Principles Law

• Unlimited access to a database of learning materials on a wide range of legal matters which can be downloaded as a webinar along with materials.

• Full access to the Law Society’s library and support in obtaining all forms, precedents and materials.
• Access to a full range of real estate precedents and materials.

• Remote IT support.
• Dictation services/secretarial support.
• Encrypted cloud storage facilities.
• Flexible working arrangements.

We do not offer fixed fee probate but charge on our hourly rates as set out above. We can provide you with an estimate prior to commencing work which is based on the individual circumstances of your loved one's estate. Our price ranges from £2800 excluding VAT and disbursements. There are a number of factors which can affect the complexity of an estate and the quotation you will be given, including the value and nature of the assets, whether or not there is a will, and the number of beneficiaries. Other solicitors may charge a percentage of the value of the estate or offer fixed fee work.

1. Standard Disbursements These are always required to provide our Grant of Representation and Estate Administration Service. The disbursement estimates included in the table are subject to change from time to time and the list is not exhaustive. The actual cost of the disbursements incurred during the Estate administration will be detailed on the Estate Bankruptcy search To ensure that no personal representatives or beneficiaries of the Estate are bankrupt. £2 per search £18 Oath fee The fee required to swear an Oath in order to obtain the Grant of Representation. £5 £5 Exhibit fee The Will and any codicils are the exhibits. There is a charge per exhibit when sworn with the Oath. £2 per exhibit £2 Probate Court application fee The Court fee to obtain the Grant of Representation £155 £155 Additional copies of the Grant of Representation Each institution relevant to the Estate requires an original Court copy of the Grant of Representation. 50p per copy £3 Statutory advert – London Gazette To advertise the Estate in the London Gazette in order to reduce the risk of future claims being made. £70 £70 Statutory advert – local paper To advertise the Estate in the local area in order to reduce the risk of future claims being made. £60-£180 depending on location £110 (average) Early Distribution Insurance Instead of statutory advert to cover the risk of future claims. From £150 depending on Estate value £225 (average) Unclaimed Asset Register Search To see if the Estate has any assets registered as unclaimed. £25 £25 Standard Disbursements Estimate (based on statutory adverts in London Gazette & local paper. Where applicable, disbursements are inclusive of VAT. £388 Standard Disbursements Estimate (based on using Early Distribution Insurance and excluding the Probate Court Application Fee). Where applicable, disbursements are inclusive of VAT. £278accounts.

2. Additional Service Disbursements Disbursement Explanation Estimated cost (inc. VAT where applicable)1 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Compulsory, detailing the energy efficiency of the property for sale. £100. Conveyancing and HM Land Registry charges The legal fee and HM Land Registry fees for the transfer of ownership of a freehold or leasehold property. Individual quotation depending on the property. Property management services Property security, clearance and cleaning. Property and garden maintenance. Individual quotation depending on the work required. Royal Mail redirection To ensure all post is dealt with. Royal Mail redirection charges. Professional property valuation To either i) obtain a standard property valuation; or ii) instruct (if required) a RICS approved property surveyor. i) Standard property valuation - £250 ii) Individual quotation depending on the survey required. Disbursement Explanation Estimated cost (inc. VAT where applicable)1 Re-issuing dividend cheques To replace missing share dividend cheques. From £15 per cheque, depending on the value of the uncashed dividend. Lost share certificates To replace missing share certificates. From £50 per share certificate that needs reissuing, depending on the value of the missing certificate. Stockbroker fees For the sale of shares. From £20 per shareholding sale depending on the value of the shares. Financial Asset Search An enhanced search to see if the Estate has any financial assets that haven’t been identified. £162 Copies of official documents Copies of birth, death, adoption, marriage, registered civil partnership or divorce certificates if the originals cannot be found. £30 application fee per person plus £9.25 per certificate. Searches for missing beneficiaries In order to search for any missing beneficiaries. Individual quotation depending on the complexity and knowledge of the Estate. Contentious matters - Costs and expenses in relation to disputes and/ or litigation For handling contentious matters during the administration of the Estate. Individual quotation based upon requirements. Handling exceptional assets For handling affairs relating to foreign assets (outside England and Wales), heritage assets, business assets and agricultural assets. Individual quotation based upon requirements. If you use any additional services that do not fall within our Grant of Representation and Estate Administration Service then you may have additional disbursements. These include: The disbursement estimates included in the table are subject to change from time to time and the list is not exhaustive. The actual cost of the disbursements incurred during the Estate administration will be detailed on the Estate accounts.



Additional Work (all fees are plus VAT)

Completing outstanding Income Tax returns The fee for completing outstanding Income Tax returns, other than the Income Tax return from 6 April to the date of death (included in our Grant of Representation and Estate Administration Service) £380 per outstanding Income Tax return Drafting and executing an Instrument of Variation The fee for preparing all relevant documentation if any of the beneficiaries wish to vary their entitlement from the Estate £750 per Instrument of Variation Handling affairs relating to foreign assets (outside England and Wales). All payments on behalf of Estate are subject to £35.00 Processing Fee. We only act within the jurisdiction of England and Wales. Assets held outside England and Wales are dealt with under the jurisdiction of that country. The management fee applies to the time taken to appoint and manage a third-party specialist in the relevant country outside England and Wales in order to deal with the assets as required. Please note: additional disbursements will be incurred, including Apostille services (in order for the Grant to be recognised abroad) and the costs of the third party instructed in the foreign country Management fee of £280 per hour Handling affairs relating to heritage assets Heritage assets are those left to the nation. The management fee applies to the time taken to correspond with the relevant organisation benefiting from the Estate and to transfer ownership of the relevant assets. Please note: additional disbursements will be incurred, including the costs of the third party instructed for the delivery of heritage assets Management fee of £280 per hour Handling affairs relating to business or agricultural assets If the Estate includes business or agricultural assets, the management fee applies to the time taken to instruct and manage a third-party specialist to run the business or agricultural assets and to prepare accounts during the period of Estate administration, before it is transferred or sold. Please note: additional disbursements will be incurred, including the costs of the third party instructed to run any business or agricultural assets within the Estate during the administration Management fee of £280 per hour CHAPs transfers The fee including bank administration charges for same-day money transfers £35 Cheque payment The fee for making payment by cheque £35 Faster BACS payments The fee including bank administration charges for next day BACS payments (availability subject to relevant bank limits and practices) £35 Foreign payments The fee including bank administration charges for foreign money payments. Acting in relation to disputes and/ or litigation affecting the Estate (including liaising with external solicitors instructed to act) Examples of such matters are: 1) where someone makes a claim against the Estate alleging that reasonable financial provision has not been made for them under a Will or under the Rules of Intestacy; 2) the Estate needs to recover possession of a Property; 3) there is an issue in relation to the interpretation of the Will or aspect of the administration which may need an order from the Court; 4) there is a dispute in relation to the validity of the Will. Details of hourly rate and estimate of fees to be provided prior to commencement of any work. 

Complaints

The Firm is committed to providing a high-quality legal service to all clients. In the very unlikely event that you wish to complain please tell us about it. This will help to improve standards. If you have a complaint, please contact us with the details. We have eight weeks to consider your complaint. If you have not resolved it within this time you may complain to the Legal Ombudsman.

What will happen next?

• We will send you a letter acknowledging receipt of your complaint within seven days of receiving it, enclosing a copy of this procedure.
• We will then investigate your complaint.
• We will then invite you to a meeting to discuss and hopefully resolve your complaint. We will do this within 14 days of sending you the acknowledgement letter.
• Within three days of the meeting, we will write to you to confirm what took place and any solutions we have agreed with you.
• If you do not want a meeting or it is not possible, we will send you a detailed written reply to your complaint, including my suggestions for resolving the matter, within 21 days of sending you the acknowledgement letter. 
• At this stage, if you are still not satisfied, you should contact us again and we will review the decision.
• We will write to you within 14 days of receiving your request for a review, confirming our final position on your complaint and explaining our reasons.

What to do if we cannot resolve your complaint

The Legal Ombudsman can help you if we are unable to resolve your complaint ourselves. They will look at your complaint independently and it will not affect how we handle your case.

Before accepting a complaint for investigation, the Legal Ombudsman will check that you have tried to resolve your complaint with us first. If you have, then you must take your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman:

• Within six months of receiving a final response to your complaint; and
• No more than one year from the date of act/omission; or
• No more than one year from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint.

If you would like more information about the Legal Ombudsman, please contact them.

Contact details

Visit: www.legalombudsman.org.uk

Call: 0300 555 0333 between 9.00 to 17.00.

Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk

Address: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6167, Slough, SL1 0EH

What to do if you are unhappy with our behaviour

The Solicitors Regulation Authority can help if you are concerned about our behaviour. This could be for things like dishonesty, taking or losing your money or treating you unfairly because of your age, a disability or other characteristic.

Visit their website to see how you can raise your concerns with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.