At Bates Wells & Braithwaite solicitors, our experienced solicitors in Ipswich and Hadleigh, provide expert guidance on wills, trusts, and probate. Making a will is an essential step to ensure that your property, possessions, and personal wishes are respected and handled in accordance with your intentions.
Wills and Trusts
Among all the considerations in preparing a will or discretionary trust, we bring a wealth of experience and a proven attention to detail. Our solicitors can also advise on inheritance tax liability, monetary gifts, and appointing guardians.
Our fees for wills:
- £350 + VAT for a single basic will
- £550 + VAT for basic mirror wills
- £950 + VAT for trust wills
Fees may vary depending on complexity, but we always provide clear cost estimates before proceeding.
Download our information sheet on making a will
Probate
Applying for the grant and distributing the assets
If you require assistance with obtaining a Grant only, we anticipate this will take between 3 and 6 hours of work at £275 per hour plus VAT (currently 20%).
Total estimated cost: £825 – £1,650 + VAT. Dependant on how much preliminary work you need us to do on your behalf.
If you require assistance with applying for the Grant followed by collecting and distributing the assets, we anticipate this will take between 6 hours (for a straightforward administration) and up to 50 hours for a more complicated estate (for example, where stocks and shares, trust arrangements, property or tax issues, or multiple accounts are involved).
Likely range of costs: £1,650 – £13,750 + VAT (at £275/hour).
On average, our costs for a full administration are around £4,000 – £5,000 + VAT (20%).
The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property, and multiple bank accounts – or no will – then costs will likely be at the higher end.
We will handle the full process for you.
The lower quote would apply where:
- There is a valid will
- There is no more than one property
- There are no more than five bank or building society accounts
- There are no other intangible assets
- There are two to five beneficiaries
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries
- There is no Inheritance Tax payable and executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
- There are no claims made against the estate
What are disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
- Probate application fee: £273 (no VAT)
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches: £2 per beneficiary
- Notices in The London Gazette and local newspaper: approximately £310 + VAT (20%)
(protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors) - Additional copies of the grant: £1.50 each (no VAT)
How long does probate take?
On average, estates that fall within this range are likely to be concluded within 8-14 months dependent upon the Probate Registry. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 4 to 8 months. Collecting assets then follows, which may take a further 3 to 8 months. Once this has been done, we can provide accounts and distribute the assets, which normally takes approximately 1 month.
As part of our service, we will:
- Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate fee earner to work on your matter
- Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
- Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require
- Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
- Pay Inheritance Tax (if required)
- Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
- Draft the Legal Statement
- Make the online and postal applications to the Probate Court on your behalf
- Obtain the Probate and send a copy to you
- Complete tax returns (if required)
- Prepare a set of Estate Accounts
- Collect and distribute all the assets in the estate
Free legal advice in Hadleigh
As part of our community support, Bates Wells & Braithwaite Solicitors now host a pop-up in Hadleigh every Tuesday and Friday, where our team offers 30 minutes of free legal advice. You can book an appointment or simply walk (on Tuesdays only) in to discuss wills, probate, or any other legal matter in confidence.
If you’d like to speak to one of our solicitors or book your free 30-minute legal advice session in Hadleigh, please call us or send a message below.
