Prices

This information is intended to inform businesses about our fees for debt recovery.

Full details of the specific qualifications of each of our fee earners can be found on the team page.

The key members of the immigration team working with private individuals are:

Saudul Haq – £250 per hour (Senior Solicitor with 10 years+ experience)

Lorenzo Alfano – £250 per hour (Solicitor with 10 years+ experience)

Adrian Sandulescu – £200 per hour (Solicitor with 2 years experience)

Sadiq Uddin – £150 per hour (Paralegal with 2 years experience)

As each matter will involve work by a Senior Solicitor or Solicitor and a Paralegal/Trainee Solicitor, the estimate of hours is based on an average hourly rate of £250 to reflect the involvement of lawyers at different levels.

Your matter will always be supervised by Mr Saudul Haq. Work will be completed by lawyers of varying experience. The estimated fee quotes are premised on the work being completed by lawyers across a range of levels, with time estimates using an average hourly rate to reflect the involvement of different lawyers. The time spent by lawyers at different levels will vary depending on a number of factors including the complexity and nature of the matter. The quotes assume that each stage of the work is conducted by an appropriate level of lawyer, if client preference dictates work be completed at a higher level, this will of course impact fee estimates.

In accordance with the price transparency rules, we have presented our prices in a clear and easy to understand format.

We charge a fixed agreed fee for the majority of debt recovery related matters. Our debt recovery team regularly work with clients to recover debts they are owed. Our fees for such matters vary depending on the complexities of the case as well as the volume of work we receive from a client.

Pricing for one-off matters can be found below.

The majority of commercial debt recovery cases are undisputed. In these cases, we can offer a competitive fee structure based on fixed fees which provides you with clarity and certainty as to the level of costs you are likely to incur. If for any reason additional work is required you would be provided with a detailed estimate based on your specific case.

Undisputed Court Claims

Pre-issue

In all cases we offer a pre-action review of your paperwork, advising you how we think you ought to proceed and sending a letter of claim to your debtor – a fixed fee of £500 (plus VAT at 20%).

If the matter is complex, our service fee will range from £500 up to £1,000 plus VAT at 20%.

Details of the key stages are as follows (including likely timescales):

• Taking instructions from you and reviewing any relevant documentation: 30 minutes
• Undertaking solvency searches in respect of your debtor to establish whether they are subject to any formal insolvency processes: 30 minutes
• Preparing and sending a letter of claim to your debtor: 1 hour

Our fixed fee does not include:

• Settlement negotiations
• Dealing with any disputes or correspondence received in response from your debtor; and
• Issuing court proceedings, obtaining Judgment or undertaking enforcement action.

Issue of proceedings

To issue a claim in the county court, we will charge you a fixed fee as set out below. In addition, you will have to pay the applicable court fee. The amount of the court fee is set by the government and is subject to change from time to time. The fees as set out below, are correct as of August 2020.

As you can see, the total amount you will have to pay is dependent upon the size of the debt you want to collect. These fees and costs are in addition to our pre-issue costs described above.

Details of the key stages are as follows (likely timescales are included in the table below):

1. Taking instructions and providing advice.
2. Carrying out up-to-date solvency and asset searches.
3. Drafting the Claim Form and Particulars of Claim.
4. Presenting the claim at court for issue and service.
5. Receiving payment and sending on to you.

Our fixed fee does not include:

• Attending to service of the Claim where it is not possible for the court to do so, for example, if the debtor is residing outside of England and Wales;
• Dealing with any Acknowledgement of Service or Defence that is filed by the debtor;
• Settlement negotiations; and
• Dealing with any disputes and/or additional correspondence received from the debtor.

Should you wish to proceed with a claim please note the following key information:

• The applicable VAT element is not recoverable through court proceedings;
• In addition to your debt, you might be able to add interest and compensation to the amount claimed from the debtor. Any interest and compensation you charge may take the debt into a higher banding and may attract higher costs; and
• The above costs only relate to the cost of commencing court proceedings, further costs may be required to enter Judgment and commence enforcement action, for example, to instruct a bailiff or obtain a charging order.

Entering Judgment

Once you have issued a claim, if the debtor does not respond we can ask the Court to enter judgment without the need for a hearing to take place.

Details of the key stages are as follows (likely timescales are included in the table below):

1. Completing the judgment request form
2. Liaising with you as to payment made since the Claim was issued
3. Submitting the judgment request to court and monitoring receipt
4. Providing you with a copy of the judgment upon receipt and advising you and seeking your instructions as to whether (and how) you wish to enforce the judgment
5. Receiving payment and sending onto you

In these circumstances, judgment can usually be obtained within 3-6 weeks of the proceedings being issued (though the timing is dependent on the Court). We will charge you a fixed fee for entering judgment. The amount we will charge you depends on the size of the debt. Details of the fees we charge you are set out below. These fees are in addition to the costs described above for sending the debtor a letter before action and for issuing proceedings at Court.

Our fees do not include:

• Settlement negotiations;
• Dealing with any application made by the debtor to set aside Judgment; and
• Dealing with disputes and/or any additional correspondence received from the

Should you wish to proceed with Judgment please note the following key information:

• The VAT element of our fee is not recoverable through court proceedings; and
• The above costs only relate to obtaining Judgment from the Court, further costs may be required to commence enforcement action, for example, to instruct a bailiff or obtain a charging order

Enforcement proceedings

Once we have obtained judgment against the debtor, you might want to take steps to enforce the judgment if the debtor still does not pay.

Details of the key stages are as follows (likely timescales included in the table below):

1. Making enquiries/searches in relation to what assets you debtor owns and what their income is.
2. Advising you as to viability of enforcement action and which method may result in the best prospect of recovery.
3. Completing the enforcement application request.
4. Liaising with HM Land Registry, if so required.
5. Liaising with the court as necessary.
6. Liaising with you as to payment made.
7. Submitting the enforcement application to court and monitoring receipt of the initial order.
8. Dealing with service of the court order, if so required.
9. Registration at HM Land Registry, if so required.
10. Providing you with a copy of the court order and providing regular updates.
11. Receiving payment and sending onto you.

The cost involved in doing that varies depending on the method of enforcement:

Our fixed fees do not include:

• Settlement negotiations;
• Dealing with any applications made by the debtor to set aside Judgment and/or to stay enforcement; and
• Dealing with disputes, any additional correspondence raised by the debtor and/or contested applications.

Should you wish to proceed with enforcement please note the following key information:

• The VAT element of our fee is not recoverable through enforcement proceedings; and
• Only part of the main element of our fees are recoverable from the debtor (that is, forms part of the court order that the debtor has to pay in addition to the debt). The recoverable element is listed The remainder of the costs cannot be recovered from you the debtor. However, as we have explained below, you will remain liable for all of our costs regardless of whether those costs are recoverable from the debtor.

How long will it take?

The Court process will vary in length depending upon the mode of enforcement you use. Typically, however, with a standard, non-disputed claim the duration of the process will be between 6-15 weeks.

Defended/Disputed cases

The costs set out above are what it will cost you to bring county court proceedings where the debtor does not dispute your claim.

If a matter is disputed at the outset (or it becomes disputed as the case progresses), we will not charge you all of the fixed fees set out above. The fixed fees will apply up to the point your claim becomes disputed and for the remainder of the work we will instead charge you an hourly rate. The hourly rate we charge you will depend on who is dealing with the case and their experience. The applicable hourly rates are set out below:

Saudul Haq – £250 per hour (Senior Solicitor with 10 years+ experience)

Lorenzo Alfano – £250 per hour (Solicitor with 10 years+ experience)

Adrian Sandulescu – £200 per hour (Solicitor with 2 years experience)

Sadiq Uddin – £150 per hour (Paralegal with 2 years experience)

As each defended case will vary according to the issues raised, upon a case being defended or disputed, a member of the team will provide you with a detailed estimate based on the hourly rate charges and the time that we anticipate it will take for your case to reach trial.

This information is intended to inform individuals about our fees for conveyancing.

Full details of the specific qualifications of each of our fee earners can be found on the team page.

Your matter will always be supervised by Mr Saudul Haq.

The key members of the team working on conveyancing matters are:

• Saudul Haq (Senior Solicitor with 10 years+ experience)
• Lorenzo Alfano (Solicitor with 10 years+ experience)
• Adrian Sandulescu (Solicitor with 2 years experience) 
• Sadiq Uddin (Paralegal with 2 years experience)

Purchase of a residential freehold property

Our fees

Property value from £0 to £500,000: £1,000 plus VAT at 20%:

Property value from £500,000.01 to £1,000,00: £1,500 plus VAT at 20%

Property value from £1,000,000.01 to £2,000,000: £2,000 plus VAT at 20%

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

• Search fees: £250 – £350 plus VAT at 20%
• HM Land Registry fee: dependent on value of property e.g. purchase of £250,000 property will incur £270 fee (https://landregistry.data.gov.uk/fees-calculator.html)
• Stamp Duty or Land Tax (applicable on purchase).You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website.
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks: £7 plus VAT at 20% (per individual)
• International Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks: £10 plus VAT at 20% (per individual)
• Electronic money transfer fee £25.00

Our fee assumes that:

• this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
• the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
• all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
• no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Stages of the process for the purchase of a residential freehold property

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential freehold property vary according to the circumstances. The key stages of the purchase are as follows (including likely timescales where possible):

1. Initial instructions from you – you formally instruct us on acceptance of the offer: 1 hour
2. Receive draft contract pack – we receive the Contract pack from the Seller’s solicitors: 1-2 weeks on average
3. Searches and investigation of title – we check the contract pack, raise pre-contract enquiries, and carry out the necessary searches: 2-3 weeks
4. Report – we review and report to you on the contents of the contract pack, pre-contract enquiries and the result of the searches: 1 week
5. Signing – when you are happy with all the paperwork, we can then arrange for you to sign and a completion date is then decided amongst all parties involved in the transaction. At this stage in the conveyancing process, you will transfer the deposit, usually 10% of the purchase price, to us which enables us to be ready to exchange the contracts: 1 day
6. Exchange of contracts – the transaction and completion date becomes legally binding on the exchange of contracts. The deposit will be sent to the Seller’s solicitor. Before completion, the balance of the funds due from you must be with us at least one working day beforehand: 1 day
7. Conveyancing process for buying a house (finish) – completion happens on the eagerly awaited ‘moving day’ and when the full purchase price is transferred to the Seller’s solicitor. The keys are left with the estate agent and once the Seller’s solicitor has received the funds the keys are released to you: 1 day
8. Post-completion – we send off the relevant Stamp Duty Land Tax forms and register the property in your name at Land Registry: 1-2 months

How long will my house purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move into your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes up to 4 months. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.

Important note

Please note that we are not on the Mortgage Lending panel and therefore we cannot act for the Lender in the purchase of properties where a mortgage is required.

Sale of a residential freehold property

Our fees

Property value from £0 to £500,000: £1,000 plus VAT at 20%:

Property value from £500,000.01 to £1,000,00: £1,500 plus VAT at 20%

Property value from £1,000,000.01 to £2,000,000: £2,000 plus VAT at 20%

Our fee assumes that:

• this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
• the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
• all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
• no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees for title registers and plans. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

• Search fees: £250 – £350 plus VAT at 20%
• Obtain official copy documents from Land Registry: £14 for title register and plan
• HM Land Registry fee: dependent on value of property e.g. purchase of £250,000 property will incur £270 fee (https://landregistry.data.gov.uk/fees-calculator.html)
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks: £7 plus VAT at 20% (per individual)
• International Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks: £10 plus VAT at 20% (per individual)
• Electronic money transfer fee: £25.00

Stages of the process for the sale of a residential freehold property

The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential freehold property vary according to the circumstances. The key stages of the sale are as follows (including likely timescales where possible):

1. Initial instructions from you – you formally instruct us on acceptance of the offer and we then ask you to complete initial paperwork including protocol forms: 1 hour
2. Contact with your mortgage lender – we will apply for your current title deeds to the property from your mortgage lender and request a statement showing how much is left to repay: 1 day
3. Obtain documents from the Land Registry – copies of the up to date electronic deeds, also known as official copies, will then be obtained by us from the Land Registry: 5 minutes
4. Preparation of draft contract – we prepare the draft contract for the sale of your house and send them to the Buyer’s solicitors along with the official copies, protocol forms and all copies of all relevant documents: 1 week
5. Enquiries raised by Buyer’s solicitor – the Buyer’s solicitor will then need some time to carry out any searches requested by the Buyer and review the paperwork sent by us. In the event that they have any questions about the property or paperwork, they will get in contact with us and we may need to refer to you so that we can answer their questions: 1-2 weeks on average
6. Agree on a completion date – once the buyer’s solicitor is happy with the responses to enquiries, at this stage of the conveyancing process, a date can be arranged for signing the paperwork and completion, which is agreed by all parties involved with the transaction: After this, the Buyer will transfer the deposit (usually 10%) to their solicitor, which is the cue for us to prepare for the exchange of contracts: 1 day
7. Exchange of contracts – when the exchange of contacts happens the transaction and completion date becomes legally binding. The deposit will then be transferred to us by the buyer’s solicitor and then we will request a final redemption statement from your lender: 1 day
8. Conveyancing process for selling a house (finish) – the conveyancing process is complete on ‘moving day’ and when we have received the full balance of the sale price from the Buyer’s solicitor. You are required to leave the keys with the estate agent, who will only release them to the buyer when the funds have been received. Your existing mortgage will be repaid and all fees from the sale proceeds will be settled; the remaining balance will then be sent to you: 1 day

How long will my house sale take?

How long it will take for you to sell your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes up to 4 months. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.

Purchase of a residential leasehold property

Our fees

Property value from £0 to £500,000: £1,000 plus VAT at 20%:

Property value from £500,000.01 to £1,000,00: £1,500 plus VAT at 20%

Property value from £1,000,000.01 to £2,000,000: £2,000 plus VAT at 20%

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

• Search fees: £250 – £350 plus VAT at 20%
• HM Land Registry fee: dependent on value of property e.g. purchase of £250,000 property will incur £270 fee (https://landregistry.data.gov.uk/fees-calculator.html)
• Stamp Duty or Land Tax (applicable on purchase).You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website.
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks: £7 plus VAT at 20% (per individual)
• International Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks: £10 plus VAT at 20% (per individual)
• Electronic money transfer fee £25.00

Our fee assumes that:

• This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
• The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
• All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
• No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Stages of the process for the purchase of a residential leasehold property

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. The key stages of the purchase are as follows (including likely timescales where possible):

1. Initial instructions from you – you formally instruct us on acceptance of the offer: 1 hour
2. Receive draft contract pack – we receive the Contract pack from the Seller’s solicitors: 1-2 weeks on average
3. Searches and investigation of title – we check the contract pack, raise pre-contract enquiries, and carry out the necessary searches: 2-3 weeks
4. Report – we review and report to you on the contents of the contract pack, pre-contract enquiries and the result of the searches: 1 week
5. Signing – when you are happy with all the paperwork, we can then arrange for you to sign and a completion date is then decided amongst all parties involved in the transaction. At this stage in the conveyancing process, you will transfer the deposit, usually 10% of the purchase price, to us which enables us to be ready to exchange the contracts: 1 day
6. Exchange of contracts – the transaction and completion date becomes legally binding on the exchange of contracts. The deposit will be sent to the Seller’s solicitor. Before completion, the balance of the funds due from you must be with us at least one working day beforehand: 1 day
7. Conveyancing process for buying a house (finish) – completion happens on the eagerly awaited ‘moving day’ and when the full purchase price is transferred to the Seller’s solicitor. The keys are left with the estate agent and once the Seller’s solicitor has received the funds the keys are released to you: 1 day
8. Post-completion – we send off the relevant Stamp Duty Land Tax forms and register the property in your name at Land Registry: 1-2 months

How long will my house purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move into your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes up to 4 months. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.

Important note

Please note that we are not on the Mortgage Lending panel and therefore we cannot act for the Lender in the purchase of properties where a mortgage is required.

Sale of a residential leasehold property

Our fees

Property value from £0 to £500,000: £1,000 plus VAT at 20%:

Property value from £500,000.01 to £1,000,00: £1,500 plus VAT at 20%

Property value from £1,000,000.01 to £2,000,000: £2,000 plus VAT at 20%

Our fee assumes that:

• this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
• the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
• all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
• no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees for title registers and plans. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

• Search fees: £250 – £350 plus VAT at 20%
• Obtain official copy documents from Land Registry: £14 for title register and plan
• HM Land Registry fee: dependent on value of property e.g. purchase of £250,000 property will incur £270 fee (https://landregistry.data.gov.uk/fees-calculator.html)
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks: £7 plus VAT at 20% (per individual)
• International Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks: £10 plus VAT at 20% (per individual)
• Electronic money transfer fee: £25.00

Stages of the process for the sale of a residential leasehold property

The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. The key stages of the sale are as follows (including likely timescales where possible):

1. Initial instructions from you – you formally instruct us on acceptance of the offer and we then ask you to complete initial paperwork including protocol forms: 1 hour
2. Contact with your mortgage lender – we will apply for your current title deeds to the property from your mortgage lender and request a statement showing how much is left to repay: 1 day
3. Obtain documents from the Land Registry – copies of the up to date electronic deeds, also known as official copies, will then be obtained by us from the Land Registry: 5 minutes
4. Preparation of draft contract – we prepare the draft contract for the sale of your house and send them to the Buyer’s solicitors along with the official copies, protocol forms and all copies of all relevant documents: 1 week
5. Enquiries raised by Buyer’s solicitor – the Buyer’s solicitor will then need some time to carry out any searches requested by the Buyer and review the paperwork sent by us. In the event that they have any questions about the property or paperwork, they will get in contact with us and we may need to refer to you so that we can answer their questions: 1-2 weeks on average
6. Agree on a completion date – once the buyer’s solicitor is happy with the responses to enquiries, at this stage of the conveyancing process, a date can be arranged for signing the paperwork and completion, which is agreed by all parties involved with the transaction: After this, the Buyer will transfer the deposit (usually 10%) to their solicitor, which is the cue for us to prepare for the exchange of contracts: 1 day
7. Exchange of contracts – when the exchange of contacts happens the transaction and completion date becomes legally binding. The deposit will then be transferred to us by the buyer’s solicitor and then we will request a final redemption statement from your lender: 1 day
8. Conveyancing process for selling a house (finish) – the conveyancing process is complete on ‘moving day’ and when we have received the full balance of the sale price from the Buyer’s solicitor. You are required to leave the keys with the estate agent, who will only release them to the buyer when the funds have been received. Your existing mortgage will be repaid and all fees from the sale proceeds will be settled; the remaining balance will then be sent to you: 1 day

How long will my house sale take?

How long it will take for you to sell your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes up to 4 months. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.

This information is intended to inform individuals about our fees for probate.

We have set out the rates for our team at different levels. Full details of the specific qualifications of each of our fee earners can be found on the team page.

Your matter will always be supervised by Mr Saudul Haq.

The key members of the team working with private individuals are:

• Saudul Haq – £250 per hour plus VAT at 20% (Senior Solicitor with 10 years+ experience)
• Lorenzo Alfano – £250 per hour plus VAT at 20% (Solicitor with 10 years+ experience)
• Sadiq Uddin – £150 per hour plus VAT at 20% (Paralegal with 2 years experience)

We have separated the estate work we do into three categories:

1. Straightforward
2. Intermediate
3. Complex

Straightforward

We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf. We will also undertake the collecting and distributing of assets.

Stages of the process

The key stages are as follows (including likely timescales).

• Take instructions from you to identify the legally appointed executors, beneficiaries, the type of probate application you will require and identify all assets and liabilities in the deceased’s name as at date of death: 1-4 hours
• Arrange for simple and often estimated valuations of property (residential real estate, personal possessions and listed shares): 1-4 hours
• Complete any relevant HMRC forms: 2-5 hours
• Where applicable, draft a legal oath for the executors to swear with the original Will, whether in a meeting involving us or local to them: 1-3 hours
• Make the application to the Probate Court application on your behalf: 2-4 hours
• Obtain the Probate and securely send two copies to you: 5 minutes
• Collect all assets in the estate and pay all proper pre and post death debts: 1-4 hours
• Ensure pre and post death income tax and CGT matters are settled: 1-2 hours
• Prepare a final estate statement or simple estate accounts and distribute all assets in the estate: 30 minutes-2 hours
• Ensure timely liaison and correspondence with the executors and where applicable beneficiaries upon the procedure and timeline of the administration: 30 minutes-2 hours

We anticipate this will take between 10 and 30 hours’ work at an average hourly rate of £250 per hour. Total estate administration costs estimated at £2,500 to £7,500 (plus VAT at 20%).

The exact cost will depend on the particular circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no real estate, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a real estate property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end.

We also charge an additional fee to reflect the complexity and value of the matter.  This is usually 0.5% of the gross value of the estate.

Conditions: This fees estimate is for estates where:

• There is a valid Will and no more than 2 executors who respond promptly and accurately to legal guidance we give.
• There is not more than one residential real estate property.
• There are no more than 4 bank or building society or National Savings accounts.
• There are no more than 4 intangible (or non-physical) assets (e.g. investments).
• There are maximum 5 pecuniary (or defined money sum) beneficiaries and maximum 4 residuary beneficiaries and no other types of legacy.
• It is clear from quick investigation that there is no inheritance tax payable (e.g. insignificant lifetime gifts in the 7 years before death and net assets below £325,000 or £1,000,000 with everything passing to IHT exempt beneficiaries (e.g. the surviving spouse or a charity or charities) and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC.
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is will lead to an increase in costs.
• Beneficiaries are easily and quickly identifiable and respond quickly and accurately to compliance requests we make to pay them safely. There are no beneficiary capacity issues (e.g. a beneficiary loses mental capacity, or is a minor and it is unclear who has parental responsibility for them) or beneficiary deaths during the administration period.
• There are no claims made against the estate. This would include finalising maintenance arrangements for an ex-spouse of the deceased whether formally under the Inheritance (provision for family and dependants Act) 1975, or informally in family and beneficiary negotiations.
• There are no difficulties in dealing with asset or liability organisations (e.g. compliance issues with banks or protracted correspondence with the local authority on council tax sums due and refundable).
• There is minimal pre-death income tax and CGT work and the estate income tax and CGT work can be settled on the informal basis.

Disbursements (standard extra costs)* excluded, but often payable in addition to this fee:

• Death certificates fee of £25
• £7 Official copes of the Land Registry title of the deceased’s real estate (£7 for the plan too).
• Probate application fee of £215 (if the value of the estate is £5,000 or over)
• £1.50 per copy of the grant
• £7 Swearing of the oath (per executor)
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£1 or £2 per beneficiary)
• £75 Advertisement in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
• £125 Advertisement in Local Newspaper(s) – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.

*Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as application fees.

Other possible costs

• If there is no Will; intestacy can involve time consuming research into family ancestry and descendants (we may need to involve third party research organisations whose fees would be supplementary) as well as time spent ensuring there really is no Will.
• If there are any defects in the form of the Will (e.g. it is defaced in some way or only a copy exists), we can generally handle these issues with a specialist application to the Probate Court, but there will be higher fee grade Probate Team lawyer assistance needed and there is an uncertainty factor depending upon what the Probate Court rule upon the document in question; we would advise you on a case by case basis in these situations.
• If there are issues with any investments e.g. missing share certificates or tax reporting complexities (and it usually follows estate accounting complexities); we can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information.
• Any complexities arising from pensions are not included.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any residential property in the estate is not included.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 3-6 months from death. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 4-6 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 2-4 weeks. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets and finalise income tax / CGT and provide you with final estate accounts which can take 5-10 weeks, taxation closure for example being outside of our control.

Intermediate

Stages of the process

The key stages cover the same as the Straightforward cases but with the following extensions (includes likely timescales).

• Check inheritance tax (IHT) payable. For more information on this visit HMRC’s website: 2-6 hours
• More in depth liaison with specialist professional valuers of assets to ensure that the HMRC Account is as accurate as possible: 4-12 hours
• Compiling all the asset and liability information into the IHT Account using specialist knowledge on how to set this all out to include advice upon: IHT reliefs available and duly claiming the same, how to best raise and pay the IHT and payment structuring options: 6-18 hours
• Settling the full balance of IHT on completion of the matter and obtaining IHT clearance: 5-15 hours
• Liaising with the deceased’s accountant or arranging (with executor or administrator approval) for an accountant to handle the deceased’s pre-death and post death income tax and capital gains tax (CGT) affairs are settled: 2-10 hours
• Preparing longer and more detailed estate accounts: 4-12 hours
• Identify the legally appointed executors and beneficiaries: 2-12 hours

We anticipate this will take between 25 and 85 hours’ work at an average hourly rate of £250 per hour. Total estate administration costs estimated at £6,250 to £21,250 (plus VAT at 20%).

Again the exact cost will depend on the particular circumstances of the matter.

We also charge an additional fee to reflect the complexity and value of the matter.  This is usually 0.5% of the gross value of the estate.

Conditions: This fees estimate is for estates where:

The same points as for Straightforward estates apply, but with these extensions:

• There is a valid Will and no more than 3 executors who respond promptly and accurately to legal guidance we give.
• Alternatively, there is no Will, but it is clear without needing additional family research provided by third parties that the estate is divided between no more than 10 easily identifiable relatives and there are one or two capable family members in closest class of relative under the intestacy rules who are willing and able to act as estate administrators.
• There are no more than 3 residential property interests in the estate;
• There are no more than 10 bank or building society and National Savings accounts.
• There are no more than 10 intangible (or non-physical) assets (e.g. investments) and these are listed or quoted investments.
• There are maximum 10 pecuniary (or defined money sum) beneficiaries and maximum 6 residuary beneficiaries and no other types of legacy.
• The instalment option on payable upon residential real estate is all settled within 2 years of death, whether because the property has been sold and the balance paid on sale completion or because it has been assented to chargeable beneficiaries and those beneficiaries have paid the IHT and interest balance.
• Pre-death income tax and CGT work and the estate income tax and CGT work will be liaised upon together with an accountant (see Intermediate complexity work covered and fees estimate above).

Disbursements (standard extra costs) excluded, but often payable in addition: from this fee:

As above for Straightforward estates, but please additionally note these costs could be due:

• Residential real estate professional valuer costs – Chartered Surveyors can charge between £100 and £1,000 plus VAT to value residential real estate interests; we would always seek to save the estate money as far as possible (for example using free estate agency valuations wherever appropriate). We would only ever incur such fees in consultation with the executors / administrators’ prior consent;
• Personal possessions professional valuer costs – these can vary from £100 up to say, £1,000 plus VAT. Again we would only ever incur such fees in consultation with the executors / administrators’ prior consent;
• Accountancy pre- and post-death income tax and CGT fees and tax these can vary from £500 up to say, £5,000 plus VAT. Again we would only ever incur such fees in consultation with the executors / administrators’ prior consent. Any tax payable is separate and would be payable from the estate, but the accountants would advise on this.

Other possible costs

The same points as for Straightforward estates apply, but with these extensions:

• If one or more of the transferable nil rate band, residence nil rate band and transferable residence nil rate band to IHT are claimable, these can require substantial family document research to prove eligibility for such reliefs. If the investigation of these requirements proves difficult, there will be time and cost implications which we would advise you upon as we proceed.
• Deeds of variation executed by estate beneficiaries within two years of the death can elect for the varied legacy to operate for IHT and CGT as if the deceased had provided for the varied legacy by their Will (or this was how the Intestacy Rules operated if no Will). They are often attractive to older beneficiaries who wish to pass their inheritance directly to their children without this being treated as a potentially exempt IHT gift which could impact their own estate planning, or by children who prefer their surviving parent to benefit from the whole estate such that no IHT is payable due to spouse relief. Deeds of Variation are extra to the estate fees; we would discuss this additional service and provide you with a separate fees estimate on request tailored to your circumstances.
• Dealing with corrective IHT accounts and IHT adjustments due caused by new or adjusted values to existing assets and liabilities which could not have been reasonably discovered in the pre-Grant phase are supplementary to the fees estimate; we would advise you of the price adjustments as and when these become apparent.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6–24 months from death. The timing up to the Grant is more commonly 3-6 months due to the additional IHT work required.

The longer tail on the matter is due to having to obtain IHT clearance and the frequently encountered need to keep the estate open whilst the executors / administrators wait for the best price to sell the deceased’s residential property / properties. Furthermore, the estate cannot be closed for income tax and CGT until all estate assets have been sold or distributed, so there is a knock-on effect on the timeline for obtaining estate income tax and CGT closure.

Complex

Stages of the process

The key stages cover the same as the Straightforward and Intermediate cases but with one or more of the following extensions (include likely timescales).

• Special time pressure. This could be caused by the executors / administrators not having taken timely action post death, so the estate assets are now vulnerable to theft, fire, vandalism, squatters or seizure as well as interest and penalties on overdue tax. Alternatively, the deceased could have been mid-real-estate transaction as his or her death, thus necessitating an expedited Grant to complete the sale: 4-8 hours
• Will trusts arise under the deceased’s Will which the executors need preliminary guidance upon. In due course, if not terminated during the period of estate administration, this Will trust will become a separate trust matter: 4-8 hours
• The deceased benefitted from a lifetime trust, the value of which needs to be accounted for in the calculation of overall IHT payable as a result of the death. This lifetime trust matter will be separate to the estate, but the executors / administrators will still need to liaise with the lifetime trust trustees upon the inter-dependant IHT figures and consequently available reliefs both groups are supplying and claiming: 4-8 hours
• If the deceased made substantial gifts to persons or trusts other than exempt beneficiaries (usually spouses of charities) in the 14 years before their death, this could cause lifetime IHT to be payable by the recipients and or require liaison with trustees of these lifetime trusts on IHT uplift. If the executors / administrators do not ensure such lifetime IHT is settled, the liability falls on them personally so this is mandatory work: 4-8 hours
• The deceased owned foreign (non-England and Wales) assets and / or their estate was subject to foreign debts. Foreign Wills may exist: 4-8 hours
• Whether or not the deceased’s estate comprised any foreign property, the deceased had international connections necessitating an investigation of their domicile status at death: 4-8 hours
• The deceased owned commercial real estate interests. This will involve specialist valuation and there may be business property relief opportunities to IHT depending upon the ownership circumstances: 4-8 hours
• The deceased owned UK private company shares or an interest in a small business or partnership which needs to be assessed whether it qualifies for business property relief to inheritance tax: 4-8 hours
• If the deceased owned onerous property (e.g. contaminated land) or potentially onerous property such as having been a Lloyds Name or being subject to a professional indemnity run off period as at their death (e.g. they were partners in a law or accountancy firm), specialist guidance is needed on how to manage the on-going post death liability: 4-10 hours
• The deceased owned agricultural property which needs to be which needs to be assessed whether it qualifies for agricultural property relief to inheritance tax: 4-8 hours
• The deceased had invested in IHT saving investments such as life insurance bonds, life insurance based discounted gift trusts or AIM share portfolios to attract business property relief: 4-10 hours
• The deceased had high value art and / or heritage value assets (i.e. items or real estate with national, scientific, historic, artistic, scenic or architectural interest) – special IHT exemptions and treatment are potentially available for heritage assets: 4-8 hours
• If the deceased had a literary estate or was the owner of intellectual property, quantifying and managing the royalty flows will require specialist assistance: 4-8 hours
• If the deceased is a high profile person, there are likely to be reputation and Press management issues: 4-6 hours
• It is discovered that the deceased needed to correct their lifetime income tax and CGT returns. The magnitude of any extra tax, interest and penalties will depend upon the culpability of the deceased: 4-6 hours

The high complexity cases are the most difficult to estimate fees because of the range of factors that may or may not apply.

We anticipate this will take between 60 and 120 hours’ work at an average hourly rate of £250 per hour. Total estate administration costs estimated at £15,000 to £30,000 (plus VAT at 20%).

Again, the exact cost will depend on the particular circumstances of the matter and we would always negotiate and set this out to the executors / administrators at the outset and keep them appraised of developments impacting the fees estimate as the matter progresses.

We also charge an additional fee to reflect the complexity and value of the matter.  This is usually 0.5% of the gross value of the estate.

Disbursements (standard extra costs) excluded, but often payable in addition: from this fee:

As above for Straightforward and Intermediate estates, but please additionally note costs relating to the services below could be due, depending upon how many high complexity factors apply. It is very difficult to quantify the value of such costs, with the level of individuality increasing in proportion to the level of complexity. However, in each we would case obtain prior consent from the executors / administrators and shop around to minimise these:

• Foreign lawyer liaison / foreign accountancy advice and foreign tax and tax related liabilities to include liaison on double-tax relief claims / foreign property expert guidance.
• Commercial real estate specialist valuation services.
• Third party specialist assistance for art / heritage property.
• Accountancy valuation work on private company shares / partnership interest / sole trader assets.
• Accountancy final return and sometimes estate return work to account for chargeable events certificates generated by life insurance bond investments plus the tax these events cause to be payable.
• Accountancy compliance work on lifetime corrective tax work.
• Public relations assistance on managing the Press in high profile deceased estates.

Potential additional costs

As above for disbursements, it is very difficult to quantify the additional time costs, but we would always again obtain prior consent from the executors / administrators and ensure these are provided at competitive market rates.

• Company / Commercial Legal Team assistance in relation to the succession of business property assets.
• The legal costs of any other members of the Haq Hamilton Solicitors team we involve with the prior consent of the executors / administrators e.g. Property Team; Family Team, Disputes Resolution Team, Criminal Team.

How long will this take?

Estates that fall within this range with only one or two high complexity factors in addition to the intermediate complexity factors could match that same time frame of being dealt with within 6–24 months from death. In all cases we target obtaining the Grant within 6 months due of the death regardless of the additional IHT work required to minimise interest on IHT which arises after the 6^th month post death.

Where trusts and spin-off work such as company / partnership succession issues arise, we would always seek to separate estate administration work as far as possible so that these on-going matters can continue on a standalone basis.

Particularly difficult high complexity factors to close down promptly post death are onerous property or potentially onerous property issues and professional indemnity run-off insurance issues for deceased professionals such as lawyers or accountants. However, where possible, we would again seek to complete all other estate administration work, just leaving these difficult aspects balanced out by sensible estate retentions which retentions can hopefully be distributed when recommended retention deadlines have timed out and hopefully no calls on the retentions have arisen.