Probates and Estates Solicitors

For complete support during Probate proceedings, let our solicitors manage the legal process thereby allowing you to focus on what’s important: your grief and your family.

What is Probate?

Probate is the legal process for sorting out someone’s estate after they’ve passed away. It’s about making sure that the right authority is in place to distribute their money, property, and belongings, according to their wishes.

When we talk about the estate, we mean everything the person owned – like their investments, savings, property, and personal items – at the time of their death.

At Fitzhugh Gates Solicitors, we’re here to guide you through this process with clear advice and compassionate support during what is often a very difficult time.

How We Can Help

Our Probate and Estate services are designed to ensure everything is handled smoothly, legally, and in line with the deceased’s wishes. Here’s how we can support you:

• Probate: We’ll help you get the legal authority to distribute the estate to the beneficiaries.
• Intestacy: If your loved one didn’t leave a Will, we’ll guide you on what needs to happen next.
• Post-death variations to Wills: If circumstances change, we can help adjust how the estate is distributed.
• Will Trust Administration: We’ll work with trustees to manage assets left for beneficiaries.

After someone has died, it is important that their estate is managed with professionalism and care. At a time of immense grief, the executors of an estate may find it daunting to manage the estate of their loved one. A qualified Probate and Estates solicitor can give advice, sort out paperwork and ensure nothing is forgotten about. They can even act on behalf of executors or administrators of the estate if they are appointed by the deceased or executors. 

Our service encompasses all aspects of Probate and the management of the estate, including; completing the Grant of Representation process, HM Revenue & Customs compliance, sale or transfer of assets, settlement of liabilities, deeds of variation (if required) and the estate accounts.

Why Choose Us?

We understand how hard it can be to manage the legal side of things after losing someone close to you. That’s why we provide not just expert legal advice, but also the reassurance and care you need at every step. Our experienced team will:

• Take the stress off your shoulders by handling the paperwork and legalities.
• Keep you informed and involved throughout the process.
• Work to achieve the outcome your loved one intended.

Let’s Help Ease the Burden

If you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one and need support with Probate or Estate administration, get in touch with us. We’ll take the time to understand your situation and provide the guidance you need to make this process as smooth as possible. 

Ready to talk? Connect with us today.

Probate and Estate administration Fees

The cost of a standard probate service is £5,750 plus VAT at 20% (£1,150 and disbursements). A standard estate means that it is:

• Straightforward
• Solvent
• Has fewer than 10 UK-only assets
• Has fewer than 10 beneficiaries 
• Does not require the preparation of a long form inheritance tax account
• Does not require lengthy correspondence, research or investigation

Some examples of complicating factors include: 

• Estates with intangible assets e.g. goodwill, patents or copyrights.
• Estates including significant business or agricultural assets.
• Taxable estates i.e. subject to inheritance tax .
• Where a long form inheritance tax account must be delivered even if the estate is not taxable e.g. significant lifetime gifts were made or there is a claim to transfer part of the inheritance tax allowances of a predeceased spouse or civil partner.
• Contested estates.

If any of the above points apply, please contact us and ask us to provide you with a bespoke quotation. You can expect your fees in complex estates may be up to 3% of the value estate, and usually somewhere between 1.5% to 3%. See below for an example fee range. 

As part of your probate administration quote you can expect a range of disbursements to third parties. An example of this is a Probate Registry application fee which is £300. 

Typical disbursements (payments to third parties) during administration

• Swearing of oath £5 per personal representative plus £2 for each will/codicil per personal representative.
• Probate Registry application fee – £300. Free where estate is below £5,000. The fee will be payable on application for a grant and will be payable by the client (court fees paid on behalf of the estate can be recovered from the estate – funds allowing – after the grant issues and funds have been released).
• Sealed copies of the probate – £1.50p per copy. At least one per asset is recommended and typically a minimum of 10 copies are obtained at a cost of £15.00.
• Statutory adverts in The London Gazette and a local newspaper for creditors, designed to protect the personal representative against unexpected claims – typically around £300 to £325 inclusive of VAT.
• Financial Asset Search including a Will search – around £195 plus VAT (£39). 
• Electronic transfer of funds – We charge £40 plus VAT at 20% (£48) for electronic transfer of funds (TT), for an international transfer and for a faster payment (FP) to clients or third parties. 
• Land Registry copy documents – typically £10 per property (£16 where a plan is required) plus VAT (£2 to £3.20).
• Bankruptcy pre-distribution searches – typically £2 plus VAT (40p) per beneficiary. These may need to be repeated where beneficiaries receive interim payments of their entitlement.
  ID/AML checks on beneficiaries – £25.00 plus VAT (£5), our charge of doing the check.
• Where an estate is subject to inheritance tax this can impact significantly on the estate available for distribution to the beneficiaries. The attached link to HMRC provides various calculators that can help you to establish what liability to tax may apply but they are no substitute for professional advice because this is a very complex area. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hmrc-tools-and-calculators