Personal services
Probate and estate administration, handled with care.
We are licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate. This is an ancillary service we provide to our existing clients.
Licensed for non-contentious probateReference C001029216
Description of services
Everything an executor needs, in one place.
From the first notifications to the final estate accounts, the services we offer include:
- 01Send notifications of death to the relevant government organisations, financial institutions and utility providers
- 02Identify any entitlement to bereavement allowances or benefits
- 03Finalise the income tax and capital gains tax position of the deceased for the tax year
- 04Ensure the validity of the will, codicils and legacies
- 05Prepare any necessary affidavits
- 06Identify the beneficiaries based on the information provided
- 07Advise whether a grant is required
- 08Obtain a valuation of the estate
- 09Prepare the inheritance tax return
- 10Prepare the application for a grant of probate or grant of administration
- 11Place statutory notices in The Gazette and local newspapers
- 12Prepare and take any appropriate oaths
- 13Obtain the grant
- 14Take control of and gather the assets of the estate
- 15Pay the debts of the estate, including tax liabilities
- 16Finalise the estate tax
- 17Pay any legacies
- 18Transfer the remaining balance to the residuary beneficiaries
- 19Prepare the estate accounts
How it works
The key stages of our probate service
- 01
Initial meeting
An initial meeting with the Executor to establish the size and complexity of the Estate.
- 02
Assets and liabilities
We summarise the assets and liabilities of the Estate to determine whether inheritance tax is payable.
- 03
Valuations
We obtain professional valuations and third-party confirmations of assets.
- 04
IHT forms
We submit inheritance tax forms, if required.
- 05
Grant of Probate
We prepare the application for Grant of Probate.
Fees
Indicative hourly charge-out rates
VAT is charged on top. See "How are your fees calculated?" for how these rates are applied.
| Role | Per hour |
|---|---|
| Partner | £200 |
| Manager | £100 |
| Assistant | £50 |
Questions answered
Timescales, protection and complaints
How long does probate take?
We will give you an initial estimate of how long the engagement is expected to take and what it will cost. The time and costs can vary depending on the complexity of the Estate and the Will, and we will keep you informed as work progresses.
Typically, a straightforward probate application can take in the region of 6 to 9 months up to the time of submission to the Probate Office.
How are your fees calculated?
Our fees may depend not only on the time spent on your affairs, but also on the level of skill and responsibility, the importance and value of the advice we provide, and the level of risk.
If we give you an estimate of our fees for specific work, it will not be contractually binding unless we explicitly say so. Otherwise, fees are calculated on the hours worked by each member of staff necessarily engaged on your affairs, multiplied by their hourly charge-out rate, with VAT charged on top. Indicative hourly charge-out rates are shown in the table on this page.
What insurance do you hold?
We have professional indemnity insurance in place in accordance with ICAEW regulations. Our professional indemnity insurance cover is up to a maximum of £3,000,000 and is capped at this level.
What is the ICAEW Probate Compensation Scheme?
In the unlikely event that we cannot meet our liabilities to you, you may be able to seek a grant from ICAEW's Probate Compensation Scheme. Generally, applications for a grant must be made to ICAEW within 12 months of the time you became aware, or reasonably ought to have become aware, of the loss.
Further information about the scheme and the circumstances in which grants may be made is available at www.icaew.com/probate.
How do I make a complaint?
If you would like to talk to us about how we could improve our service, or you are unhappy with the service you are receiving, please let us know by contacting Wayne Goddard, the Head of Legal Practice.
We will consider carefully any complaint about our probate or estate administration work as soon as we receive it and do all we can to resolve it. We will acknowledge your letter within five business days of receipt and endeavour to deal with it within eight weeks. If we do not deal with your complaint in this time, or you are unhappy with our response, you may take the matter up with the Legal Ombudsman.
When can I refer a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman?
The Legal Ombudsman's ability to deal with your complaint depends on the following:
- you must refer the complaint no later than six years from the act or omission, or three years from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint; and
- you must refer the complaint within six months of the date of our written response.
Legal Ombudsman
Telephone: 0300 555 0333
PO Box 6167, Slough, SL1 0EH
Related services
All servicesActing as an executor?
Arrange an initial meeting and we will establish the size and complexity of the Estate together.