All fees are subject to VAT at the passing rate – Additional Third Party Costs will also be chargeable

We offer legal advice to those administering the estates of deceased people both where the deceased had a valid will, known as probate, or where they died without a will, known as administration. 

In most cases, those dealing with an estate (known either as executors where there is a will, or administrators in other circumstances) will need to obtain an order of court which gives the them the legal authority to carry out the majority of their functions.  This order is referred to as either a Grant of Probate or a Grant of Letters of Administration.

Getting the grant

For clients with straightforward circumstances, we offer a simplified service to get them to the stage where they have either Grant.  This allows them deal with the assets of the estate themselves.  This assumes the following:

• that no Inheritance Tax is payable and that only the short-form Return of Estate Information form is required; and
• that clients are able to provide most valuations and relevant paperwork.

Our fees: £600 + VAT Court fee: £155 + £1.50p for each additional copy of the Grant.

Possible other fees may include:

HM Land Registry Office Copies at £3 per itemComplicated Oaths may require “settling” by the Court at £12, or by a probate consultant whose charges start at £12.

Some people choose to advertise for creditors to come forwards when dealing with an estate.  This is done by placing adverts in the London Gazette and a local newspaper.  Charges for placing such adverts vary and a quotation will be obtained from a specialist advertising agency if the service is required.

Likewise, some clients wish to search for superseding wills, or perform other searches, for example to find missing beneficiaries.  Such searches can be obtained through a number of specialist providers and quotes can be obtained by us on your behalf.

We usually ask for payment on account of fees, VAT and disbursements in all matters although this can be open to negotiation where we are also instructed to sell Estate property.

Partial or full administration

We can partially or fully administer the estate of a deceased person. Our prices reflect the collaborative approach we take with our clients.  Wherever possible, we work to clear, fixed fees (see the table above) as it is our experience that clients want and expect this approach. 

As property law specialists, we are ideally placed to deal with the sale of complicated residential and commercial property assets. 

The prices below reflect only the costs associated with the pure probate or administration parts of the legal work – quotations for work outside pure estate administration will be provided separately.

Our fees for the partial or full administration of an estate are based on our consultant solicitor’s hourly rate of £210 + VAT, per hour.  Each case will vary on its own facts and will be quoted for on a individual basis following an initial fact-finding meeting.  However, a minimum of 7 hours (£1,500 + VAT and additional fees) work would be required for a partial administration to deal with the paperwork aspects of a simple deceased person’s estate as follows:

• liaising with the clients (executors or administrators);
• dealing with financial institutions and relevant professionals to obtain asset values;
• completion of the papers to lead to a Grant application where no Inheritance Tax is payable;
• gathering in the assets of the estate;
• distributing the assets of the estate and liaising with beneficiaries;
• completing an estate account.

Often, partial or full administrations would require the advice of third parties who would raise their own charges which would ordinarily be payable by the estate.  These may include:

• other solicitors within Newport Land and Law (as above); and
• chartered surveyors, accountants, stockbrokers and other professionals from outside Newport Land and Law.

Each department or fellow professional will have their own charges and these will be obtained in advance and estimates will be presented to clients for approval.

The additional fees which may be incurred could include:

• HM Land Registry Office Copies at £3 per item
• Complicated Oaths may require “settling” by the Court at £12, or by a probate consultant whose charges start at £12.
• Bankruptcy searches on beneficiaries at £3 per beneficiary
• Advertising for creditors in the London Gazette and a local newspaper.
• Search for superseding wills, tracing missing beneficiaries etc.

Before the commencement of any job, clients will be asked to agree to a fixed estimate of Newport Land and Law’s fees.  Newport Land and Law can only exceed this estimate with the written agreement of the client. 

Where we note will prices as being “from”, these are quoted on a case by case basis and the cost will depend on additional documentation and additional tax advice.

Court Fees

Lasting Power of Attorney – The current fee for registering a Lasting Power of Attorney is £82 per power

Bespoke trusts:            Trust work is quoted on a case by case basis but you can expect to pay a minimum of £800.  If your trust needs are complex we work with Trust Expert partners who will be able to review your needs along with us.