E & C Solicitors, 57 Hythe Street, Dartford, Kent. DA1 1BG
E & C Solicitors, 57 Hythe Street, Dartford, Kent. DA1 1BG
Important Terminology going forward:
References to a "Grant" or "Grant of Probate" include applications for Letters of Administration unless otherwise stated.
There are a number of services that we can provide you in respect of the above, and these are as follows:
Dependent on the service you wish to engage us in will depend on the key stages for the Probate process. However, in general a full service would following:
We cannot guarantee the actual time from the point of instruction to the point of the grant of probate being received as the application process at the Probate Registry takes on average up to 16 weeks to make a grant.
We further cannot guarantee an actual time frame as we have yet to determine the extent of the estate, and as such would need to contact third parties prior to making the application for the grant of probate to determine the value of the estate, which may take some time to obtain such responses. However, on average the whole process could take 6 months upwards, depending on the complexity of the estate.
As you are instructing us on a private basis, our legal fee is based on our hourly rates, which vary dependent on the experience of the member of staff handling your matter and are subject to the addition of VAT. The hourly rates range as follows:
The Law Society also provides guidance on what can be charged in respect of Probate matters, and this includes an additional percentage between 1.75% and 2.25% which is based on the "value of the estate".
Our estimated legal fees range between £2,500.00 - £4,000.00 + VAT for this service (not inclusive of the Law Society Guidance on the Value of The Estate).
We can only provide an estimate of our legal fees on this basis as it will depend on the complexity of the estate of the deceased. There are many elements to a deceased's estate which we will need to factor in once the full picture of the estate becomes clearer, i.e. how many (if any) properties are included, bank accounts, pensions, life insurance policies etc, each having their own complexities in handling in an estate administration.
Our legal fees are based on the "straight forward" process for an application for a grant and administration of an estate and this generally includes matters such as:
As noted above, disbursements are those costs that are paid to third parties and the following are those usually incurred for an application for grant of probate:
**If we are instructed to act in relation to the sale and purchase of any property, these services are not included and will be additional costs**
Our estimated legal fees range between £1,500.00 - £3,000.00 + VAT for this service (not inclusive of the Law Society Guidance on the Value of The Estate).
This is the same service as at number "1" however, this does not include the drafting or submission of Inheritance Tax Forms. Disbursements for this service are also the same as in number "1".
Our estimated legal fees range between £1,000.00 - £2,500.00 + VAT for this service (not inclusive of the Law Society Guidance on the Value of The Estate).
We can only provide an estimate of our legal fees on this basis as it will depend on the complexity of the estate of the deceased. There are many elements to a deceased's estate which we will need to factor in once the full picture of the estate becomes clearer, i.e. how many (if any) properties are included, bank accounts, pensions, life insurance policies etc, each having their own complexities in handling in an estate administration.
Our legal fee covers the "standard work" required to make an application for a grant of probate, this will include such matters as:
Disbursements for this service are also the same as in number "1".
**Please take note that legal fees and disbursements are not the same and are charged separately; legal fees refers to the fee you are paying us for work undertaken and varies; whereas disbursements are those costs that are related to your matter which become payable to third parties, for example the application for the grant is a court fee which is payable to HM Courts and Tribunal Services, and is a disbursement. Estate and Corporate Solicitors do not control the costs of disbursements and they may vary depending on the third party.**
E & C Solicitors working hand and hand with E & C Estate Agents