Fees information

In order to give clients an indication of potential costs in various matters, we have set out some guidelines below. These give an indication of potential costs in various types of case. However, it should be noted that the actual costs incurred on each matter will be fact and issue sensitive. We are happy to have a free initial consultation to discuss your particular requirements and can then provide you with a tailored estimate of likely fees and costs.

VAT is charged at the current rate of 20%.

Conveyancing

To give you an idea of potential costs associated with a Sale or Purchase, our fees will be between £995 + VAT (£1,194) and £4,600 + VAT (£5,520) but we will provide you with a tailored quote upon request.

In addition to the above fees, there will be a number of searches required which will depend on the location and type of property being purchased. These searches will usually cost in the region of £300-£400. Some of these disbursements will attract VAT and some will not, but we will detail which ones do and the amount in our quotation. We will discuss the search requirements with you when preparing a tailored quotation.

Occasionally there are other issues that can arise which require additional work to be done. If this is the case we will advise you of this immediately. To view what these fees could be please click here.

Stamp Duty varies depending on the value of the property and the status of the purchasers. Information regarding Stamp Duty calculations can be found on the Government website here: Stamp Duty Calculator. We will provide you with details of any Stamp Duty payable when you request a tailored quote from us.

The time taken to complete a sale or purchase transaction will depend on a number of factors including the number of properties in the sale and purchase chain, any specific issues or requirements for additional reports, the funding arrangements and the other professionals acting in the chain of transactions. For a straightforward cash purchase with no chain, completion could take place within 8 weeks. For more complex transactions in a lengthy chain of property transactions, completion could take up to 9 - 12 weeks.

Your transaction will be undertaken by one of our experienced Conveyancers:

Mark Stockton (over 40 years' experience in Residential and Commercial Conveyancing) - £280 + VAT (£336) per hour*

Tony Lynch (over 40 years' experience in Residential Conveyancing) – £210 + VAT (£252) per hour*

Alison Bates (over 30 years' experience in Residential Conveyancing) – £210 + VAT (£252) per hour*

Elaine Cox (over 40 years' experience in Residential and Commercial Conveyancing) - £210 (£252) + VAT per hour*

Sam Keefe - £175 + VAT (£210) per hour*

Support Staff – £140 + VAT (£168) per hour*

*Work will be undertaken on an agreed fixed-fee basis. Hourly rates will only be charged in exceptional circumstances for complex matters where a fixed fee cannot be provided.

Wills

It is vitally important to deal with your assets during your lifetime to ensure that they are dealt with as you wish them to be. Having a properly drafted Will can also ensure your assets are distributed in the most tax efficient way possible. Whilst no two people’s assets are alike, the majority of Wills will be charged as below:

Amendments to existing Will - from £100 + VAT (£120) to £200 + VAT (£240)

Single Simple Will – from £300 + VAT (£360)

Mirror simple Wills- from £400 + VAT (£480)

Single Will with tax planning – from £400 + VAT (£480) to £600 + VAT (£720)

Mirror Wills with tax planning – From £500 + VAT (£600) to £700 + VAT (£840)

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA)

We can advise you on whether LPAs are the right choice for you and whether you need one or both. If you already have an unregistered LPA we can register this for you. Our charges are as follows:

Single person, one LPA - £550 + VAT (£660), exclusive of registration fees

Single person, both LPAs - £650 + VAT (£780), exclusive of registration fees

Couple - one LPA each - £650 + VAT (£780), exclusive of registration fees

Couple - two LPAs each - £750 + VAT (£900), exclusive of registration fees

Pre-existing LPA registration only - £400 + VAT (£480) per LPA

Pre-existing EPA registration only - £550 + VAT (£660) per EPA

Disbursements

LPA registration fee - £82, no VAT

Home visit fee - £50 + VAT (£60), within three miles of our office

Trusts

Conveyancing Trust - from £350 + VAT (£420) to £500 + VAT (£600)

Discretionary Trust - from £1,250 + VAT (£1,500) to £2,000 + VAT (£2,400)

Trust registration - £200 + VAT (£240)

Probate

Grant only

Obtaining the Grant of Probate (IHT205 tax return) - from £1,000 + VAT (£1,200)

Obtaining the Grant of Probate (IHT400 tax return) - from £1,500 + VAT (£1,800) (to be assessed on complexity of estate)

Full administration

The exact cost will depend on a number of circumstances such as the value of the estate, the number of bank accounts/investments and the number of beneficiaries. We tailor each quotation to your individual needs and circumstances.

Obtaining the Grant of Probate - £1,000 + VAT (£1,200) - administration then charged on an hourly basis, e.g. simple estate where an IHT205 tax return is made, total fees from £2,000 + VAT (£2,400)

Medium-sized estate where an IHT400 tax return is made - from £3,000 + VAT (£3,600) to £5,000 + VAT (£6,000)

Complex estate (Inheritance Tax payable, high value assets, multiple investments, trust aspects) - from £5,000 + VAT (£6,000) to £20,000 + VAT (£24,000)*

*If the estate becomes more complex during its administration, these fees may increase but a full costs estimate will be provided before any further work is undertaken.

Deed of Variation - from £800 + VAT (£960)

What does the cost include:

• Initial consultation with one of our Solicitors;
• Gathering information from banks/investments, etc.;
• Drafting all paperwork to apply for the Grant of Probate;
• Drafting all paperwork for HMRC;
• Applying for the Grant of Probate;
• Dealing with any tax issues;
• Collecting in the assets;
• Transfer of property;
• Discharging the liabilities of the estate;
• Identifying the beneficiaries of the estate;
• Drafting Estate Accounts;
• Distributing the estate in accordance with the Will.

Your transaction will be undertaken by one of our experienced solicitors:

Graham Pearce - £280 + VAT (£336) per hour

Rachel Ison - £240 + VAT (£288) per hour

Jodie Hall - £210 + VAT (£252) per hour

Disbursements:

Probate fee - £273.00, no VAT

Copies of Grant - £1.50 per copy, no VAT

Office Copies of Title - £4.20 (inclusive of VAT) per copy

Bankruptcy searches - £3.20 per copy

Valuation fees for assets - TBC, if necessary

Land Registry fees (AS1) - TBC, determined on the value of the property

Please note that dealing with the sale of any residential property in the estate is not included in our Probate fees. An additional quotation will be provided by our conveyancing department.

Timescales

Wills can usually be completed within a few weeks. LPAs can take up to 20 weeks to complete the registration process. Timescales for Probate cases vary depending on the complexity of the matter, this will be discussed with you in the initial meeting.

Debt recovery

Undisputed debts

Our fees for undisputed debts are as follows:

Value of your claim Our fee Court fee*

Up to £300 £150 + VAT (£180) per claim £35

More than £300 but no more than £500 £200 + VAT (£240) per claim £50

More than £500 but no more than £1,000 £300 + VAT (£360) per claim £70

More than £1,000 but no more than £1,500 £350 + VAT (£420) per claim £80

More than £1,500 but no more than £3,000 £500 + VAT (£600) per claim £115

More than £3,000 but no more than £5,000 £750 + VAT (£900) per claim £205

More than £5,000 but no more than £10,000 £1,250 + VAT (£1,500) per claim £455

More than £10,000 but nor more than £200,000 £2,500 + VAT (£3,000) per claim 5% of the value of the claim, e.g. claim of £15,000 = Court fee of £750

*Court fees do not incur VAT

Disputed debts

If the claim is disputed, we will discuss alternative cost estimates upon consider of the Defence received. However, these fees are likely to be:

To progress Proceedings and comply with Court directions - from £2,000 + VAT (£2,400)

If the matter is settled before the Final Hearing - from £6,000 + VAT (£7,200).

If the matter is fully contested and proceeds to a Final Hearing - from £8,000 + VAT (£9,600).

Disbursements (where necessary):

Office Copies of Title - £4.20 (inclusive of VAT) per copy

Expert Report fees - from £1,500 + VAT (£1,800) depending on area of expertise

Barrister's fees - from £1,500 + VAT (£1,800) daily rate for each Court Hearing based on level of experience and speciality

Your transaction will be dealt with by an experienced solicitor:

Nicholas Thomas - £280 + VAT (£336) per hour

Stephanie Howard - £240 + VAT (£288) per hour

Hannah Smith - £210 + VAT (£252) per hour

What does this include:

• Taking your initial instructions and reviewing the documentation
• Undertaking appropriate searches
• Sending a letter before action
• Receiving payment and sending it on to you or, if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing a claim
• Where no Acknowledgement of Service or Defence is received, applying to the Court to enter Judgement in default
• When Judgement in default is received, writing to the other side to request payment
• If payment is not received within a certain number of days, providing you with advice on the next steps and likely costs

Timescales

An undisputed debt matter can be completed within a few weeks but a disputed debt will take longer. If the matter is settled before the Final Hearing we would anticipate this taking between 6 and 12 months but if it proceeds to a Final Hearing we would anticipate this timescale to be between 12 and 18 months.

Employment

Our fees for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal are listed below:

Simple case - from £6,000 + VAT (£7,200) to £12,000 + VAT (£14,400)

Medium complexity case - from £12,000 + VAT (£14,400) to £20,000 + VAT (£24,000)

High complexity case - from £20,000 + VAT (£24,000) to £30,000 + VAT (£36,000)*

*If the matter becomes more complex, these fees may increase but a full costs estimate will be provided before any further work is undertaken.

Disbursements:

Barrister's fees - from £1,500 + VAT (£1,800) daily rate for each Court Hearing based on level of experience and speciality

What does the cost include:

• Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
• Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached
• Preparing the claim or response
• Reviewing and advising on the claim or the response from other party
• Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
• Preparing or considering a schedule of loss
• Preparing for (and attending) a Case Management Preliminary Hearing
• Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
• Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
• Preparing a joint bundle of documents
• Reviewing and advising on the other party's witness statements
• Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
• Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including preparation of brief to Counsel.

Timescales

The timescales involved in your matter will depend on at what point the matter is resolved. If a settlement is reached during the pre-claim conciliation stage, we would estimate that this would take 10-12 weeks. If you claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, we would estimate the timescale for this to be 9 - 12 months.

Your transaction will be dealt with by an experienced solicitor:

Nicholas Thomas - £280 + VAT (£336) per hour