Probate and estate administration fees.
The cost depends on whether you need help obtaining the grant only or want us to administer the estate more fully.
Grant-only service
Where personal representatives have collected the relevant asset and liability information and will administer the estate themselves, preparation of the relevant tax information and grant application is charged on time spent. The firm’s currently published typical range is £750–£1,000 plus VAT and disbursements, depending on complexity and the number of assets.
Full estate administration
For full administration, the firm’s currently published charging basis combines time spent at £300 plus VAT per hour with a percentage reflecting responsibility: 0.5% of the gross estate, reduced to 0.25% for assets and cash passing to a surviving spouse.
| Example estate | Indicative fee excluding VAT and disbursements |
|---|---|
| £350,000 estate passing to a spouse or civil partner, no inheritance tax, property transferred | £2,000–£2,500 |
| £500,000 estate, ten assets, six legacies and two residuary beneficiaries, no inheritance tax payable | £4,000–£5,500 |
| £700,000 taxable estate, twelve assets, three bequests and eight beneficiaries | £8,000–£10,000 |
What administration can include
- Identifying the executors or personal representatives
- Establishing assets, liabilities and relevant tax information
- Preparing the application for the grant
- Collecting or transferring assets and settling debts
- Paying legacies and communicating with beneficiaries
- Preparing estate accounts and distributing the balance
What can increase the cost
Complex tax affairs, numerous assets or beneficiaries, missing documents, property sales, disputed wills, claims against the estate, foreign assets and additional tax returns can require further work. Separate charges can also apply to deeds of variation and conveyancing.
Timescale
A grant is often obtained within three to six months of instruction, although registry and tax-authority timings are outside the firm’s control. Full administration commonly takes longer and depends on the estate’s complexity, property sales, tax and beneficiary issues.