Our Charges

In most cases a fixed fee can be  agreed at the outset (and during the transaction if necessary a client will be told  if there is an increase in that fee once known). Our costs for domestic conveyancing services start at £995 (plus vat), depending upon the  nature, price and complexity of the transaction. Fees will be charged on a pro  rata basis for abortive transactions.  The amount you will pay for the transaction will be made up of our fees and certain fixed costs often referred to as disbursements. Disbursements include searches, land registry fees and stamp duty land tax.  These vary depending upon the nature of the transaction. Guidance on stamp  duty land tax and land registry fees can be found on the Inland Revenue and HM  Land Registry websites. We ask for a payment on account towards disbursements  (normally £300 or £500 if sale and purchase) at the outset of the matter. The fees, vat and disbursements will be provided in our estimate of fees.

Sometimes, a “curveball” will be thrown at us during a conveyancing transaction.  This is when something unforeseen arises that may affect the legal title or use of property or your lender’s decision to lend you the money to purchase it.  Such instances can have an effect on our final fee but if you are still keen to proceed we will work hard to find a solution for you.  Where we anticipate costs may rise, we will always try not to incur any additional cost to resolve such an issue without talking to you first.  

 Our fees for commercial property transactions are usually given as an estimate of the likely time that we estimate the matter will take. As such, they will largely depend upon the complexity of a matter. The more straightforward the transaction, the lower the costs. Our costs are influenced by several other factors including the price of the prospective property (as a higher price is a greater risk for a firm), the need for mortgage finance and whether the property is leasehold or freehold.

The best first step is to discuss your particular transaction with our commercial property solicitor so that a bespoke quotation can be provided. For some more straightforward commercial property transactions we can offer fixed fees. For other transactions, our current hourly rate is £250.00 plus VAT and we would always give an estimate of the expected time for a particular transaction.

Conveyancing timetables are subject to a range of external factors which are beyond our control, and we can, therefore, only estimate and not guarantee how long this matter is likely to take. We will of course make every effort to comply with your proposed timescale. Most freehold or leasehold acquisitions, for example, will take between one to two months to complete.

Example transaction:

The freehold purchase of a commercial property

A purchase of a freehold commercial unit on a high street at a purchase price of £500,000.00.

Assuming that the property has not been elected for VAT, the costs are likely to be: 

Legal Fees: £1,500.00 to £2,500.00, allowing for between 6 and 10 hours of our time

VAT on legal fees: £300.00 to £500.00

Searches: around £400.00 for standard searches 

Stamp duty land tax on the price of £500,000.00: £14,500.00

Land Registry fees: between £150 and £330 depending on whether the application can be made online.

Our costs are based on the amount of work involved in administering the estate. The more work, the more time it takes. A straightforward case costs between £3,500-£4,000 plus VAT, any extra work is charged at £250/hr. We will write to you if we think the charge will increase. Estates larger than £750,000 we charge 1.5% - 2%  of the gross estate. In addition to our costs, there are various expenses such as the probate fee (£300) and Gazette Notice etc. Please note: we include the submission to HMRC in our fees. 

Issues that may increase costs include: numerous executors or beneficiaries, shares which need a broker, a property overseas, conditions in the Will, Form IHT 400 is needed because the gross estate is over the tax personal allowance threshold, tax claims to submit, tax liability to pay.

If we are also instructed to sell or transfer an asset e.g. a house, there will be additional costs which we will discuss and agree with you in advance and confirm in writing. 

Where a partner in the firm is appointed to act as an executor our costs may also include a modest additional value element (e.g. 0.5% of the gross value of the  estate), to reflect the complexity of the matter and the responsibility imposed on the  firm. We will always discuss and agree this element with you in advance and confirm  in writing.

From instruction to completion, Probate matters usually take between 6-12 months.