Mitchells
Chartered Accountants
Probate
Our Commitment
We aim to be upfront, realistic, and transparent about our charges. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your needs and determine what services you require from us. If you choose to engage us, we will provide an engagement letter detailing the estimated costs up to the extraction of probate. For complex estates, the letter will specify who will complete the work and their hourly rates. After probate is granted, we will agree on the next steps with you. Each case is unique, and costs depend on complexity.
Our Team
David, Sam, Rachael and James handle our probate assignments, having completed their Certificate in Probate and Estate Administration. They are supported by other team members and administrative staff.
Probate Services Offered
We can manage the entire probate process or support and advise you in your own application. Our services may include:
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Initial meeting and information gathering
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Valuing assets and establishing liabilities (including specialist valuers if needed)
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Preparing an Inheritance Tax Account
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Applying for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
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Collecting in the assets of the estate
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Settling liabilities and any taxes payable
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Preparing the final estate accounts
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Distributing the estate
We also provide advice on tax reliefs, elections, and other tax efficiencies, including deeds of variation.
Cost of Applying for Probate
We follow the ICAEW's best practice of price and service transparency. Costs vary based on the estate's value and complexity. We offer an initial, no-obligation consultation to assess your needs. After this meeting, we will provide a fee estimate and timeline, highlighting any potential delays or additional costs.
Our hourly rates for probate services range from £100.00 to £375.00 (exclusive of VAT).
Grant Only Service:
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Simplified Inheritance Tax Account: Typically 5 hours, £1,500.00 – £2,500.00 (exclusive of VAT)
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Full Inheritance Tax Account: Typically 5 to 10 hours, £2,500.00 – £3,500.00 (exclusive of VAT)
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Probate registry fees apply.
Full Estate Administration Service:
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Straightforward Estate (Simplified Inheritance Tax Account): Typically 10 to 25 hours, £3,500.00 – £7,656.00 (exclusive of VAT)
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Complex Estate (Full Inheritance Tax Account): Typically 25 to 50 hours, £7,656.00 – £10,000.00 (exclusive of VAT)
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Probate registry fees apply.
Court Costs
Each application incurs a Probate Registry fee of £273.00 (as of 26 January 2022) plus £1.50 for each additional copy of the grant required.
Other Third-Party Costs
Additional costs may include:
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Insurance and other estate property security costs
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Specialist valuation fees
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Conveyancing and estate agent fees for property transactions
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Statutory notice fees (including notices to creditors)
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Bankruptcy search fees
Timeline
We aim to complete the Grant application within three months. Full administration of a straightforward estate typically takes 6 to 12 months. More complex cases may take longer, especially if there are property interests to be sold.
Related Services
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Inheritance Tax and succession planning
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Capital Gains Tax advice
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Completing accounts for the deceased
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Resolving outstanding tax issues of the deceased
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Will writing
Regulatory and Complaints Information
Mitchells Chartered Accountants is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) to carry out non-contentious probate in England and Wales. Details of our probate accreditation can be viewed on the ICAEW website under reference number C008707984. We comply with the ICAEW's diversity review, and the results are available on our website.
Our terms and conditions, including our internal complaints procedure and details on how to complain to the legal Ombudsman, can be found on the ICAEW website. We carry a maximum of £2,500,000 of professional indemnity cover and are part of the ICAEW probate compensation scheme.
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