Costs Information
As a freelance solicitor, I offer expert legal services at a lower cost than traditional law firms. My overheads are low, and I don’t charge VAT — meaning significant savings for you.
I offer all services on a fixed fee basis agreed with you before I undertake any work. Where appropriate, and if you prefer, I can carry out work on a time spent basis at the low rate of £100 per hour.
30 min initial, no-obligation, available for most services
Guideline Prices for My Services
Wherever possible I will provide you with the option of a fixed fee quote at the outset of the matter. As everyone's circumstances are likely to be a little different I can not specify fixed costs applicable to everyone here, but where possible I have included possible ranges of costs to provide further guidance.
Wills & Estate Planning
- Single, simple Will (no trust provisions) - From £150
- Couple (Mirrored), simple Wills (no trust provisions) - From £250
- Single, Right of Residence/Life Interest in Main Residence Will - From £250
- Couple (Mirrored), Right of Residence/Life Interest in Main Residence Will - From £350
- Single, Trust Will, Life Interest in Whole Estate or Discretionary, with Letter of Wishes - From £350
- Couple (Mirrored), Trust Will, Life Interest in Whole Estate or Discretionary, with Letter of Wishes - From £450
- Lifetime Trusts - £POA or Hourly Rate
- Inheritance Tax Advice - £POA or Hourly Rate
In addition to the above I may incur the following disbursements (expenses) on your behalf if you decide to take advantage of the additional, optional services:
- Registration of your executed Will with The National Will Register - £30
- Depositing your executed Will with the Principal Probate Registry - £20
I do not charge any additional fees for arranging the above. If you would prefer to store your original Will with me, there is no charge for this service.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Single LPA - either Property & Financial or Health and Welfare - £200
- Two LPAs - either both types for one person or one type for each of a couple - £300
- Both types of LPA for each of a couple (4 in total) appointing the same/similar attorneys - £500
- Registering an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) - From £250 (typical range £250-£350 depending on who we have to notify)
- Revoking an LPA or EPA - £200
In addition to the above I will incur the following disbursement (expense) on your behalf if we register an LPA or EPA with the Office of the Public Guardian:
- Registration Fee - £82 per LPA/EPA
If I prepare an LPA for you I do not charge an additional fee for acting as the "Certificate Provider" confirming that you have the capacity to sign the document and understand it's contents.
If you would like to store your original LPA documents with me, there is no charge for this service.
Probate & The Administration of Estates
I offer a flexible approach to the way I provide Probate services as I appreciate that some clients prefer to do some of the work themselves whilst others require more assistance. The below is provided for guidance:
- Grant only application* with no Inheritance Tax return - £500
- Grant only application* with IHT return - from £800
- Full estate administration** - £POA or Hourly Rate
- Deed of Variation - From £250
* This service is based on you providing me with all information regarding assets & liabilities and then dealing with the administration of the estate after the Grant is issued
**My fees are based on the complexity of the estate not the value of assets. I never charge for Probate services based on a percentage of the estate value. As a guide, for an estate which includes a house, up to 4 bank accounts and one set of investments you can expect my fees to be £2,000 - £3,000.
In addition to the above I will incur the following disbursements (expenses) on your behalf if I apply for a Grant:
- Application Fee payable to HMCTS - £300
- Fee payable to HMCTS for each copy Grant - £1.50
I may also incur the following disbursements (expenses) on your behalf if appropriate but only with your prior agreement:
- S27 Trustee Act Notices - £117.60 London Gazette, £POA Local Paper
- Asset & Liability Search - £POA
- Missing Will Search - £POA
- Beneficiary ID and Bankruptcy Search - £4.80 per UK beneficiary, £POA per overseas beneficiary
- Registration Fee payable to HM Land Registry on Assent or Transfer of property - £POA (based on property value)
***These offer protection against unknown creditors. The cost of the local paper notices depends on location.
Court of Protection
- Finance & Property Deputyship Order - £1,204*
- Health & Welfare Deputyship Order - £POA or Hourly Rate
- Order appointing an additional trustee for property sale - £633*
- Order to authorise gifting or tax planning - £POA or Hourly Rate**
- Order authorising the execution of a Statutory Will - £POA or Hourly Rate**
* These are fixed costs set by Practice Direction of the Court
** In these types of cases it is common for my costs to be subject to detailed assessment by the Senior Courts Costs Office. It is also likely that the Official Solicitor will be appointed to represent P with their costs also being assessed. All assessed costs are payable by P, as are application fees and the cost of assessment. If a detailed assessment is required I will instruct a Costs Lawyer to assist with this process.
In addition to the above I will incur the following disbursements (expenses) on your behalf if I make an application to the Court of Protection:
- Application Fee payable to HMCTS £412
I may also incur the following disbursements (expenses) on your behalf if appropriate but only with your prior agreement:
- Other fees payable to HMCTS if a Hearing or Appeal is required
- Mental Capacity Assessment fee payable to assessor - £POA
- Costs Lawyers professional charges
- Counsel's fees
Document Services
- Certifying ID and other Documents - £5 per document per copy. If you require multiple copies £POA*
- Certifying LPAs - £10 per document per copy. If you require multiple copies £POA*
- Swearing Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations - £5 per swear and £2 per exhibit*
- Change of Name Deed Poll - £200**
- Acting as a Certificate Provider for Self-Drafted LPAs - £50*
- Drafting Affidavits and Statutory Declarations - £POA or Hourly Rate
- Taxi Licensing Statutory Declarations - £30*
- Declarations of Trust - From £200
- Registering a Trust on HMRC’s Trust Registration Service - From £150
* Due to the very low fees being charged, these only apply where services are provided at my home office or local addresses in Pocklington. If you would like me to visit you at home in other areas, I can, but an additional travel charge (agreed with you in advance) will be applied.
** Application fee payable to HM Courts and Tribunals Service £50.32. A statutory declaration will need to be declared by someone who has known you for 10 years and the fees above will apply but will be payable to an independent solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths
All Services
The following additional charges may apply to any of the services that I provide:
- I am required to satisfactorily ID all clients to comply with Anti-Money Laundering Legislation. If original ID and address verification documents are not provided by you in person I can conduct checks remotely at a cost of £10 per person per check
- I may need to obtain copies of the Register of Title for properties you own from HM Land Registry. These cost £7 per copy obtained (plus an additional £7 per Title Plan if required)