Transparency in Price & Service > Administration of a Deceased Person's Estate and Probate

The death of a loved one can be a difficult time and the prospect of dealing with a deceased's person's estate can seem daunting. Knowing what to do, what action to take and who to contact can be unnerving. Our team at Wall James Chappell is here to assist you and ensure that the whole process runs smoothly at this very difficult time.  Please click here to read our guide What to do when someone dies. Our dedicated team of solicitors at Wall James Chappell have vast amount of experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to wills and estate administration. The team has particular expertise in high value estates and inheritance tax matters with over 75 years collective experience.

What to do when someone dies

Each estate is different and can vary in complexity from very simple estates to those that are extremely complicated. The cost of dealing with an estate and probate process can therefore vary depending on how much work is involved and also, the overall value of a deceased`s persons estate.  Some estates have to pay Inheritance Tax and this can increase the complexity and work involved.

We always recommend an initial meeting or consultation with the Executors and/or family in order to advise more accurately on the likely costs involved.

Your matter will be dealt with by a fully qualified solicitor who specialises in probate work and the administration of deceased person's estate. Please click on each photograph to view profiles.

Christopher Hamlyn

Susannah Griffiths

James Rousell

Rebecca Clark

Please see below for more detailed information on our pricing structure. This note is merely a guide.

Applying for the grant of Probate, collecting and distributing the assets (No Inheritance Tax to pay)

We can deal with the whole of the administration of an estate upon your behalf including obtaining asset valuations, establishing liabilities, applying for the Grant of Probate and dealing with final distribution of the estate.

Every estate is different and it can be difficult to provide a detailed estimate of costs. However, typically, we anticipate that our legal costs would be between £2,000 - £7,000 plus VAT.  Fees are charged based on an hourly rate of £250 plus VAT and in some cases, the overall value of the estate may be taken into account when calculating our fees. This is known as a “Value” element and depending on the circumstances, may be between 0.5%-1% of the estate value.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the 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, costs will be at the higher end.

We will handle the full process for you.

This price guide is for estates where:

• There is a valid will
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 8 bank or building society accounts
• There are no other intangible assets or foreign property
• There are 1-4 beneficiaries
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise, this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
• There is no Inheritance Tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full Inland Revenue Account to H M Revenue & Customs
• There are no claims made against the estate

Disbursements in addition to this fee include:

• Probate application fee of £273 plus £1.50 for each additional copy of the Grant of Probate requested.
• £150 - £200 - Post in The London Gazette and local newspaper – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors (if required)
• Settling fee - £10 (if required)

*Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Potential additional costs

There may be additional costs if we are required to deal with any of the following:

• A trust established by the Will
• Business or agricultural property
• Operating or selling a business
• Private company shares
• Assets abroad
• Complex tax issues
• An unclear Will
• Freehold or Leasehold property issues
• Transfer of investments or assets to beneficiaries
• Deeds of Variation, disclaimer or renunciation of appointment as executor
• Engagement in litigation or dealing with threatened or anticipated litigation
• All other duties of an unusual or complex nature.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes upto 16 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 3-6 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute deal with discharging any estate debts/liabilities which normally takes 2-4 weeks and thereafter, the distribution of estate assets. These time frames are simply estimates and may vary depending on the circumstances.

Other Advice in connection with a deceased person's estate and more information on our Private Client services

Please got to www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax for more information on Inheritance Tax

*VAT is currently levied at 20%