Probate - Full Administration

HCB will deal with the full administration of the estate. We will liaise with the Executors on the day to day administration, liaise with Third parties on closing accounts, collate funds, inform creditors and distribute fuind to the beneficiaries. 

This is dealt with on an hourly rate basis.

Where our Probate fee earners work on an hourly rate basis, this means that they will accurately record time spent on dealing with any matter and produce a monthly invoice for the time spent in dealing with the administration of the estate. These invoices will then be deducted from these estate assets meaning the executors do not pay these personally. 

Although we work on an hourly rate, all Fee Earners provide a full costs estimate for the estate.

These prices assume that the estate is uncontested (not disputed) and where all assets are within the UK.

What does this cost include?:

• Make initial enquiries to enable me to value the estate assets and collate liability information
• Conduct a Certainty Search for a Will or later Will (if instructed)        
• Draft the paperwork required to apply for a Grant of Probate
• Deal with the Revenue in relation to the Inheritance Tax position 
• Attend on you to sign the Probate and Tax papers
• Advise you regarding your personal liability as an executor and take steps to mitigate your exposure to risk; implement searches/checks, as required or as instructed by you.
• Apply to the Probate Registry for a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration
• Collect in the Assets
• Settle liabilities
• Draft Estate Accounts
• Finalise the Income Tax position up to date of death
• Deal with any income tax arising during the administration period
• Identify all named beneficiaries 
• Distribute the Estate according to the Will

Timescale – Full Admin

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 8-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 3 - 6 months. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 2-4 months. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 2 – 4 weeks once the Estate Accounts have been approved by the Executors of the estate and we hold all identifications and clear bankruptcy searches on the beneficiaries of the estate.

Disbursements – Full Admin

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.

Listed below are the most common disbursements incurred in a probate matter. Some costs and required in all cases, other may not be applicable and other costs may vary depending on other circumstances as listed below.

Hourly Rates

The hourly charging rates (excluding VAT) of the lawyers involved in your matter are:

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 we are asked to take responsibility for visiting a property in the estate in order to maintain the house insurance company’s requirements then we charge a set fee of £50 plus VAT per visit

Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.