Wills, Tax and Probate Solicitors

SRA Probate Fixed Fee

Secure peace of mind with Hatch Brenner Solicitors' competitive fixed-fee services in Norwich. Budget for straightforward or complex matters with confidence.

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Overview

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How We Can Help
Losing a loved one is never easy, and dealing with the legal and financial responsibilities of administering an estate can feel overwhelming. Our experienced probate team can guide you through the process and provide as much or as little assistance as you need.

We can act on your behalf in obtaining the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration, where appropriate) and can also assist with the full administration of the estate, including collecting assets, settling liabilities, dealing with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), preparing estate accounts, and distributing the estate to the beneficiaries.

We understand that every estate is different, and our service can be tailored to meet your specific requirements.

How Much Does This Service Cost?

The cost of administering an estate will depend on the complexity of the estate and the level of support you require.

Should you simply require us to prepare and submit an application for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, our typical fee is £500 plus VAT. This fee is likely to apply where the matter is straightforward: for example, there is a valid and uncontested Will, the executors or administrators and beneficiaries are readily identifiable, the estate is not subject to inheritance tax, the necessary asset and liability figures have been obtained and supplied to us, The fee would usually include reviewing the information and documents provided, confirming the appropriate application, preparing the probate application and relevant estate details, arranging approval and signature, submitting the application to the Probate Registry.. It does not include valuing assets, completing a full inheritance tax account, collecting or selling assets, paying liabilities, preparing estate accounts, distributing the estate or dealing with non-routine Probate Registry or HMRC enquiries. If additional work is required, we will explain this and agree any further fee with you before carrying it out.

To deal with the administration of the estate our fees typically range from £1,500 plus VAT for straightforward matters to a fixed fee of up to 2% of the gross value of the estate plus VAT in more complex cases.

The £1,500 plus VAT fee (£1,800) is likely to apply to a grant-only matter where the estate is straightforward. A typical example would be an estate with a valid and uncontested Will, one or two executors who are able and willing to act, a small number of readily identifiable UK-resident beneficiaries, no inheritance tax to pay, no trusts, business interests or foreign assets, and a limited number of UK bank or investment accounts This fee would usually cover an initial meeting or discussion, confirming the executors’ authority, reviewing the Will and death certificate, identifying the information required, checking the estate figures supplied, preparing the probate application, arranging approval and signature, submitting the application, and dealing with routine Probate Registry queries through to receipt of the Grant.

A fee calculated by reference to up to 2% of the gross estate value may apply where we are instructed to undertake the full administration of an estate or where the work and responsibility are more extensive. Relevant factors can include the number and type of assets, the number or location of beneficiaries, inheritance tax reporting, lifetime gifts, business or agricultural interests, trusts, foreign assets, missing beneficiaries, property to be sold, income or capital gains arising during the administration, and the volume of correspondence required. By way of illustration, a fee of 2% on a gross estate valued at £500,000 would be £10,000 plus VAT, or £12,000 including VAT at 20%.

Our services can include:

01Obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
02Identifying and gathering estate assets.
03Corresponding with HMRC regarding inheritance tax and income tax matters.
04Paying funeral expenses, debts, and liabilities.
05Collecting and closing bank accounts and investments.
06Receiving and accounting for the net proceeds of a property sale. The separate conveyancing work required to sell, assent or transfer the property is not included unless expressly stated in our written quotation.
07Preparing estate accounts.
08Distributing assets to beneficiaries.

Whether you require assistance with a single aspect of the administration or would like us to handle the entire process from start to finish, we will work with you to provide the level of support that best suits your needs.

Disbursements

Disbursements are expenses that arise during the administration of the estate and are payable to third parties. These costs are separate from our legal fees.

Examples of common disbursements include:

Probate Court application fee: currently £526 where the estate is valued above £5,000; no fee is payable where the estate is £5,000 or less. Extra copies ordered with the application are currently £2 each; copies ordered later currently cost £16 each. Court fees are not subject to VAT.
Bankruptcy searches: usually a small charge for each beneficiary immediately before a distribution. The total therefore depends on the number of beneficiaries and whether repeat searches are advisable.
Statutory notices: a standard deceased estates notice in The Gazette is currently £96.55 plus VAT (£115.86 including VAT at 20%) when submitted electronically using the Gazette form or template. A local newspaper notice may also be advisable.
Property valuation fees: the cost depends on the property, location and level of valuation required. We will obtain or approve a quotation with you before commissioning the valuation;
Land Registry official copies and searches: currently £7 per official copy or qualifying search obtained electronically through the Land Registry portal and £11 for many equivalent postal applications. Land Registry statutory fees are generally not subject to VAT.
Official death certificates: a standard certificate ordered online from the General Register Office currently costs £12.50

We will arrange payment of these disbursements on your behalf to ensure the administration progresses as smoothly as possible, and we will keep you informed of any anticipated costs throughout the matter.

What Is Included in Our Fixed Fee Service?

As part of our fixed fee service, we will:

Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor who will be your point of contact throughout the matter.
Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators.
Identify and verify the beneficiaries of the estate.
Establish the appropriate type of probate application required.
Obtain and review the documents necessary to support the application.
Prepare and submit the Probate Application and any required HMRC forms.
Prepare any necessary powers of attorney if you wish us to act on your behalf.
Apply to the Probate Registry for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
Obtain the Grant and deal with any related queries from the Probate Registry.
Collect and realise estate assets, including bank accounts, investments, and property proceeds.
Settle outstanding debts, liabilities, and administration expenses.
Complete any income tax returns required for the tax year of death and the estate administration period. (Additional fees may apply if tax returns from earlier years remain outstanding.)
Prepare comprehensive estate accounts.
Distribute the estate to the beneficiaries in accordance with the Will or the rules of intestacy.

What Is Not Included?

Unless expressly included in our written quotation, the quoted probate or estate administration fee does not cover:

Conveyancing work for the sale, assent or transfer of land or property.
Contested probate, challenges to the validity of a Will, disputes between executors or beneficiaries, or claims against the estate.
The creation, variation, registration or ongoing administration of trusts.
Complex or specialist tax advice, tax planning, outstanding tax returns from before the date of death, or negotiations and enquiries beyond the routine inheritance tax and estate administration work included in the quotation.
Third-party costs and disbursements, which are payable in addition to our legal fees.

If additional work becomes necessary, we will explain why, provide information about the likely additional cost, and seek your agreement before carrying it out.

How Long Will the Administration Take?
Every estate is different. As a general guide, a straightforward non-taxable estate may take approximately 6 to 12 months to administer from receipt of full instructions, while a taxable or more complex estate may take approximately 12 to 24 months or longer. These are estimates, not guaranteed completion dates. The timetable begins when we have the signed terms of engagement, proof of identity, the original Will where relevant, the death certificate and sufficient information to start the work. It can be affected by delays in obtaining asset and liability figures, inheritance tax funding, HMRC requirements, Probate Registry queries, a property sale, tax clearance, creditor claims, missing beneficiaries, disputes, trusts, business interests or assets held abroad.

The main stages are usually:

Opening the file and gathering information: commonly 4 to 12 weeks. We review the Will, identify the executors and beneficiaries, establish the assets and liabilities, contact relevant institutions, and arrange any necessary property, investment or business valuations.
Inheritance tax and probate preparation: commonly 2 to 8 weeks after the necessary figures and documents have been received. We calculate the gross and net estate values, identify available exemptions or reliefs, prepare the appropriate inheritance tax return or estate details, arrange payment of any inheritance tax instalment due before the Grant, and prepare the probate application. A taxable estate or one involving lifetime gifts, trusts or relief claims is likely to take longer.
Probate Registry stage: the Government advises that a Grant is usually received within 12 weeks of submission. Straightforward online applications may be completed sooner, but paper applications, Registry requisitions, issues with the Will or the need for additional evidence can extend this period.
Collecting and realising assets: commonly 3 to 9 months after the Grant. We send the Grant to asset holders, close or transfer accounts and investments, settle liabilities and, if there is a property, liaise with the conveyancer and account for the net sale proceeds. The timing of a sale, investment encashment or business interest can materially affect this stage.
Tax during the administration: where required, we report estate income and gains, deal with HMRC enquiries and obtain information needed to finalise the estate’s tax position. HMRC processing or the need to file returns can delay completion.
Estate accounts and distribution: commonly 1 months once the assets have been collected and liabilities and tax matters resolved. We prepare the estate accounts for approval, explain the proposed distributions, carry out appropriate beneficiary checks and make interim or final payments. Executors may decide to retain a reserve or wait until relevant creditor or claim periods have expired before final distribution.

We will provide a more specific estimate once we understand the estate and will keep you informed if the anticipated timetable changes.

How we can help you

We represent a broad spectrum of clients, including owner-managed firms, multinational corporations, and clients in the public sector, demonstrating the breadth of our expertise.

To find out more about our expertise, please call:

01603 214 220

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