There may be certain circumstances whereby you only require assistance in applying for and obtaining the Grant of Representation (Grant of Probate or a Grant of Letters of Administration). We are happy to help you through this difficult process by carrying out the work required for a fixed fee.
This type of application is usually only suitable where the deceased’s Estate is less than the nil rate band (currently £325,000) at the date of the deceased’s death, or may be valued at more than this but is not taxable for Inheritance Tax purposes. Please see below if you need to apply for a transferable Nil Rate Band.
Our fixed fee Probate application costs will be £850.00 plus VAT and disbursements. 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. The cost of such disbursements may change over time, if the agencies that charge them raise or reduce them.
The likely disbursements will be a Probate court fee of £155.00 (additional copies are charged at £1.50 per copy).
Based on the above likely disbursements, the fee you will pay is £1,175.00 (this includes VAT) for one copy of the Grant.
In addition, to comply with Anti-Fraud Regulations, there will be a compliance fee to verify identity of £25.00 plus VAT per Executor.
On average obtaining the Grant of Probate takes two months.
These fees only relate to a non-taxable Estate. For our fees in respect of taxable Estates, please see our Full Probate Application and Administration of Estates section below.
You will need to:
- Provide a list of the assets and liabilities of the Estate with values as at the date of death.
- Provide the death certificate.
- Where appropriate provide the original Will.
- Deal with the post Grant Administration. This includes: the sale or transfer of the assets, payment of liabilities, preparation of Estate accounts and distribution to Beneficiaries.
We will:
- Provide you with a dedicated and experienced Probate lawyer to work on your matter.
- Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require.
- Draft the appropriate Probate application form for Executor or Administrator (as appropriate).
- Prepare HM Revenue and Customs form IHT205.
- Arrange for the signing of the documents.
- Submit the application to the Probate Registry.
- Upon receipt of the Grant we will provide you with copies.
We will not:
- Undertake any verification of the asset values.
- Deal with any of the pre or post Grant Administration.
- Notify or contact any of the Beneficiaries.
Estates in excess of the Nil Rate Band – additional costs
If the deceased’s Estate is in excess of the nil rate band (currently £325,000) but below £650,000, and the deceased is a widow or widower or survived their civil partner then it may be possible to claim the transferable nil rate band.
Our fixed fee Probate application costs will be £950.00 plus VAT and disbursements. The likely disbursements will be a Probate court fee of £155.00 (additional copies are charged at £1.50 per copy). 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. The cost of such disbursements may change over time, if the agencies that charge them raise or reduce them.
In addition, to comply with the Anti-Fraud Regulations, there will be a compliance fee to verify identity of £25.00 plus VAT per Executor.
When one party to a marriage or civil partnership dies and does not use up all of their Nil Rate Band the unused proportion can be claimed by the survivor’s personal representatives and added to the survivor’s Nil Rate Band.
If, when the first spouse or civil partner died, they did not use any of their own Nil Rate Band, then the Inheritance Tax form IHT217 may be completed in addition to the above form IHT205.
In order to do this you will need to:
- Provide a copy of the first deceased’s Will.
- Provide a copy of the first deceased’s death certificate;
- Provide a copy of any Grant of Representation taken out in the first deceased’s Estate.
- Provide a copy of any Deed of Variation of the first deceased’s Estate.
- Provide a copy of the marriage certificate.
- Confirm that the first deceased was domiciled (had their home) in the UK.
- Confirm that all of the first deceased’s Estate passed to exempt Beneficiaries (i.e. their spouse or charity).
- Confirm that the first deceased did not have jointly owned assets that passed to anyone other than the surviving spouse.
- Confirm that the first deceased did not make any gifts or other transfers during the seven years before they died. Also, confirm that they were not exempt from Inheritance Tax.
- Confirm that no claim for any Agricultural Property Relief or Business Property Relief was made. This can be either in relation to the first deceased’s Estate or any lifetime gifts made by them.
- Confirm that the first deceased did not make any gifts with reservation of benefit during their lifetime.
- Confirm that the first deceased was not a Beneficiary of a Trust.
We will:
- Provide you with a dedicated and experienced Probate lawyer to work on your matter.
- Complete form IHT217 on the basis of the information which you have provided to us. We will submit this to the Probate Registry with the IHT205 and appropriate Probate application form.
We will not:
- Be verifying any of the information which you provide to us.