Pricing

  • Range of cost quotations

    We can promise that all the legal work will be carried out by a fully qualified Solicitor with many years of experience, as opposed to a conveyancer/case worker, which is the case with many conveyancing firms nowadays.

    To obtain an estimate of our pricing please refer to the table shown further below. The fees quoted only relate to properties situated in the U.K. – please contact us for bespoke quotes for any overseas properties.

    The fees quoted below are shown inclusive of VAT and cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

    Freehold Sale/Purchase up to £799,999
    Legal Fees  £1350 plus vat
    Freehold Sale/Purchase over £800,000
    Please call or email us for a bespoke quotation.
    Leasehold Sale/Purchase up to £799,999
    Legal Fees  £1500 plus vat
    Leasehold Sale/Purchase over £800,000
    Please call or email us for a bespoke quotation.
    Re-mortgage up to £499,999
    Legal Fees Range from £750 plus VAT to £995 plus VAT
    Re-mortgage over £500,000
    Please call or email us for a bespoke quotation.

    The figures quoted above (which include VAT where chargeable), assume a straightforward transaction without unforeseen complexity or issues. If the matter becomes complex, there will be an additional fee, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

    • Where your mortgage lender instructs its own solicitor
    • Where your lease purchase includes the purchase of a share of the freehold
    • Where a lease extension is involved
    • Where freeholder consent for any reason may be required
    • Where there is a perceived defect in title
    • If leasehold, that it is the transfer of an existing lease and not the grant of a new lease
    • Shared ownership transactions
    • Missing or absentee landlords
    • Compulsory Purchase
    • Where a transaction is required to be expedited
    • Contract races
    • Lock out/exclusivity agreements

    Obviously, all cases are different and we will try our best to inform you as soon as we become aware of any feature that might have an impact on the quoted fee

    Disbursements (payable to third party)

    Disbursements are costs (i.e. expenses), 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 smoother process.

    The following comprise the usual disbursements:

    • Bank Transfer fee per payment £40.00 plus VAT
    • Search fees – normally £250
    • Stamp Duty Land Tax – this depends upon a variety of factors. A calculation is available through the HMRC website
    • Land Registry fee – current fees are available through the Land Registry website
    • Managing Agents pack on sale of leasehold – this can only be ascertained on receipt of documents but the average charge is approximately £360.00 including VAT, but can vary depending on the Managing Agent or Freeholder
    • Notice and compliance fees on leasehold purchases – these can only be ascertained during the transaction but typically can range between £240.00 to £480.00 including VAT
    • Bankruptcy search fee £2.00
    • Land Registry search fee £3.00

    How long will my property transaction take?

    How long it will take from offer until completion will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6 to 8 weeks.

    It can be quicker or longer, depending on the number of parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage offer in place, it could take 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 2 to 3 months. In such a situation additional charges would apply.

    Stages of the process

    The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:

    • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
    • Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed
    • Receive and advise on contract documents
    • Carry out searches
    • Obtain further planning documentation if required
    • Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor
    • Give you advice on all documents and information received
    • Go through the conditions of the mortgage offer with you
    • Send final Report to you with the contract for signature
    • Agree the completion date (date from which you own the property) with the sellers’ solicitor
    • Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
    • Arrange for all monies needed to be received from the lender and you
    • Complete purchase
    • Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
    • Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

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  • Our costs for non-contentious probate matters are:

    1. Fixed fee of 0.5% to 3% depending on the value of the estate, complexity and circumstances of each matter; and/or
    2. Hourly rate of £140 to £280, depending on the complexity of the matter and experience of the fee earners.

    Our services are provided by our experienced solicitors with the assistance of our support team (including our trainee solicitors and paralegals). All services are carried out under the supervision of a partner. Also note that our fees are subject to VAT and further details about cost information would be provided to respective clients at the time of instructions; and set out clearly in their client care letters.

    Costs are very difficult to predict in probate cases but in a fairly straightforward case, we generally estimate it should take between 7 to 30 hours, therefore, between £980 and £8400 plus 0.5% to 3% of the gross value of the estate, as the case may be, plus VAT.

    Disbursements that will commonly be needed to be paid by us to third parties:

    Probate application fee, currently £155 plus 50p for each copy Grant
    Swearing of Oath = £7 – £11 per executor
    Bankruptcy searches = £2 per beneficiary
    Notice in London Gazette and in local newspaper – approximately £300 – £400. This is protection against unexpected claims

    Depending on how many hours it takes to complete, our fees will be calculated on the amount of time spent on the matter to that date.

    We cannot anticipate the eventualities of all and every scenario. However, if we do suspect that we are reaching our estimate of costs and will exceed it, you will be notified of this and the reasons why.

    How long will it take

    In a straightforward case, from the time you instruct us to the distribution of the Estate, the average process can take between six to twelve months. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties involved and the time it takes to ascertain the value of the Estate, for example, if the original documentation is not obtained and searches have to be undertaken. In such a situation, additional charges may also apply.

    Stages of the process

    The precise stages involved in a Probate matter can vary according to the circumstances, however, we have listed some key stages below:

    • Take your instructions, ID, money on account and provide you with some initial advice.
    • Determine the value of the Estate, contacting institutions and obtaining the value as at the date of death.
    • Verifying the terms of the deceased’s Will, or where there is no Will, proceeding in accordance with intestacy laws, and obtaining the necessary identification documents for the beneficiaries.
    • Preparing the account for Inheritance Tax to HMRC, where applicable, paying the tax and submitting the correct Inheritance Tax return (required whether or not there is tax due).
    • Applying to the Probate Registry for the Grant of Representation, this being the document confirming the legal authority to administer the Estate.
    • After the Grant of Representation has been issued by the Probate Registry, liquidating (selling or calling in) the deceased’s assets and settling any debts and all their liabilities.
    • Paying the final Estate administration expenses and accounting to HMRC for any further Inheritance Tax, any Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax due to or from the Estate.
    • Preparing the Estate Accounts showing all payments into and out of the Estate, and the balance left for distribution to the beneficiaries.
    • Sending the Estate accounts to the Personal Representatives (such as the Executor in the Will) for approval.
    • If there are no challenges or complicating factors that have arisen preventing distribution, the final phase will involve transferring any assets that the beneficiaries wish to retain and distributing the balance of the Estate funds.

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  • Range of costs quotation:

    We are experienced in representing clients facing a range of serious driving offences, including:

    • Dangerous driving
    • Careless driving
    • Driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs
    • Driving without insurance or No Licence
    • Speeding offences
    • Failing to stop after an accident

    If Legal Aid is unavailable then our charges are set out below:

    Pricing

    Advising on Initial Details of the Prosecution Case/Disclosure only:
    Hourly rate £210 + VAT
    Guilty pleas – Fixed fee
    Between £750 – £1,250 plus VAT
    Not Guilty pleas (Trials) – Fixed Fee
    Between £2,000 – £3,500 plus VAT
    Complex Trials – Fixed Fee
    Between £3,500 – £6,000

    Please note that prices will vary depending on the complexity of the case and the experience of the Trial Advocate

    Fees include:

    • Up to 2 hours consultation and obtaining instructions
    • Corresponding with the Crown Prosecution Service
    • Perusal and consideration of the prosecution evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service
    • Advising on the strength of the evidence and likely sentence
    • Advice on court procedure and what to expect
    • Attendance and representation at a single hearing in the Magistrates Court

    Further fees will apply for any further hearings

    Fees do not include:

    • Instructing expert witnesses
    • Obtaining statements from independent witnesses
    • Special reasons hearing
    • Appeals

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