Estate Administration and Probate Fees

Our experienced Private Client team comprise of Solicitors and Legal Executives, each supported by their own (experienced) Legal Assistant.

You may wish to instruct us in one of the following ways, fixed fee or dealing with the estate on your behalf.

Fixed Fee Services

As part of our fixed fee services we will:

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

  • Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries

  • Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require

  • Collate details of assets and liabilities provided by you

  • Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms

  • Draft a legal statement for you to sign

  • Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf

  • Obtain the Probate and securely send copies to you

Fixed fee obtaining Grant of Probate only (IHT205):

This includes preparing the Inheritance Tax return and providing a statement (formerly the Oath) attending with you to sign the Statement and Inheritance Tax return and obtaining the Grant of Probate for you.

Fixed fee of £1,400 plus VAT of £280 with court fee of £300 plus £1.50 for every additional copy required (no VAT).

We anticipate this will take approximately 16 weeks to obtain for you. All dependant on HM Revenue and Customs and Court processing times.

Small Estates as above but using nil rate band from first spouse estate (IHT205 and 217):

This includes preparing the Inheritance Tax returns, collating information for transfer of nil rate band and providing a Statement (formerly the Oath) attending with you to sign the Statement and Inheritance Tax returns and obtaining the Grant of Probate for you.

Fixed fee of £1,650 plus VAT of £330 with court fee of £300 plus £1.50 for every additional copy required (no VAT). There may also be an additional fee for copy death certificate for the spouse who died first if you do not hold a copy (approximately £20)

We anticipate this will take approximately 20 weeks to obtain for you. All dependant on HM Revenue and Customs and Court processing times.

Estates using the Residence Nil Rate Band where no tax to pay

This includes preparing the Inheritance Tax returns and all schedules and providing a Statement (formerly the Oath), attending with you to sign the Statement and Inheritance Tax returns, submitting the tax returns to the Inland Revenue, obtaining receipt from Inland Revenue and obtaining the Grant of Probate for you.

Fixed fee of £2,750 plus VAT of £550 with court fee of £300 plus £1.50 for every additional copy required (no VAT). There may also be an additional fee for copy death certificate for the spouse who died first if you do not hold a copy (approximately £20).

Time scales are dependent upon HMRC but generally 2-4 months.

Taxable Estates or those requiring a Full Inland Revenue Account

This includes preparing the Inheritance Tax returns and all schedules and providing a Statement (formerly the Oath), attending with you to sign the Statement and Inheritance Tax returns, submitting the tax returns to the Inland Revenue, obtaining receipt from Inland Revenue and obtaining the Grant of Probate for you.

Fixed fee of £3,250 plus VAT of £650 with court fee of £300 plus £1.50 for every additional copy required (no VAT).

We anticipate this will take approximately 20 weeks to obtain for you. All dependant on HM Revenue and Customs and Court processing times.

Dealing with the whole Estate on your behalf (IHT 205/217 Estates)

These generally take between 15-25 hours @ £295 plus VAT of £59 to £330 plus VAT of £66 per hour depending on who is handling your matter. As part of our services we will:

  • Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor or legal executive to work on your matter

  • Obtain details of assets and liabilities

  • Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and engage genealogists where there are intestacy or missing 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 (formerly the Oath)

  • Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf

  • Collect in all assets on your behalf

  • Pay any debts

  • Arrange clearance and cleaning of any property where necessary

  • Deal with income and capital gains tax where necessary

  • Make interim payments to beneficiaries where appropriate

  • Deal with the sale of any property (a separate quote will be provided by our conveyancers for the conveyancing)

  • Make payment to beneficiaries once ID checks have been made

  • Provide you with a full set of estate accounts and copy documents

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.

We will handle the full process for you. This quote is for estates where:

  • There is a valid will

  • There is no more than one property

  • There are no more than 5 bank or building society accounts

  • There are no other intangible assets

  • 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

  • There are no foreign assets

Disbursements in addition to this fee:

Probate application fee of £300 plus £1.50 for additional copies (no VAT)

Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£6 per beneficiary, no VAT)

Trustee Act Notices – £150 plus VAT of £30 to £250 plus VAT of £50 Post in The London Gazette and Local Newspaper – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.

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) 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.

Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

Dealing with the whole Estate on your behalf (IHT 400 estates)

It is more difficult to provide an estimate without knowing the level of work involved and the complexity of the estate but we will be happy to provide you with an estimate once you have given us details. Our hourly rates range from £295 plus VAT of £59 to £330 plus VAT of £66 per hour. As part of our services we will:

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

  • Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries, engage genealogists where intestacy or missing beneficiaries

  • Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require

  • Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application

  • Obtain details of all assets and liabilities

  • Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms and pay any tax needed having applied all possible exemptions.

  • Draft a legal statement for you to sign

  • Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf

  • Arrange for foreign Grants where there are foreign assets to be dealt with under the English Will or intestacy

  • Collect in all assets on your behalf

  • Pay any debts

  • Arrange clearance and cleaning of any property where necessary

  • Deal with income and capital gains tax where necessary

  • Make interim payments to beneficiaries where appropriate

  • Deal with the sale of any property (a separate quote will be provided by our conveyancers for the conveyancing)

  • Make payment to beneficiaries once ID checks have been made

  • Provide you with a full set of estate accounts and copy documents

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. We will handle the full process for you.

Disbursements in addition to this fee:

Probate application fee of £300 plus £1.50 for additional copies (no VAT)

Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£6 per beneficiary, no VAT)

Trustee Act Notices – Price dependant on local newspaper fees – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.

Inheritance Tax – we will advise you as soon as we know the amount due.

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) 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.

Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

Probate Fees – Value Element Explanation

In addition to our charges for the time we spend working on a high value estate, we include a value element as part of our fee. This is a common and accepted practice when dealing with probate matters, and reflects the added responsibility and risk we assume in dealing with estate assets, as well as the complexity, care, and expertise required in administering an estate of value.

The value element is typically calculated as a percentage of the gross value of the estate and is intended to reflect:

  • The overall value and complexity of the estate;

  • The responsibility involved in handling and distributing potentially substantial assets;

  • The potential personal liability we accept as professional advisers and executors (if appointed);

  • The skill, expertise, and judgment required to administer the estate fairly and efficiently.

We believe this approach provides a fair balance between work undertaken and the value of the estate, ensuring we can continue to provide high standards of service throughout the probate process.

The Law Society suggests the following percentages as a guide and we follow this guidance. Our value element is as follows: 

If we are not acting as executors: 

  • 0.5% of the value of any property (the residence), and 

  • 1% of the rest of the estate (known as the gross estate).

If we are appointed as executors (either solely or jointly): 

  • 0.75% of the value of the residence, and 

  • 1.5% of the rest of the gross estate. 

We always aim to be fair and transparent with our pricing. If you have any questions about how our fees are calculated, we're happy to talk it through with you (contact 01243 532777 or email info@owenkenny.co.uk).