Probate Services.

Coping with bereavement is difficult enough but having to deal with the resulting paperwork and administration can make matters worse. Yet submitting the inheritance tax return to the Revenue and obtaining a Grant of Representation/Letters of Administration is often the only way of dealing with the deceased's estate. Mackenzie Jones offers assistance with all aspects of probate and estate administration, we have helped clients across Chester, North Wales and further afield.

Acting as a Personal Representative means that you are taking on a number of obligations and responsibilities. Many individuals underestimate the time commitment needed to complete an estate administration.

Our Service and Fees

We are usually instructed to act in one of two circumstances:

1. Full estate administration

Where we are instructed to deal with the full administration of an estate, our service includes dealing with all of the work necessary to complete the administration, including:

• Assisting with the registration of the death and funeral arrangements, if so required;
• A full initial consultation to discuss all issues relating to the estate and to collect the available paperwork;
• Investigating, securing and valuing the assets and liabilities of the estate;
• Identifying and tracing the beneficiaries;
• Applying for the Grant of Probate or the Grant of Letters of Administration;
• Completing and submitting HM Revenue and Customs paperwork as appropriate;
• Registering the Grant and collecting in the assets;
• Settling any outstanding liabilities and dealing with the payment of taxes due, as appropriate;
• Selling or transferring assets and distributing the estate to the beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the will or the Rules of Intestacy;
• Preparing a full set of estate accounts;
• Keeping you and any other relevant parties informed as to progress at all stages.

We will give a clear indication of how long the process might take to complete.  An average timeframe for full estate administration is between 6 and 9 months, but this will depend on whether there is any Inheritance Tax payable and the overall complexity of the estate.

Our expert probate solicitors will provide you with an estimate of legal fees at the outset, and again once the Grant of Representation has been obtained.  Our fees are calculated with reference to our hourly rate for the work actually undertaken as well as a percentage charge calculated with reference to the gross value of the deceased's estate.

Generally, we find that the total of our fees works out at between 2% and 4% of the gross value of the estate, plus disbursements*

 There are various factors that can affect our costs, for example:

• Whether there is a valid will;
• If there is more than one property;
• If there are numerous bank and building society accounts, a considerable number of shareholdings or a large number of beneficiaries;
• Where there disputes between beneficiaries and/or executors;
• Where there is any claim made against the estate;
• Where there are outstanding tax matters;
• Where there are business, agricultural or foreign assets.

Further, our costs do not include:

• Third party service fees such as accountant fees, stockbroker fees or beneficiary/asset tracing fees;
• The costs of dealing with the sale of a property;
• Any taxes that may be payable.

*Disbursements are costs related to your matter which are payable to third parties.  We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf.  In the administration of an estate, the following disbursements may be payable:

• Land Registry office copy fees of £3.00 (per property)
• Bankruptcy search fees of £2.00 (per person)
• Land Registry registration fees, dependent on the value and status of any property
• Probate Court fee, currently £155.00
• Fees for office copies of the Grant of £0.50 per copy (usually 1 is required per asset)
• Statutory Notices fee, approximately £170.00 to £300.00 plus  VAT dependent on the local newspaper costs

2. To obtain a Grant of Representation only

To obtain a Grant of Representation only, our service will include:

• A full initial consultation to discuss all issues relating to the estate and to collect the available paperwork;
• Applying for the Grant of Probate or the Grant of Letters of Administration;
• Completing and submitting HM Revenue and Customs paperwork, as appropriate;
• Keeping you and any other relevant parties informed as to progress at all stages.

We will give a clear indication of how long the process might take to complete.  An average timeframe for obtaining a Grant of Representation where no Inheritance Tax is payable is between 8 to 10 weeks. However, this time estimate is likely to increase where Inheritance Tax is payable or, even though no tax is payable, we have to file a full Inland Revenue account.

We will provide you with an estimate of legal fees at the outset.  Please see section 1 above for more information about how our fees are calculated.

Generally, we find that our fees in obtaining a Grant of Representation where no Inheritance Tax is payable range from between £650 to £950 plus VAT and disbursements*

Where Inheritance Tax is payable, or a full account must be submitted to the Revenue, our fees increase to between approximately £1000 to £1,750 plus VAT and disbursements*

*Disbursements are costs related to your matter which are payable to third parties.  We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf.  In obtaining a Grant of Representation, the following disbursements may be payable:

• Probate Court fee, currently £155.00
• Fees for office copies of the Grant of £0.50 per copy (usually 1 is required per asset)

Please note that the above information is purely intended as a guide and specific estimates tailored to your individual requirements will be provided at the commencement, and during the course of your matter.