Wills Pricing
Our Will drafting services start from as £180 + VAT for individuals and £250 + VAT if you are looking for a Mirror Will (two Wills with the same terms for you and your partner)
For more complicated Wills (for those with a life interest, trusts or exclusions of people that may expect to inherit) prices can raise to £280 + VAT for an individual and £400 + VAT for Mirror Wills)
Our usual hourly rate for probate work is £206 per hour plus VAT (£247.20 inc VAT).
FIXED FEE – GRANT ONLY
If you just want us to apply for the Grant of Probate for you and do not want us to collect and distribute the assets we can do this work for a fixed fee of £499 plus VAT (£598.80 including VAT) for estates comprising no more than one property and money in no more than 3 bank or building society accounts and no foreign assets. If the estates are more complex the charges may be more. In addition to our charges there will be the Probate Registry fee of £306 including four copies of the grant to pay (these fees apply to estates worth £5,000 or more).
For the fixed fee we will:-
- Provide you with a dedicated and experienced Probate specialist to work on your matter
- Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
- Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require
- Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
- Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
- Draft a Legal Statement for you to sign
- Make the application to the Probate Registry on your behalf
- Obtain the Probate and send sealed copies to you
FULL ADMINISTRATION
If you would like us to collect and distribute the assets and ensure that the deceased’s wishes, as set out in their Will, are fully carried out in addition to obtaining the Grant of Probate, there will be additional charges. 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 at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end. If there is foreign property involved the costs could be significantly higher. For complex or high value estates the costs will be higher.
We will handle the full process for you. This estimate is for estates where:
- There is a valid Will
- There is no more than one property
- There are no more than 3 bank or building society accounts
- There are no other intangible assets
- There are no more than 3 beneficiaries
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
- There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
- There are no claims made against the estate
Disbursements additional to this fee:
- Probate application fee of £306
- Bankruptcy only, Land Charges Department searches
- Trustee Act Notices posted in The London Gazette and local newspapers (Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors) £150 – £300.
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.
Potential additional costs
- If there is no Will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) or foreign property there is likely to be additional costs that could range 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.
- If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £1.50 each.
- Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included, but can be quoted separately.
- Inheritance tax.
Optional extras
We currently have a facility whereby if it is believed that there are assets which cannot be located, they can be traced by a search. Prices will be available upon application.
How long will this take?
On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 16-20 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 15-30 weeks. Once this has been done we can distribute the assets, this normally takes a further 4-6 weeks.
Who will be doing the work?
Probate work is undertaken by a qualified specialist who may be supported by more junior staff, for example trainee solicitors or paralegals. Please see the ‘Our People’ section of our website.
Upon the death of a relative, administering their estate is a necessary step to undertake. In some circumstances, this is more difficult because there is no Will or it is somehow invalid. Chapman & Chubb can guide you through what the right steps are.
Planning ahead for when you die allows you to set out clearly who should get what from your estate. DJF Chapman & Chubb can help you think through your plans and their financial impact. Our aim is to ensure that your loved ones are cared for when you no longer can.
For many of us, making a Will is something we know we should do but never quite get round to. Of course, it’s important not to put it off and the good news is that at DJF Chapman & Chubb, making a Will could be much quicker and easier than you think.
In an uncertain world it’s reassuring to know that our wishes will be respected even if we’re not in a position to make our own decisions. That’s why many people choose to create a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to provide protection should an accident or ill health prevent them from making decisions in the future.
The terms of a Will can sometimes cause distress. If there isn’t a Will in place this can be difficult too. DJF Chapman & Chubb can advise on any matter where a Will or inheritance is in dispute.