Solicitors fees for Probate will vary according to the law firm or organisation you use. There is not a flat fee for all Probate providers, so you should shop around and compare quotes.
Furthermore, different probate solicitors will charge in different ways. For example, some will charge a percentage of the total value of the Estate, some will charge an hourly rate, and some will charge a fixed fee.
Percentage of the value of the Estate
Some probate solicitors will calculate the total value of the Estate and will then charge a percentage of this as a fee. The percentage can change from firm to firm – it might be 1% of the total value of the estate, or it might be 5%.
Hourly rate
If a probate solicitor charges an hourly rate, he/she will note down all the time spent on your case and will then add it up to create a final bill. Alternatively, you may be asked to pay at frequent intervals.
Fixed fee
Some organisations will charge a fixed fee for Probate. You will usually be asked for a lot of details before a quote is provided, as the solicitor will want to establish how much work may be required. Also, you may only be given an estimate, rather than a fixed fee that is set in stone.
Other costs
You should also bear in mind that no matter how you are billed, you may be charged VAT on top, which can increase the bill significantly.
Then there may be other costs to pay, known in legal terms as ‘disbursements’. For instance, there is a fee for making an application to the Probate Registry. If you are using a Probate specialist, this is currently £155.
Not all of these costs can be foreseen at the start of the Probate process, but it is worth asking what extra costs you are likely to face. You should then prepare for any unexpected costs, such as the translation of foreign documents (usually needed if there are foreign assets).
Choosing a Probate Solicitor
Because fees for Probate can vary so much, it is a good idea to shop around and compare quotes. There is
no harm is contacting several Probate providers to see what kind of service they offer, and how much it is likely to cost.
Along with legal fees, there are other factors that you might want to consider when choosing a Probate solicitor. One is the expertise of the organisation – are they Probate specialists, or is it something they do on the side?
Location may be another consideration. You do not need to be located near your chosen probate solicitor, and in fact everything can be done via email, phone and written correspondence. However, some people prefer to have a probate solicitor nearby.
Probate Solicitors near me
When looking for a probate solicitor, be sure to ask detailed questions about the fees and additional costs you could face. You need to be certain that you understand this before agreeing to any work, or you could receive a larger legal bill than expected.
If you are searching for a suitable probate solicitor, we can put you in touch with probate solicitors near you. This service comes at absolutely no cost to you. Contact us for more information, or fill out the free online enquiry form to get started.