Wills Probate & Power of Attorney Funding

Effective January 2026

The following section explains our costs and the steps involved in probate. We understand that dealing with an estate can be overwhelming, especially at a difficult and emotional time. Our experienced Probate Team is here to guide you gently through every stage of the process and to manage the administration on your behalf.

1. What Is Probate?

Probate is the legal authority needed to deal with someone’s estate after they pass away. An estate includes property, bank accounts, savings, investments, pensions, personal belongings and any liabilities.

We assist with the full administration process including valuation of assets, preparation of HMRC paperwork, applying for the Grant of Representation, gathering assets, paying liabilities, preparing final estate accounts, and reporting any income, dividends or capital gains arising during the administration period.

2. Scope of Work (All Probate Matters)

While every case varies, we typically provide the following services:

• Taking your instructions and reviewing the Will (if any).
• Identifying and valuing all assets and liabilities.
• Preparing and submitting the required HMRC inheritance tax forms.
• Preparing and submitting the Grant of Representation application.
• Obtaining the Grant.
• Collecting assets and settling liabilities.
• Verifying beneficiaries.
• Preparing comprehensive Estate Accounts.
• Reporting income, dividends and capital gains tax arising during the administration period.
• Distributing the estate.

3. Our Probate Fees

To keep our fees as fair and reasonable as possible, we follow an hourly charging structure rather than applying a percentage charge based upon the value of  of the estate. We understand that many estates are simple and do not require extensive work, so we offer a reduced hourly rate for standard probate matters. For estates that involve greater complexity, we use our complex‑probate rate to reflect the additional expertise and time required. This ensures you only ever pay for the level of support you genuinely need.

Standard Probate: £250 + VAT (£300 inc VAT) per hour

Typical time estimate: 20–25 hours

Likely total legal fees: £5,000–£6,250 + VAT (£6,000–£7,500 inc VAT)

+ Disbursements as detailed in section 5.

Complex Probate: £310 + VAT (£372 inc VAT) per hour

Typical time estimate: 30–60 hours

Likely total legal fees: £9,300–£18,600 + VAT (£11,160–£22,320 inc VAT)

+ Disbursements as detailed in section 5.

4. Grant-Only Probate (Fixed Fee)

We understand that many families prefer to manage the estate themselves and deal directly with banks, organisations and beneficiaries. Our Grant‑Only Service is designed to support you with the part that often feels the most daunting — applying to the Probate Registry.

With this service, you provide us with the date‑of‑death figures and financial information, and we take care of preparing and submitting the Grant application on your behalf. Once the Grant is issued, we pass it to you so that you can continue with the rest of the administration in your own time.

This service covers the application stage only, and does not include investigations, enquiries, tax reporting or estate administration, but we are always here if you need additional support later.

Grant‑Only Application: £995 + VAT (£1,194 inc VAT)

+ Probate Registry fee (£300)
+ 2 additional Grant copies (£16 each = £32)

Total for Grant‑Only Service: £1,526

5. Disbursements (Third-Party Costs)

• Probate Registry application fee: £300
• Additional Grant copies: £16 each per copy
• Office Copy Entries: £7 each
• AML/ID Checks: £14 + VAT (£16.80 inc VAT) per person
• Bankruptcy searches: £6 per person (search last 30 days).
• Statutory Notices (optional): £220 approx
• Asset Search (optional): £190 approx
• Will Search (optional): £150 approx

6. Estimated Total Costs (Illustrative Examples)

The following examples are designed to give you a clearer idea of what you may typically expect to pay. Every estate is different, and final costs depend on the time required, the number of assets and beneficiaries, and whether any complex issues arise.

Standard Probate – Worked Example

Scenario Assumptions

Valid Will; 1 property (conveyancing fees paid separate and not included in these fees); 2 bank accounts; 1 shareholding; 2 Executors; 3 beneficiaries (2 of whom are the Executors); No IHT400 required and gross value of Estate £500,000 = 20 hours of work at the Standard Probate rate

Disbursements included: Probate Registry Fee, 2 additional copies of the Grant, Statutory Notices Office Copy Entries; 3 AML/ID checks

Breakdown of Costs

Legal Fees = 20 hours × £250 per hour = £5,000 + VAT (£6,000 inc VAT)

Total Disbursements = £609.40

Total Estimated Cost – Standard Probate: £6,609.40

Complex Probate – Worked Example

Scenario Assumptions

Valid Will; Will Search required; Asset Search required; 1 property (conveyancing fees paid separate and not included in these fees); 2 Executors; 5 bank accounts; 2 shareholdings;  1 life insurance policy: 4 legacy gifts: 5 beneficiaries (2 are the Executors); Full administration involving more complex asset and beneficiary structure; IHT400 completion, submission and paying of Inheritance Tax from Estate Assets; reporting of income earned during the administration period and gross value of Estate £1,100,000 = 45 hours of the Complex Probate rate

Disbursements included: Probate Registry Fee; 5 Grant copies; Will Search; Asset Search; 1 Office Copy Entry; 1 Statutory Notice; 9 AML/ID checks

Breakdown of Costs

Legal Fees 45 hours × £310 per hour = £13,950 + VAT (£16,740 inc VAT)

Total Disbursements = £1,098.20

Total Estimated Cost – Complex Probate = £17,838.20

7. Timescales

The time it takes to complete the administration of an estate varies depending on the nature and complexity of the estate. We aim to progress matters as efficiently as possible and will keep you updated throughout.

For standard estates, the full process is typically completed within 9–12 months, although this can be longer if there is a property to sell or if third‑party organisations take time to respond.

For more complex estates, administration may take 15–21 months. This is often due to HMRC involvement, the need to complete full inheritance tax accounts, or the greater number of assets, beneficiaries or financial institutions involved.

As a general guide:

• Calculating any inheritance tax position and obtaining the Grant of Probate normally takes around 5–7 months. Current guidance from the Probate Registry suggests that Grants are usually issued within 16 weeks of receiving the application.
• Collecting in assets such as bank accounts, shareholdings or life policies typically takes 2–3 months, depending on response times from the organisations involved.
• Once assets have been received, we will pay liabilities, settle pecuniary (cash) gifts and, where possible, make interim distributions to residuary beneficiaries. This stage commonly takes another 2–3 months.
• When all assets have been collected, and any property sale is completed, we will finalise tax matters with HMRC, prepare the Final Estate Accounts, and complete the distribution. This final stage usually takes 2–3 months.

Property sales, HMRC processing times, overseas assets, and delays from third‑party organisations can all extend the timeline, but we will always keep you informed of progress and any external factors affecting the administration.

We offer discounted packages for combined Will and LPA instructions. Please ask for our latest offer

Packages – Will & LPA Discount

To help clients who wish to put both a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney in place at the same time, we offer a 15% discount on the Will fee when purchased together with an LPA.

Below is an example showing how the discount works:

Example: Basic Will + One LPA

 Standard Price (No Discount)

• Basic Will: £185
• One LPA: £345
  Subtotal: £530 + VAT (20%): £106
  OPG Application Fee: £92
  Total: £728

Discounted Package Price (15% off the Will)

• Basic Will: £185
  • 15% discount = £27.75
  • Discounted Will price = £157.25
• One LPA: £345
  Subtotal: £502.25 + VAT (20%): £100.45
  OPG Application Fee: £92

Total: £694.70