus VAT) for work carried out by a Director.

Full Administration of an estate, when the gross estate for Inheritance Tax purposes (as identified on the HMRC forms accompanying the probate application, namely IHT 400), exceeds £1m or less.

In addition to Morgan LaRoches’ Costs, the following Disbursements are likely to be incurred:

Probate application fee of £273.00 plus £1.50 for every official copy of the Probate requested at the same time as submitting the Probate Application.
Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 plus VAT per deceased, personal representative and beneficiary).
£69.50 plus VAT, for a post in The London Gazette – This protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. These fees are set by Independent Third parties and may be subject to change in respect of each estate.
Approximately, £150.00 plus VAT, for a post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims. These fees are set by Independent Third parties and may be subject to change in respect of each estate.
Certainty Will Search fee of up to £199.00 plus VAT. This is a search which checks whether deceased had registered with the National Wills Register details of their last Will and Testament. On carrying out such search a further insurance protection is offered if a Will comes to light following the administration of the estate and distribution of funds. The cost of such insurance is dependent on the value of the estate and differs with each estate. This search offers Personal Representatives with protection in the event of an incorrect distribution of estate funds.
Financial Assets Register Search fee of approximately, £250.00 plus VAT. This search allows the Personal Representative to check the extent of the deceased’s financial estate to ensure that they fully complete the administration of the deceased’s estate before arranging to distribute the estate.
Share Registrars Fees. It is difficult to provide an estimate of such fees, as they differ in each estate and with each share registrar.

COSTS Charges will be incurred in line with the case of Jemma Trust -v- Liptrott [2003] EWCA Civ 1476. These being:

The first £1m of an estate will attract a cost of 1.5%;
The remaining estate value of between £1m to £4m of an estate will attract a cost of 0.5%;
The remaining estate value of between £4m to £8m of an estate will attract a cost of 0.1666%;
The remaining estate value of between £8m to £12m will attract a cost of 0.0833%;
The remaining estate value of over £12m will attract a cost of 0.0416%.

Morgan LaRoche Solicitors will not charge an additional hourly rate when a % rate on Costs has been charged in assisting the Personal Representatives in the administration of an estate. This excluding any instruction that is not included as part of the administration of an estate, as listed below.

The quotes provided in assisting a Personal Representative in the administration of an estate do not include:

Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate.
The preparation of a Deed of Variation.
The Preparation of a Deed of Renunciation.