Price and Service Information for Wills, Trusts & Probate

In line with the Law Society guidelines, in probate matters where a partner of Machins is an executor, the following percentages are applied:

• Value of main residence: 0.75%
• Gross value of the rest of the estate 1.5%

In all other cases:

• Value of main residence: 0.5%
• Gross value of the rest of the estate 1%

In order to take account of this value factor, lawyers’ hourly charging rates are reduced and currently stand as follows (from November 2024):

In certain cases, particularly where there is a high level of complexity, but relatively low value, we would generally charge purely on a time-spent basis in which case the fees will be based on the figures shown in the right-hand column.

As the administration of an estate can vary significantly from case to case, we discuss and agree the basis of our charges with clients during the initial interview and these fees are not binding until the letter of engagement and terms and conditions have been signed and returned to us by the executors of the estate.

The fees referred to in this section include the following services:

• Ascertaining full details and value of estate
• Advising on protection and insurance of assets post-death
• Preparing application for Probate including calculation of Inheritance Tax
• Liaising with asset holders
• Obtaining Grant of Probate and completing all tax formalities
• Day to day administration of the estate
• Gathering in assets and arranging disposals where necessary
• Preparing, agreeing and distributing full estate accounts
• Obtaining clearance for IHT purposes
• Paying legacies and distributing net estate to beneficiaries
• Advising on and preparing post-death variations to Wills
• Advising executors regarding potential claims

We also offer a service whereby we deal with applications for a Grant of Probate on an application-only basis, allowing the executors to then deal with the administration of the estate personally. This service would typically take from 2 hours (largely depending on the complexity and nature of the assets) and is based on the rates quoted in the right-hand column above.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf. Your solicitor will always notify you before they incur significant disbursement costs.

Examples include:-

• HMCTS application fee – £300 plus £3 per Grant copy.
• Land Registry Office Copy Entry fees – £7 plus VAT.
• Land Registry fees – dependant on action and value needed.
• Trustee Act Notice from £400 upwards.

Machins has a very experienced and knowledgeable team dealing with non-contentious probate work. When adding together all the experience of the individual members of the department, this totals almost 100 years. Why not take a moment or two to study the profiles of the key members of the team which are available in the profile section of this website.