COSTINGS

Conveyancing Costs for Sale

Our average standard legal fees for the sale of residential freehold and leasehold property is from £725 – £2000 + VAT (£870 – £2,400 Inc. VAT) for properties up to the value of £2 million. Please see our fee scale below:

• The value of the property, location, and any complexities of the sale will dictate the final fee charged within this range.
• We will charge the sum of £40 + VAT (£48 Inc. VAT) for Electronic money transfers.
• Leasehold properties  £150+VAT (£180 Inc. VAT)
• Below, we detail what services are covered in our standard fee.
• VAT will be payable on our fees and some disbursements and we will clearly confirm which disbursements carry VAT in our formal quotation or as we advise you to incur them. VAT is charged at a rate of 20%

If at any stage our fees change, we will notify you and discuss the reason for any changes. This would typically occur if you change your instructions or your case involves an unforeseen complexity.

Our average fees assume that:

1. The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise.
2. All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation.
3. For Leasehold matters this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease.
4. No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Disbursements and Other Costs

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

You will be provided with a full list of disbursements in our formal quotation.  If you need to incur any further disbursements during your case, you will be notified in advance of the reason and the amount.

The following disbursements and other costs may apply in your matter.

• Office copies of title deeds £6
• Mortgage legal fees on redemption £195.00+VAT (£234.00 Inc. VAT)
• Islamic Mortgages redemption – £350.00+VAT
• AML Search Fee (per search) £15.00+VAT (£18.00 Inc. VAT)
• Help to Buy, equity mortgage redemption £350.00+VAT
• Company Search Fee (per search) £25.00 + VAT
• Land Registry Office Copy and Title Plan (per Title) £6.00
• Bankruptcy Search (per name) £2.00
• Land Registry fees. The following link provided details of land registry fees payable. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees. We will advise the fees that are relevant to your matter when we have the details of your property.

If your Property is leasehold, the following additional costs may arise:

• Management pack, these are typically between £300 – £600 + VAT (£360 – £720 Inc. VAT) but we will confirm with you on application and review of your property sale.

These fees shown above will vary from property to property and can on occasions be more than the ranges given above. We will give you an accurate figure once we have sight of the relevant documentation.

Aborted Cases

If the transaction should go abortive, then depending on what stage you are at will depend on how much you will be charged. Please note that any disbursements paid we will be unable to claim back.

Expedition Charges

At the outset of the matter, we will advise you that transaction may take 6-8 weeks. Should you instruct us that you require the completion of matter prior to 6 weeks from the date of instructions, then we reserve the right to charge additional fixed legal fees of £175.00 + VAT (£210 Inc. VAT) depending upon how soon you require us to complete the matter.

Protracted Transaction 

If the matter takes longer than the agreed period of completion which is 6-8 weeks, due to any reason whatsoever, then we reserve the right to charge additional fixed legal fees of £175.00 plus VAT (£210 + VAT) depending upon how long the matter is delayed.

How long will my property sale take?

How long it will take from your acceptance of an offer to the final sale of your property will depend on a number of factors.

The time that it will take from you accepting an offer until you can move out will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8-10 weeks from the date of instruction.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on a number of factors and we will notify you if we believe your transaction may take longer than average or if something occurs in your case to extend the transaction time.

For example, if you are selling to a first time buyer and have nothing to buy, it could take 8-10 weeks. However, if you are selling a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 4-6 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply and we will notify you of the additional charges and time estimate when we, or the buyers, solicitors have engaged the landlord to discuss the extension.

Stages of the Process

The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances.

We have set out the key stages of a standard transaction: –

• Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice.
• Undertaking regulatory checks.
• Responding to enquiries of purchaser’s solicitor.
• Giving you advice on all documents and information received.
• Advising you on joint or shared ownership.
• Advising on any mortgage redemption, if appropriate.
• Sending final contract to you for signature.
• Agreeing completion date (date from which you no longer own the property).
• Exchanging contracts and notifying you that this has happened.
• Approving transfer fee and obtaining your signature to it.
• Completing the transaction and discharging any mortgage.
• Arranging for all monies needed to be received from your buyer and distributing those monies.

Other Factors

Other Factors to consider which may affect your Legal Fees: –

• Value of the property.
• In Sale cases, whether primary residence, buy to let or second/holiday home.
• Multiple owners.
• Multiple lenders
• Shared ownership scheme.
• Using a help to buy scheme, and whether it is an equity loan or ISA.
• Sale under right to buy or help to buy 350+VAT
• Sale at auction.
• Islamic mortgages £350+VAT
• Property has been repossessed.
• Where the seller is in arrears of mortgage
• Other unusual or complex matters

For further information relating to our pricing structure or any others questions you may have relating to our fees and services, please contact our Conveyancing Team on 0208 577 1222.

• Senior Partner, Chaman Lal MA LLB (Hons), is the founder of CL Law Solicitors with over 25 years PQE. He is the driving force of the firm and thrives in dealing with complex and high Net cases. He has extensive experience in Residential and Commercial Conveyancing including Grant or Assignment of Leases and is known for going above and beyond to achieve the best results for his clients. Chaman has overall supervision of the property department and the team.

• Head of the Property Department, Hardeep Singh Grewal LLB (Hons) is a Partner at the firm. He joined the firm in December 2014 as a Legal Assistant and progressed to qualify as a Solicitor in September 2019 after gaining experience in four seats. Hardeep handles a range of conveyancing matters consisting of both Residential and Commercial Property. Hardeep is known for his focused attention to details and prides himself on excellent client care, ensuring all property transactions run smoothly and efficiently.

• Mandeep Kaur Neta LLM, is a Trainee Solicitor, she is overall supervised by Chaman Lal and in Conveyancing matters by Hardeep Grewal. Mandeep has gained experience in all aspects of residential Conveyancing including Remortgage, Transfer of Equity, sales and purchases of leasehold and freehold properties. , Mandeep is known for her efficiency in bringing all Residential conveyancing transactions to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion.

Full profiles of all our staff can be found here

Conveyancing Costs for Remortgage & Transfer of Equity

• Our average standard legal fees for residential re-mortgage or transfer of equity transaction or taking a new mortgage is £450 + VAT (£540 Inc. VAT) for properties valued up to £500,000. For properties valued over £500,000 fees will be dependent on the value of the property and complexity of mortgage position and we will clearly confirm these in our formal quotation.
• Drafting Solvency Declaration £100.00+VAT (£120 Inc. VAT)
• Drafting Deed of Gift £100.00+VAT (£120 Inc. VAT)
• We will charge the sum of £40 + VAT (£48 Inc. VAT) for Electronic money transfers where applicable.
• Islamic Mortgages £350+VAT (£420 Inc. VAT)
• Help to Buy Equity Mortgage – £200 + VAT (240 Inc. VAT)
• VAT will be payable on our fees and some disbursements and we will clearly confirm which disbursements carry VAT in our formal quotation or as we advise you to incur them.

If at any stage our fees change, we will notify you and discuss the reason for any changes. This will typically occur if you change your instructions or your case involves an unforeseen complexity.

Our Fee Assumes That:

1. This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise.
2. The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise.
3. All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation.

Disbursements

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

You will be provided with a full list of disbursements in our formal quotation. If you need to incur any further disbursements during your case, you will be notified in advance of the reason and the amount.

The following disbursements and other costs may apply in your matter.

• Office copies of title deeds £6
• Mortgage legal fees on redemption £195.00+VAT (£234.00 Inc. VAT)
• AML Search Fee (per search) £15.00 (£18.00 Inc. VAT)
• Company Search Fee (per search) £25.00 + VAT
• Land Registry Priority Search (per title) £6.00
• Land Registry Office Copy and Title Plan (per Title) £6.00
• Bankruptcy Search (per name)- £2.00
• Standard Property Search Pack (if required by the lender) £350+VAT (£420.00 Inc. VAT)
• Land Registry fees. The following link provided details of land registry fees payable. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees.

Search Fees

Search fees vary from case to case depending on the local authority. We will advise you which searches you need for your transaction and the cost of each search. Typically, an insurance policy can be arranged to meet any such requirement. If the lender* is happy for an insurance policy to be put in place, we can help you obtain that

• No Search Indemnity Policy (if accepted by the lender) – on review of your case and dependent on property.

However, if the lender insists on specific local searches being carried out, our average fee for a standard property search pack is £350 – £450.

We will advise the fees that are relevant to your matter when we have the details of your property.

How long will my Mortgage or remortgage transaction will take?

The average mortgage or re-mortgage will take between 4-6  weeks on receipt of the mortgage offer

Stages of the Process

The precise stages involved in the mortgage or remortgage of a residential property vary according to the circumstances.

We have set out the key stages of a standard transaction: –

• Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice.
• Undertaking regulatory checks.
• Advising upon the mortgage offer and its conditions.
• Giving you advice on all documents and information received.
• Advising you on joint or shared ownership.
• Sending final mortgage deed to you for signature.
• Discharging any existing charge or charges
• Registering the New Charge on the property.

Other Factors

Other Factors to consider which may affect your legal fees: –

• Multiple owners.
• Multiple lenders
• Shared ownership scheme.
• Mortgaging where there is a help to buy scheme, and whether it is an equity loan or ISA.
• Mortgaging property under right to buy.
• Islamic Mortgages
• Other unusual or complex matters

These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion, be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.

Aborted Cases

If the transaction should go abortive, then depending on what stage you are at will depend on how much you will be charged. Please note that any disbursements paid we will be unable to claim back.

Expedition Charges

At the outset of the matter, we will advise you that transaction may take 4-6 weeks. Should you instruct us that you require the completion of matter prior to 6 weeks from the date of instructions, then we reserve the right to charge additional fixed legal fees of £175.00 + VAT (£210 Inc. VAT) depending upon how soon you require us to complete the matter.

Protracted Transaction 

If the matter takes longer than the agreed period of completion which is 4-6 weeks, due to any reason whatsoever, then we reserve the right to charge additional fixed legal fees of £175.00 plus VAT (£210 + VAT) depending upon how long the matter is delayed.

For further information relating to our pricing structure or any others questions you may have relating to our fees and services, please contact our Conveyancing Team on 0208 577 1222.

• Senior Partner, Chaman Lal MA LLB (Hons), is the founder of CL Law Solicitors with over 25 years PQE. He is the driving force of the firm and thrives in dealing with complex and high Net cases. He has extensive experience in Residential and Commercial Conveyancing including Grant or Assignment of Leases and is known for going above and beyond to achieve the best results for his clients. Chaman has overall supervision of the property department and the team.

• Head of the Property Department, Hardeep Singh Grewal LLB (Hons) is a Partner at the firm. He joined the firm in December 2014 as a Legal Assistant and progressed to qualify as a Solicitor in September 2019 after gaining experience in four seats. Hardeep handles a range of conveyancing matters consisting of both Residential and Commercial Property. Hardeep is known for his focused attention to details and prides himself on excellent client care, ensuring all property transactions run smoothly and efficiently.

• Mandeep Kaur Neta LLM, is a Trainee Solicitor, she is overall supervised by Chaman Lal and in Conveyancing matters by Hardeep Grewal. Mandeep has gained experience in all aspects of residential Conveyancing including Remortgage, Transfer of Equity, sales and purchases of leasehold and freehold properties. Mandeep is known for her efficiency in bringing all Residential conveyancing transactions to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion.

Full profiles of all our staff can be found here

Legal fees for Motoring Offences

Common Motoring Offences are careless driving, drink/drug driving and speeding. Our fees for dealing with motoring offences vary on the nature of the offence, the plea being entered and the number of hearings involved on private client basis only.

Given that each case falls on its facts, we agree fixed fees for the common criminal offences once the facts are ascertained as follows:

• The firm offers an initial consultation free of charge for 15 minutes and thereafter at a cost of £75 – £100 + VAT (£90 – £120 Inc. VAT) with the Senior Partner to establish the facts of the individual case and give an indication of the costs that may be incurred so that the client is aware of the cost up front.

• If a Guilty Plea is entered, our fees for representing in Court will be between £1000 -1500.00 + VAT (£1200 – £1800 Inc. VAT) provided the sentencing is dealt within one hearing. Should the sentencing hearing be dealt with in a separate hearing, then further cost of £500.00 to £750.00 + VAT (£600 to £900 Inc. VAT) will be charged.

We are able to put forward the necessary representations at the Court for mitigations to minimise the penalty which the court imposes. This is essential in cases where the client already has significant points on their license and wishes to avoid disqualification

• If a Not Guilty Plea is entered, then our fee will be £2500-£5000.00 + VAT (£3000-£6000 Inc. VAT) dependent on the length of the Trial, sentencing and preparation time.

• Review and collection of evidence – £500 – £750 + VAT. The level and amount of evidence will dictate the final fee that we will charge within the range.
• Drafting mitigation statement – £650 – £850 + VAT. The complexity of the matter and the time taken to draft the statement will dictate the final fee we will charge within the range.
• Instructions to counsel and compiling bundle – £500 – £750 + VAT. The complexity of the matter and the time taken to draft the instructions to counsel and prepare the bundle or paper will dictate the final fee we will charge within the range.
• Should your instructions require us to take your matter out of the fixed fee rate (see below for what our fixed fee covers) Our hourly rates range between £150 – £300 + VAT (£180 – £360 Inc. VAT) or for outside of office hours range between £225 – £450 (£270 – £540 Inc. VAT) which will depend on the experience and qualification of the case handler as follows: –

• We will charge the sum of £40 + VAT (£48 Inc. VAT) for Electronic money transfers.

If at any stage our fees change, we will notify you and discuss the reason for any changes. This would typically occur if you change your instructions or your case involves an unforeseen complexity.

The fixed fee costs above do not include additional disbursements such as barristers or experts fees.

Each case is dependent on its own circumstances and facts, and once we have established the facts of your individual case, we will ensure you are informed of any additional costs that may be incurred so that you are aware of the cost up front.

Our average fees assume that:

1. The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise.
2. All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from any parties providing documentation.

Our Legal Fee includes:

• General attendance/preparation:
• considering evidence
• taking your instructions
• providing advice on likely sentence
• Attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates Court

Our Legal Fee does not include:

• instruction of any expert witnesses
• taking statements from any witnesses
• advice and assistance in relation to a special-reasons hearing
• advice or assistance in relation to any appeal
• Contesting a driving prosecution
• Representation at Crown Court

Disbursements

Disbursements may be incurred in the handling of the matter for you. For motoring offences these will typically be:

• Counsel’s fees to provide advice or represent you at a hearing. If Counsel is required to be instructed a quotation for their services will be obtained from them and discussed with you before they are instructed to ensure you are fully aware of the fees that will be charged.
• Medical report fees/ other experts fees (if applicable)

Stages of the Process

The precise stages involved may vary according to the circumstances of your matter.

The key stages are based on the presumption that you have entered a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing and are as follows: –

• Meet with your solicitor to provide instructions on what happened.
• We will consider initial disclosure, and any other evidence and provide advice.
• Arranging to take any witness statements if necessary (as noted, this will carry an additional cost, of £150 – £300 + VAT (£180 – £360 Inc. VAT) or for outside of office hours range between £225 – £450 (£270 – £540 Inc. VAT) per hour and we will advise you of the full charge when we have identified the number of type of witnesses and who will take the statement(s).
• We will explain the court procedure to you so you know what to expect on the day of your hearing, and the sentencing options available to the court.
• We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow up queries you have.
• We cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place, as this depends on the court listing for that day.
• We will attend court on the day and meet with you before going before the court. We anticipate being at court for half a day.
• We will discuss the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.

Timescales

As the progress of your matter is dependent on external factors such as the Magistrate’s Court and hearing dates, it is not possible to provide you with an estimate of the time it will take to resolve your matter.

We will however advise you of estimated time scales when we have the details of your matter.

For further information relating to our pricing structure or any others questions you may have relating to our fees and services, please contact our Motoring Offences Team on 0208 577 1222.

• Senior Partner, Chaman Lal MA LLB (Hons) is the founder of CL Law Solicitors. He is the driving force of the firm and thrives in dealing with complex cases. He has over 25 years’ of experience in broad spectrum to include all types of driving prosecutions in addition to other Criminal offences. Chaman has consistently dealt with Motoring and Non-motoring offences in the Magistrates Court, Crown Court, High Court and Appeal Courts. His strength is to take on board key details and find a speedy resolution. His extensive knowledge and experience in Criminal law ensures that clients can expect to receive the highest level of service. Chaman has built a reputation and gained respect for being honest, talking straight and being able to explain complex issues and procedures in simple terms.

• Hardeep Singh Grewal LLB (Hons) is a Partner at the firm with substantial experience in dealing with Motoring Offences and Non-motoring offences. He joined the firm in December 2014 as a Legal Assistant and progressed to qualify as a Solicitor in September 2019. Hardeep deals with Criminal matters in the Magistrates Court, Crown Court, High Court and Appeal Courts and is known for his focused attention to details and prides himself on excellent client care, ensuring all matters run smoothly and efficiently.

• Mandeep Kaur Neta LLM is a Trainee Solicitor. She joined CL Law Solicitors in February 2017.  Mandeep is supervised by the Senior Partner, Chaman Lal. Mandeep has become an integral part of the Criminal Department and assists the Partners in all aspects of these cases. She has gained considerable experience in dealing with Motoring and Non-motoring offences. She thoroughly enjoys the client contact aspect of Private Client work.

Full profiles of all our staff can be found here

Legal fees for Immigration Matters

(excluding asylum applications)

The firm deals with many types of immigration matters ranging from entry clearance applications, visa extensions, settlement, visa, naturalisation, representation at the first tier tribunal (immigration and Asylum chamber) and appeals etc.

In majority of the matters, we can offer a fixed fee service to our clients. In the event that the nature of the application is complex or there is a lengthy immigration history, you will be charged at the hourly rate of the fee earner, details of which will be provided to you at the outset of the matter.

We are able to offer an initial consultation free of charge for 15 minutes and thereafter at a cost of £75.00-100.00 + VAT (£90 – £120 Inc. VAT) with the Senior Partner to discuss your matter and advice on the steps to require to regulate your immigration status.

Our Legal Fees cover all of the work required to handle your case from instruction to conclusion.

Legal Fees and action we will take

Legal Fees is the amount you will be required to pay for all the work performed by us in actioning your instructions from commencement of your case to conclusion.

The fees supplied below include the following services:

• Consideration of documents
• Client attendance
• Taking instructions and providing advice
• Preparing and submitting the application
• Advising on the outcome of the application

All fees are average:

In majority of the matters, we can offer a fixed fee service to our clients. In the event that the nature of the application is complex or there is a lengthy immigration history, you will be charged at the hourly rate of the fee earner, details of which will be provided to you at the outset of the matter.

Our hourly rates range between £150 – £300 + VAT (£180 – £360 Inc. VAT) or for outside of office hours range between £225 – £450 (£270 – £540 Inc. VAT) which will depend on the experience and qualification of the case handler as follows: –

The average Fixed Charges we apply are:

• Consultation by appointment – £75 – £100 + VAT (£90 – £120 Inc. VAT)
• Spouse visa applications/ further leave or settlement (Entry Clearance) – £750.00 to £950.00
• Spouse Visa Extensions Application (in country)- £850.00 to £1,250.00
• Applications for leave to remain under the family or private life route – £1,000.00 to £1,500.00
• Naturalisation Applications (Applications for British citizenship) – £2,000.00 to £2,500.00
• Indefinite Leave/Settlement Applications- £1,800.00 to £2,500.00
• Pre-Settled status or Settled status under EU Settlement Scheme- £750.00 to £950.00
• Premium same day service to the Home office in Croydon – On request
• PBS Dependant’s visa (applying separately from/with the main applicant) – On request
• Dependants of EEA migrants other than spouse or child – On request
• Applications for leave to remain outside the immigration rules – On request
• Applications for an EEA residence card for a partner or child of an EEA national – On request
• Immigration Appeals- On application
• Judicial Reviews Application- On application
• Applications under the Tier Points-Based System-On application

• We will charge the sum of £40 + VAT (a total of £48.00 Inc. VAT) for Electronic money transfers.

If at any stage our fees change, we will notify you and discuss the reason for any changes. This would typically occur if you change your instructions or your case involves an unforeseen complexity.

Our average fees assume that:

1. The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise.
2. All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from any parties providing documentation.

Disbursements and Other Costs

Disbursements may be incurred in the handling of the matter for you. Typical Disbursements may include:

• Court representation at Case Management Review Hearings, First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal will be chargeable at counsel’s rate. If Counsel is required to be instructed a quotation for their services will be obtained from them and discussed with your before they are instructed to ensure you are fully aware of the fees that will be charged.
• Where an interpreter is required, you will be responsible for the costs at the interpreter’s hourly rate.
• Home Office fees for making the application. You will pay this to the Home Office directly as part of the application process. We are unable to confirm what the Secretary of State’s application costs are, as these are frequently updated. Please refer to https://www.gov.uk/visa-feesfor current costs.
• NHS registration charge: please refer to https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-payfor current costs
• Independent expert reports, e.g. medical experts. These are not required in many cases; we will let you know as soon as possible if we consider an expert report is necessary. The costs involved will be dependent on the nature of the evidence required.
• If there is an interview and we do attend with you, there will be additional disbursements in respect of our mileage/travel expenses.
• If you wish to appeal the decision of the Home Office then you will be required to pay the Home Office appeal fee, please refer to:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-appeals-tribunal-fees-t495 for current costs.

• Life in the UK Tests fees, which you will arrange and pay, please refer to https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test for current costs
• You will also need to pay any related expenses for our travel to conduct your appeal at the Tribunal.

How long will my matter take?

Provided all the relevant documents in a timely manner, we should be able to submit your application in 2-4 weeks. We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application. Please read the published processing times which are approximate.

This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

For further information relating to our pricing structure or any others questions you may have relating to our fees and services, please contact our Immigration Team on 0208 577 1222.

• Senior Partner, Chaman Lal MA LLB (Hons) is the founder of CL Law Solicitors. He is the driving force of the firm and thrives in dealing with complex cases. He has over 25 years’ of experience in broad spectrum to include pursuing and defending immigration matters, entry clearance applications, visa extensions, settlement, naturalisation applications and appeals. His strength is to take on board key details and find a speedy resolution. His extensive knowledge and experience in Immigration ensures that clients can expect to receive the highest level of service. Chaman has built a reputation and gained respect for being honest, talking straight and being able to explain complex issues and procedures in simple terms.

• Head of the Immigration Department, Hardeep Singh Grewal LLB (Hons) is a Partner at the firm with substantial experience in drafting Immigration applications, visa extensions, settlement and naturalisation applications and making representation at the tribunals. He joined the firm in December 2014 as a Legal Assistant and progressed to qualify as a Solicitor in September 2019. Hardeep handles Immigration matters succinctly and is known for his focused attention to details and prides himself on excellent client care, ensuring all matters run smoothly and efficiently.

• Mandeep Kaur Neta LLM is a Trainee Solicitor. She joined CL Law Solicitors in February 2017.  Mandeep is supervised by the Senior Partner, Chaman Lal. Mandeep has become an integral part of the Immigration Department and assists the Partners in all aspects of Immigration matters. She has gained considerable experience in dealing with Immigration matters. She thoroughly enjoys the client contact aspect of Private Client work.

Full profiles of all our staff can be found here

Legal Costs for Uncontested Probate

Probate is the court-supervised process of gathering a deceased person’s assets, paying debts and taxes and distributing what is left to those who are the beneficiary, in case there is no will, or the named inheritors (beneficiaries) in the Will.

Uncontested probate is where there is no dispute over the Will and distribution of assets.

Legal Fees are the amount you will be required to pay for all of the work performed by us in actioning your instructions, from commencement of your case to conclusion.

• Our average standard legal fee for an uncontested probate matter, which does not exceed the Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Band, thus, no Inheritance Tax is payable and the IHT205 form is completed, our costs will be in the region of £3,500 -£4,250 +VAT (a total cost of £4200 – £5100 Inc. VAT). Below we detail what services are covered in our standard fee.
• A simple estate, whereby the only Inheritance Tax exemption application to the Estate is spouse exemption i.e., all assets passing on death to a surviving spouse or civil partner do not exceed the gross estate value of £500,000.00, thus, exempt from Inheritance Tax, our costs will be in the region of £5,500.00 – £7,500.00 + VAT (£6600 – £9000 Inc. VAT)
• Should additional documentation need to be drafted relating to the administration of the estate i.e., Deed of Variation allowing the beneficiaries to make changes to their entitlement from a Will after the person has died, Deed of Disclaimer of Inheritance allowing the beneficiaries to give up all rights to their inheritance or any other documents relating to the administration of the estate, our costs will be in the region of £1,000.00 – £1,500.00+VAT (£1200 – £1800 Inc. VAT)
• We will charge the sum of £40 + VAT (£48 Inc. VAT) for Electronic money transfers.
• VAT will be payable on our fees and most disbursements and we will clearly confirm which disbursements carry VAT in our formal quotation or as we advise you to incur them.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end.

We will handle the full process for you. Our Standard Fee estimate above is for estates where: –

• There is a valid will.
• There is no more than one property.
• There is no more than £325,000 in bank or building society accounts.
• There are no other intangible assets.
• There are 1 – 2 beneficiaries.
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs.
• There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC.
• There are no claims made against the estate.
• There is no tax clearance awaited for either inheritance or income tax.

If at any stage our fees change, we will notify you and discuss the reason for any changes. This would typically occur if you change your instructions or your case involves an unforeseen complexity.

Estates that are more complex, which require the application of appropriate reliefs, requires the completion of form IHT400 and does not exceed the gross estate value of £1,000,000.00, our costs will be in the region of £12,500.00 to £15,000.00+VAT (£14,000 – £18,000 Inc. VAT) plus Disbursement.

Should the estate of the decease exceed £1,000,000.00 and becomes complex due to various assets and numerous bank accounts, we charge on an hourly rate depending on the fee earner dealing with your matter, details of which are stipulated below

Administration of the Estate 

Once the Grant of Probate or Letter of Administration has been obtained from the Court and we are instructed to deal with the administration of the Estate we charge on an hourly rate depending on the fee earner dealing with your matter. The hourly charging rates of our legal staff are as follows:

Our hourly rate for handling an average uncontested probate matter range from £150 – £300 + VAT (£180 – £360 Inc. VAT) and for outside of office hours ranges from £225 – £450 + VAT (£270  – and this will depend on the experience and qualification of the person handling your transaction.

Disbursements

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

You will be provided with a full list of disbursements in our formal quotation. If you need to incur any further disbursements during your case, you will be notified in advance of the reason and the amount. Typical disbursements will include: –

• Probate application fee (Probate Court Fee: £158 plus 50p for every office copy).
• Swearing of the oath (per executor): £7
• Bankruptcy only Land Charges Department searches: £2 for each beneficiary
• Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors. £70+VAT (£84.00 Inc. VAT)
• Post in a Local Newspaper and Statutory advertisements – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims. Typically ranges from £300-£450 + VAT (£360 – £540 Inc. VAT)
• Counsel’s Fess – will be advised if required
• Caveat – £20.00
• Probate Search – £20.00
• Accountants Fees – between £500.00 to £1,000.00 + VAT (£600 – £1200 Inc. VAT)
• Estate Agents Valuation Fee – will be advised if required
• Independent Financial Advisor – will be advised if required

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 9 – 12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes more than 20 weeks. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between  8 – 12 weeks.

Once this has been done, and provided it is safe to do so we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 6 – 8 weeks.

Before making any distribution the Executors need to decide whether or not they wish to place Statutory Notices in the newspapers.  Statutory Notices are notices which are placed to allow any unknown creditors two months to come forward and make a claim against the Estate.  If you do not place the Notices in the newspapers and an unknown creditor comes forward, at a later date, you will be personally liable for any monies due to the unknown creditor.

Stages of the Process

The precise stages involved in an uncontested probate vary according to the circumstances. We have set out the key stages of a standard transaction: –

• Providing you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor to work on your matter.
• Undertaking regulatory checks.
• Identifying the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries.
• Accurately identifying the type of Probate application you will require.
• Obtaining the relevant documents required to make the application.
• Completing the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms.
• Preparing the Statement of Truth for you to sign
• Making the application to the Probate Court on your behalf.
• Obtaining the Probate and securely send a copy to you.
• Collecting and distributing all assets in the estate.

Potential additional costs Further potential costs may arise where: –

• If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information.
• If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £1.50)(1 per asset usually).
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
• Advising upon, estate related Inheritance Tax, and submitting Inheritance Tax returns and subsequent formalities.
• If complications do arise, then we will review the matter at the relevant time and discuss and obtain your consent to any further charges that may have to be incurred.
• If there is any property transactions and any other matters in connection with the estate after the Grant of Probate or Letter of Administration, these will be handled and charged separately.

For further information relating to our pricing structure or any others questions you may have relating to our fees and services, please contact our Probate Team on 0208 577 1222.

• Senior Partner, Chaman Lal MA LLB (Hons) is the founder of CL Law Solicitors. He is the driving force of the firm and thrives in dealing with complex cases. He has over 25 years’ of experience in broad spectrum to include various contentious and non-contentious Probate matters. His strength is to take on board key details and find a speedy resolution. His extensive knowledge and experience in wills and probate ensures that clients can expect to receive the highest level of service. Chaman has built a reputation and gained respect for being honest, talking straight and being able to explain complex issues and procedures in simple terms to ensure that the client’s best interests is preserved.

• Hardeep Singh Grewal LLB (Hons) is a Partner with substantial experience in drafting Wills and obtaining Probate. He joined the firm in December 2014 as a Legal Assistant and progressed to qualify as a Solicitor in September 2019. Hardeep handles contentious and non-contentious Probate matters and is known for his focused attention to details and prides himself on excellent client care, ensuring all matters run smoothly and efficiently.

• Mandeep Kaur Neta LLM is a Trainee Solicitor. She joined CL Law Solicitors in February 2017.  Mandeep is supervised by the Senior Partner, Chaman Lal. Mandeep has become an integral part of the Probate Department and has gained considerable experience in dealing with contentious and non-contentious Probate matters. She thoroughly enjoys the client contact aspect of Private Client work.

Full profiles of all our staff can be found here