Transparency

We are required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to provide details of our charges for certain work that we undertake. We pride ourselves on offering a service which is undertaken by fully qualified lawyers.

There are generally 2 main elements to legal costs:

• Our charges;
• Expenses we must pay out on your behalf (sometimes referred to as disbursements).

Our charges are quoted exclusive of VAT which will be added at the relevant rate that applies when the work is carried out. Our charges are calculated by reference to the hourly rate relevant to the fee earner who deals with your matter. The rates are in turn calculated by reference to the level of experience and qualification of the fee earner involved. These can be summarised as follows: -

• Partner/Senior Solicitor - £285 per hour
• Associate solicitor/Legal Executive - £270 per hour

Details of the qualifications and level of experience of our fee earners can be found on their individual links on our website. The hourly rates charged by the relevant fee earners are reviewed annually and may increase during the course of the transaction. If this impacts on your likely costs, we will advise you.

We are able to give a broad indication of our likely costs in certain transactions, these are not specific quotes but estimates of the type of fee that is likely to be charged.

When acting in the process of a freehold sale or purchase; leasehold sale or purchase or in relation to a mortgage or re-mortgage our fees cover all the work required to complete the transaction on your behalf, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty).

Our fees will be calculated on a case by case basis, and with reference to the value of the property you are buying or selling and whether the property is freehold or leasehold. A detailed quote will be provided on request at the outset of the transaction. However our fees for a freehold transaction will range between £1400 and £1900 where the value is up to £1m. For transactions above £1m our costs will be not less than £1900. Where the property is a leasehold purchase of up to £1m our fees will range between £1800 and £2500 depending on the value and nature of the property involved. Above £1m our fees will be not less than £2500. When acting purely on a remortgage our costs will be in the region of £800 - £950 depending on the value of the mortgage and/or the property involved.

In addition, a purchase transaction will incur local authority search fees (the cost will be dependent upon the location of the property); bank transfer fees; Land Registry fees (the cost will be dependent upon the value of the property) and Land Registry Search fees and bankruptcy search fees. In addition a purchase may incur Stamp Duty. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro

Our fees for dealing with the collection and distribution of assets belonging to a person following their death where these are within the UK and matters are not contested.

The exact cost of applying for, collecting and distributing the assets of a deceased's estate will depend upon the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be lower. If there are multiple beneficiaries, property and multiple bank accounts and investments, costs will be higher.

The fees will be calculated by reference to the hourly rate of the lawyer dealing with your matter. It may be possible to agree a fixed fee for up to and obtaining a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration. We can review this with you once we have obtained further information. Our fixed fees generally range from £2,000 - £5,500 plus vat depending on the factors involved. A further fee is then charged for dealing post grant and administration. This is charged by reference to the hourly rate of the lawyer dealing with your matter and a fixed fee can be discussed at the time. We will provide a detailed indication of costs on receiving instructions.

In addition, there are likely to be further expenses for example, a fee payable to the Court for obtaining a grant of probate; placing advertisements in local paper/The London Gazette to protect against unexpected claims or creditors; swearing an oath fee and bankruptcy searches. In addition there may be various taxes to pay. The conveyancing costs involved in the sale of any property will be charged separately.