To be able to assist, we would first need to verify your identity.
Willans’ fees for electronic verification of your identity (in accordance with anti-money laundering requirements): £30 (+VAT) per person, or £40 (+VAT) per joint-client.
Hourly rates
Our hourly rates include all time spent in addition to drafting the probate and inheritance tax paperwork (which is covered by the fixed fee), such as on providing advice in meetings, telephone calls, emails in and emails out, and letters in and letters out to you and any third parties.
Further information about our hourly rates can be found here:
Probate fees: Our hourly rates
Fixed fees
In addition to the above, our fixed fees depend on the type of estate. They cover time spent in drafting the probate paperwork and inheritance tax paperwork.
- £1,175 (+VAT at 20%) and disbursements: If the estate is an excepted estate and a full inheritance tax account is not required.
- £2,150 (+VAT at 20%) and disbursements: If a full inheritance tax account is required but no inheritance tax is payable.
- £2,775 (+VAT at 20%) and disbursements: If a full inheritance tax account is required, inheritance tax is payable, and there is no need to calculate any gifts made as part of normal expenditure out of income or any claim for taper relief.
Total cost estimates
If we are acting on a “grant only” basis (ie. our work is limited to obtaining the grant of probate), our costs differ depending on whether the estate is an excepted estate or whether a full inheritance tax account is required.
- For excepted estates, our total costs are approximately £3,000 to £3,600 plus VAT (at 20%) and disbursements.
- For estates where a full inheritance tax account is required, our costs are approximately £4,500–£5,000, plus VAT (at 20%) and disbursements.
The total cost estimates are to be used as an indicator only, as probate matters vary on a case-by-case basis, and will also depend on the level of lawyer instructed. As such, costs will be clarified with you by your individual lawyer and may be different to the above.
Although we do not charge a percentage fee, we tend to find that if we are instructed to complete a “full administration” of an estate, the costs are in the region of 1% to 3% of the gross inheritance tax value of the estate, plus VAT (at 20%) and disbursements (examples of which are set out below).
Examples of disbursements and other expenses often incurred in addition to the above (payable to third parties)
- Probate application fee of £300 (current fee)
- If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £1.50 each (1 per asset usually)
- Bankruptcy and identification searches – £13.20 per executor and UK beneficiary
- If a beneficiary lives abroad, foreign bankruptcy searches can range from approximately £60 to £300, depending on the country in question.
- Approximately £250 for statutory notices in the London Gazette and local paper, if required – these can help to protect against unexpected claims and creditors
- Approximately £750 for a property valuation by a RICS qualified surveyor.
- Other valuation fees – such as shareholdings, personal chattels etc.
Exclusions to the above
These charges are likely to increase where any of the following circumstances arise:
- A claim for taper relief is needed
- There is a requirement to calculate any gifts made as part of normal expenditure out of income
- The burden of inheritance tax needs to be assessed
- Reliefs such as business relief, agricultural property relief, and/or double taxation are required
- The reduced rate of inheritance tax is applicable
- A challenge to the estate is or may be made
- A trust needs to be set up
- A property needs to be sold or transferred.
There may be other factors that result in the costs being increased, but any changes to costs will be discussed with you before any work begins.
