This service is where you would like to instruct HCB to obtain the Grant of Probate only and afterwards, you would deal with the administration of the estate. This is dealt with on a fixed fee basis.

Grant Only

- £1,200.00 to £1,800.00 plus VAT

HCB can assist in solely obtaining the Grant of Representation to the estate. In order to do this, we will require you to provide us with all the necessary details of the assets and liabilities of the estate, as at the date of death, to prepare the  Probate Application papers.

What does this cost include?:

• Draft the paperwork required to apply for a Grant of Probate 
• Attend on you to sign the Probate and Tax papers
• Advise you regarding your personal liability as an executor and take steps to mitigate your exposure to risk; implement searches/checks, as required or as instructed by you.
• Apply to the Probate Registry for a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration

We do offer the preparation of the Inheritance Tax Return called an IHT 400 plus supplemental pages for a base cost of £4,000 plus VAT provided the estate is not subject to an inheritance tax liability. You will be advised of a costs estimate at the initial instruction stage of the process.

Timescales – Grant only

The timescale from submission of your application to issue of the Grant of Representation is a minimum period of 3 months based on current waiting times at HMCTS Probate Registry.  This may vary and sometimes be longer if the Probate Registry is experiencing delays.

We expect that the overall time to obtain Grant of Representation from instruction to finish is between 3 and 6 months and maybe longer if the application is non-standard and can only be done by post.

This is if the estate is not complex or if there are no complications found within the estate.

Disbursements – Grant Only

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Listed below are the most common disbursements incurred in a probate matter. Some costs and required in all cases, other may not be applicable and other costs may vary depending on other circumstances as listed below.

Some disbursements will be based upon the legal advice given at the time and in addition to our legal fees.

Hourly Rates

The hourly charging rates (excluding VAT) of the lawyers involved in your matter are: