Probate | Wayne Leighton Solicitors

Our fees	To obtaining grant of probate/letters of administration, we would charge on a time spent basis at the current hourly rate of £320 plus VAT* per hour plus disbursements subject to a minimum of £2500 plus VAT* and disbursements. *VAT will be charged at current rate of 20%
	Estate administration following grant of probate/letters of administration – we will charge on a time spent basis at the current hourly rate of £320 plus VAT* per hour plus disbursements subject to a minimum of 0.25% plus VAT* of the value of Property (Land and Buildings) and the value of all other assets.
	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 lower. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end as the time spent will be higher.
Disbursements 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.	Currently the Court fees are £ 273.00 for the application for grant of probate/letters of administration Additional copies of grant £1.50 each Advertisement in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors (approximately £150 plus VAT). Advertisement in a Local Newspaper (this will vary depending on the rates of the local paper) – £150 to £300 plus VAT This also helps to protect against unexpected claims
Potential additional costs	If there is no Will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs that could vary 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. Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included and an additional charge will apply. You will be advised of this nearer the time.
Services included for obtaining grant of probate/letters of administration	Provide you with a dedicated and experienced solicitor to work on your matter Identify the legally appointed executors or persons entitled to apply for letters of administration and beneficiaries Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application Ascertain the value of the assets of the estate (if necessary, instructing valuers to determine the value of the asset(s)) Making a full return to HMRC Forwarding you the Inheritance tax position of an estate Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms Draft a legal statement for you to sign Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf Obtain the Probate and securely send two copies to you
Full estate administration	A full estate administration includes (but is not limited to): Realising/transferring/disposing of the assets preparing estate accounts Distributing the estate to the beneficiaries
How long will this take?	On average, estates that are simple estates are usually dealt with within 1-6 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 6 to 8 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 6 to 8 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 4 to 6 weeks.
	Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the above fees are accurate, we reserve the right to raise further charges if the complexity or amount of work involved exceeds levels anticipated at the outset. Please note that the cost of disbursements is subject to any increases (which are out of our control) which may be imposed by third party suppliers, or if some of the information on which our quotation is based proves later to be incorrect. Our fees are applicable only for probates matters in England and Wales.

*VAT is charged at the current rate of 20%

Probate work is carried out by Rahul Shah who qualified as a solicitor in 1994.