Fee Structure

Wills, Probate & Estate Administration Fees

At Evalen Law, we are committed to transparency from the outset of your matter. Before commencing work, we will provide a clear breakdown of our legal fees, likely disbursements and any other anticipated third-party costs. You will receive our Letter of Engagement and Terms of Business for review and signature before we proceed.

Unless stated otherwise, all fees quoted below are exclusive of VAT, which is charged at 20%, and exclude disbursements, court fees, barristers’ fees, expert fees and other third-party costs.

The fees below are estimates only and may vary depending on the complexity and specific circumstances of your matter. We will notify you in advance if additional work is required and agree any revised costs with you.

Who Will Carry Out the Work

All wills, probate and estate administration work is handled by a qualified solicitor. Your matter will be handled by a Solicitor/Director of the firm, charged at an hourly rate of £375 + VAT, who has significant experience in private client, wills, probate and estate administration matters.

Where appropriate, other legally qualified consultants may assist with aspects of the work. Their hourly rate is £325 + VAT. We will confirm who will be responsible for your matter in your Letter of Engagement.

Fixed Fee Agreements

We understand that legal matters can be stressful. To provide peace of mind and avoid unexpected legal costs, we offer fixed fee services where possible.

A member of our team will assess your matter and provide a tailored fixed fee quote where appropriate.

Hourly Rate Fees

Where a fixed fee agreement is not suitable, our legal services will be charged based on the time spent working on your matter.

Our current hourly rates are:

Directors & Partners: £375 per hour + VAT
Consultants: £325 per hour + VAT

Will Drafting Fees

Simple Will: From £550 + VAT

Suitable for straightforward circumstances, including:

One or two beneficiaries
No property trusts
No inheritance tax planning
No business or foreign assets

Standard Will: £750 – £1,200 + VAT

Suitable where additional planning is required, including:

Multiple beneficiaries
Guardianship provisions
Specific gifts or legacies
Basic inheritance tax considerations
More detailed instructions or advice

Complex Will: £375 per hour + VAT

Applies where more advanced work is required, including:

Trust structures, such as life interest trusts or discretionary trusts
Tax planning
Business or agricultural assets
Foreign assets
Blended families or potential disputes
High-value estates

Mirror Wills for Couples:

Simple Mirror Wills: From £750 + VAT
Standard Mirror Wills: £950 – £1,500 + VAT
Complex Mirror Wills: Charged at £375 per hour + VAT

Probate Fees

Probate costs depend on the complexity of the estate. Unlike some firms, we do not charge a percentage commission based on the value of the estate.

Grant of Representation Only

If the Personal Representatives provide full details of the estate’s assets and liabilities, we can assist with obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.

Our estimated fees are:

Grant of Representation : excepted estate / no full IHT400 required - From £2,500 + VAT + disbursements
Grant of Representation: full IHT400 required - From £3,500 + VAT + disbursements

These fees assume that the Personal Representatives provide full and accurate information about the estate, including details of assets, liabilities, beneficiaries and any relevant tax information.

Full Estate Administration

If you require full assistance with estate administration, our fees will depend on the estate’s complexity.

The estimates below are based on estates of typical complexity and assume that the estate is straightforward, all assets are easily identifiable and accessible, and there are no disputes or unusual tax, trust or foreign asset issues.

Additional costs may apply where further work is required. We will inform you in advance where additional work is needed and agree any revised costs with you.

Estimated Fees for Full Estate Administration:

Estates up to £50,000, with no property and up to 4 accounts: £2,800 – £3,200 + VAT + disbursements
Estates £50,000 – £100,000, with no property and up to 6 accounts: £3,200 – £5,600 + VAT + disbursements
Estates £100,000 – £325,000, including property and up to 12 investments: £6,000 – £9,500 + VAT + disbursements
Estates £325,000 – £650,000, including property and up to 16 investments: £8,500 – £14,000 + VAT + disbursements
Estates £650,000 – £2,000,000, including property and up to 30 investments: £10,000 – £35,000 + VAT + disbursements
Estates over £2,000,000: tailored estimate provided

Disbursements and Additional Costs

Disbursements are third-party costs payable in addition to our legal fees.

Typical disbursements may include:

Probate application fee – currently £300, plus additional official copies charged separately
Land Registry search fees – currently from £3 per title
Land Registry registration fees – variable depending on the application and property value
Statutory declaration or affidavit fees, if required – usually £5–£10 per person/signature
London Gazette statutory notice – currently from approximately £104, subject to publisher rates
Local newspaper statutory notice – typically £150–£200, subject to publisher rates and location

Typical disbursements for a standard estate usually range between £300 and £1,000, depending on the circumstances.

Please note that third-party costs can change and will be confirmed as your matter progresses.

Additional Fees for Complex Estates

Additional costs may arise where the estate includes or requires work in relation to:

Property sales or transfers
Missing beneficiaries or lost assets
Lost wills or share certificates
Large volumes of paperwork
Trust interests
Agricultural or business property
Private company shares
Foreign assets
High-value items, such as art or antiques
Inheritance Tax liabilities
Complex tax advice
Disputes between beneficiaries
Deeds of variation
Indemnity insurance

We will always inform you in advance where additional work is required and agree any revised costs with you.

Key Stages of Estate Administration

The key stages typically include:

Identifying the Personal Representatives and beneficiaries
Gathering details of assets and liabilities
Valuing the estate
Preparing and submitting the probate application
Dealing with HMRC, including inheritance tax where applicable
Collecting estate assets
Paying debts and liabilities
Preparing estate accounts, where required
Distributing the estate

Not all stages are required for every matter. We will confirm the scope of work in your Letter of Engagement.

Estimated Timescales

The probate process typically takes between 6 and 12 months for a standard estate.

Indicative timescales are:

Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration – usually up to 3 months
Asset collection and distribution – usually 1 to 10 months after the Grant has been issued
Complex estates, including estates involving inheritance tax, trusts, disputes, business assets or foreign assets – may take up to 2 years or longer

Timescales are indicative only and depend on third parties such as HMRC, financial institutions, beneficiaries, valuers and the Probate Registry.

Why Choose Us

At Evalen Law, we provide:

Transparent fees with no hidden costs
No percentage-based probate charges
Fixed fee options where possible
Experienced solicitor-led service
Efficient and professional handling of matters

Complaints

If you have any concerns about our service or fees, please contact us in the first instance. We operate a formal complaints procedure, a copy of which is available on request.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint, you may be able to complain to the Legal Ombudsman. Further information is available at: www.legalombudsman.org.uk.

The Legal Ombudsman normally expects complaints to be made within its applicable time limits. You should check the Legal Ombudsman’s website for the current time limits before making a complaint.

If your concern relates to professional conduct or regulatory matters, you may also contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Further information is available at: www.sra.org.uk.

Call us on 020 7112 8355

Fee Structure

Wills, Probate & Estate Administration Fees​

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Wills, Probate & Estate Administration Fees