Introduction

Probate is the process of managing a deceased person's assets, paying off their debts and taxes, and distributing their remaining property to the beneficiaries named in their Will. In the case of uncontested probate, there are no disputes regarding the Will or asset distribution. We have outlined our Legal Fees, disbursements, and estimated timeline for completing your uncontested probate matter.

Legal Fees and Disbursements

Legal Fees refer to the payment required for the work we will perform in managing your case from start to finish, in relation to an uncontested probate matter. Our standard fee for such cases typically ranges from £3,000 to £6,000 plus VAT.
The hourly rate for handling an uncontested probate matter ranges from £300 to £450 plus VAT, based on the experience and qualification of the person handling your case. We will charge additional fees of £16 plus VAT for CHAPS Electronic Money Transfer and £3.50 plus VAT for same-day transfer.

We will clearly indicate which disbursements carry VAT in our formal quotation or as we advise you to incur them. The exact cost will depend on the specific circumstances of your matter, such as the number of beneficiaries, property, and bank accounts involved.

We will manage the entire process for you, and our standard fee estimate is applicable for estates with one beneficiary and no property. For cases involving multiple beneficiaries, a property, and multiple bank accounts, the costs will be at the higher end of the range.

• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on the division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs.
• There is a valid will.
• There is no more than £755,000 in bank or building society accounts.
• There are no other intangible assets.
• There are 1 - 2 beneficiaries.
• There is no more than one property.
• 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.
• There is no tax clearance awaited for either inheritance or income tax.

We will keep you informed of any changes to our fees throughout the process, and we will explain the reasons for such changes. Any adjustments to fees will usually occur if you modify your instructions or if your case involves unexpected complications.

Disbursements

Disbursements refer to expenses associated with your matter that are payable to external parties. To ensure a seamless process, we will manage the payment of disbursements on your behalf.

Our formal quotation will include a comprehensive list of all disbursements. In the event that you need to incur additional disbursements during your case, we will inform you in advance of the reason for the additional costs and the expected amount.

Common disbursements may include:

• Bankruptcy only Land Charges Department searches.
• Advertisement (Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors): £120 + VAT. * Probate application fee: £150 - £200 + VAT.
• Swearing of the oath (per executor): £10 - £20 + VAT.

How long will this take?

Estates falling within this fee range usually require 9-18 months to complete. The process typically involves obtaining the grant of probate, which takes 12-18 weeks. Collecting the assets typically takes 6-12 weeks, after which we can proceed with asset distribution, which typically takes 2-3 weeks.

Stages of the Process

The exact steps involved in an uncontested probate matter can vary based on individual circumstances. However, we have outlined below the primary stages of a typical transaction: -

• Providing you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor to work on your matter.

• Undertaking regulatory checks

• Identifying the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries

• Making the application to the Probate Court on your behalf.

• Obtaining the Probate and securely send two copies to you

• Accurately identifying the type of Probate application you will require

• Obtaining the relevant documents required to make the application

• Completing the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms

• Drafting a legal oath for you to swear
• Collecting and distributing all assets in the estate

Further potential costs may arise where:

• If there is no will or the estate consists of any shareholdings (stocks and bonds) 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.

Questions

If you have any queries regarding our services or fees, please do not hesitate to contact us email at INFO@templecorporate.com