Probate and Estate Administration

Losing a loved one is a difficult enough time without the added stress and confusion that goes with Probate and Estate Administration. GWlegal can help lift this burden, allowing you to spend precious time with your family.


Probate: What’s involved

Probate is one of those terms people have heard of but aren’t exactly sure what it means or what’s involved. In a nutshell, probate is the name for the legal process for the application of the authority to deal with and administer a deceased’s affairs and estate.

If there is a Will, it is the executor who deals with the administration of the estate. This includes:

  • Registering the death (often a family member or someone present at the death will do this)
  • Locating the Will
  • Arranging the funeral
  • Collecting all the appropriate papers (e.g. bank statements, bills and share certificates)
  • Establishing the value of the estate, organising valuations where appropriate
  • Paying any Inheritance Tax (IHT) to H.M. Revenue and Customs
  • Applying for the Grant of Representation
  • Notifying all the necessary authorities such as:
    H.M. Revenue and Customs
    The Department of Work and Pensions
    Employers
    Banks, building societies and insurance companies
  • Settling all outstanding debts
  • Dividing the estate between named beneficiaries (or under the rules of intestacy if there is no will).

No need to go through it alone

Probate and Estate Administration is a lengthy process and, unfortunately, comes at an already highly emotional time. Our probate services can, however, help with this responsibility. We can take charge of the following aspects of probate and ensure the estate is administered as quickly and as efficiently as possible:

  • Establish the value of the estate
  • Pay any Inheritance Tax
  • Apply for the Grant of Representation
  • Notify all the necessary authorities
  • Pay all debts
  • Divide the estate amongst the beneficiaries (or under the rules of intestacy if there was not a will in place).

Probate Costs

Grant of Probate

Grant only application: £700 + VAT as a fixed fee (when there is a will and no Inheritance Tax is payable). VAT is chargeable at 20%.

Grant only application: £1500 + VAT as a fixed fee (when Inheritance Tax is payable). VAT is chargeable at 20%.

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. Where VAT is included in a disbursement, it is at 20%. Where VAT is quoted as an extra, it will be at 20%.

One disbursement is the Probate Court fee of £273. This includes one copy of grant for use by the executor in the administration. Each copy of grant costs an additional £1.50.

Other disbursements that may apply include:

  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches £3.00 (per beneficiary)
  • Post in The London Gazette currently £85.80 (protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors)
  • Post in a Local Newspaper varies depending on local paper’s charges £75.00- £175.00 + VAT on average (this also helps to protect against unexpected claims).

As part of our fixed fee 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
  • Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
  • Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
  • Prepare the statement of truth for you to sign
  • Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
  • Obtain the Probate and securely send it and one copy to you.

On average, typical uncomplex estates are dealt with within 12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 8-12 weeks.

This fee is only for obtaining the grant. If you would also like us to assist with collection and distribution of assets, please see below.

Services not included in our fixed fee:

  • Dealing with sale of any property
  • Dealing with any caveats lodged
  • Preparation of Deeds of Variation
  • Any claims against the estate

*list above is non-exhaustive

Grant of Letters of Administration

Grant of Letters of Administration application: £750 + VAT as a fixed fee (when there is no will and no Inheritance Tax is payable). VAT is chargeable at 20%.

Grant of Letters of Administration application: £1550 + VAT as a fixed fee (when there is no will and when Inheritance Tax is payable). VAT is chargeable at 20%.

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. Where VAT is included in a disbursement, it is at 20%. Where VAT is quoted as an extra, it will be at 20%.

One disbursement is the Probate Court fee of £273. This includes one copy of grant for use by the Personal Representative in the administration. Each copy of grant costs an additional £1.50.

Other disbursements that may apply include:

  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches £3.00 (per beneficiary)
  • Post in The London Gazette currently £85.80 (protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors)
  • Post in a Local Newspaper varies depending on local paper’s charges £75.00- £175.00 + VAT on average (this also helps to protect against unexpected claims).

As part of our fixed fee 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
  • Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
  • Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
  • Prepare the statement of truth for you to sign
  • Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
  • Obtain the Probate and securely send it and one copy to you.

On average, typical uncomplex estates are dealt with within 12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of letter of administration takes 8-12 weeks.

This fee is only for obtaining the grant. If you would also like us to assist with collection and distribution of assets, please see below.

Services not included in our fixed fee:

  • Dealing with sale of any property
  • Dealing with any caveats lodged
  • Preparation of Deeds of Variation
  • Any claims against the estate

*list above is non-exhaustive

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

Grant and Distributing the Estate (full administration): £275 + VAT hourly rate for time spent working on the file. We anticipate this will take between 25-35 hours work. Total costs estimated at £6,000-£10,0000 + VAT. VAT is chargeable at 20%.

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 or exceed these costs. If there is Inheritance tax then the costs will most likely exceed these costs.

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 4 bank or building society accounts
  • There are no other intangible assets
  • There are 2-6 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 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. Where VAT is included in a disbursement, it is at 20%. Where VAT is quoted as an extra, it will be at 20%.

One disbursement is the Probate Court fee of £273. This includes one copy of grant for use by the executor in the administration. Each copy of grant costs an additional £1.50.

Other disbursements that may apply include:

  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches £3.00 (per beneficiary)
  • Post in The London Gazette currently £85.80 (protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors) or
  • Certainty Wills Register Search ‘Wills Search Protect’ also includes the above London Gazette Notice at £238.80 including VAT for both
  • Post in a Local Newspaper varies depending on local paper’s charges £75.00- £175.00 + VAT on average (this also helps to protect against unexpected claims)

There are a number of disbursements which may be applicable to the above which will depend on the circumstances of the case itself. We will discuss these with you and let you know what these fees are, before going ahead with any additional work.

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
  • If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £1.50 (1 per asset usually)
  • Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included

As part of our hourly rate 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
  • Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
  • Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
  • Prepare the statement of truth for you to sign
  • Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
  • Obtain the Probate and securely send one copy to you
  • Collecting all the appropriate papers (e.g. bank statements, bills and share certificates)
  • Establishing the value of the estate, organising valuations where appropriate
  • Paying any Inheritance Tax (IHT) to H.M. Revenue and Customs
  • Applying for the Grant of Representation
  • Notifying all the necessary authorities such as: H.M. Revenue and Customs, The Department of Work and Pensions, Employers, Banks, building societies and insurance companies
  • Settling all outstanding debts
  • Preparing estate accounts
  • Dividing the estate between named beneficiaries (or under the rules of intestacy if there is no will)

Services not included in hourly rate:

  • Dealing with sale of any property
  • Dealing with any caveats lodged
  • Preparation of Deeds of Variation
  • Any claims against the estate

*list above is non-exhaustive

On average, typical uncomplex estates are dealt with within 12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 8-12 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 12 weeks. Once this has been done, and the statutory 6 month post grant notice period for claims has expired we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 4-8 weeks from then.

Melissa has over 10 years’ experience in the legal sector, where she has delivered a high quality of work in all matters relating to wills, probate, estate, and lasting powers of attorney. Melissa has over two years’ experience as a solicitor, having qualified in 2021.

Melissa specialises in a range of legal services within wills and probate, including the preparation of wills, probate, estate management and lasting power of attorney (LPAs).

In this field of wills and probate, along with her knowledge and experience, Melissa is able to bring to the fore, her personal skills of being very approachable and empathetic to her client’s needs, at what are often very difficult times in their lives, providing workable solutions to their concerns and circumstances.


Meet Melissa. Our Head of Wills & Probate.

With over 10 years’ experience in the legal industry, Melissa qualified as a Solicitor in 2021 and specialises in all aspects of Private Client matters, including the preparation of Wills, Probate, Estate Management and Lasting Power of Attorney.

Melissa | Head of Wills & Probate


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