Wills & Probate

Who will deal with your matter?

Your matter will be handled personally by our qualified and experienced private client lawyer, who is approachable, sympathetic, and proactive:

• Shanice Marsh LLB Hons (CLC Licenced Probate Practitioner)

• Pauline Lawson (Solicitor)

You will have direct access to your lawyer by phone and email, so you always know who is dealing with your matter. Our assistants are also available to help with file administration.

Hourly rate: £350 + VAT (currently 20%)

Pauline brings over 40 years of post-qualification experience in Private Client Law, providing expert guidance and support throughout your matter.

Perfectly Legal is regulated by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) and holds professional indemnity insurance appropriate to our work.

Charges

Administering the affairs of someone who has passed away is deeply personal—and no two estates are ever the same.

We offer a bespoke service, providing as much or as little support as needed. Whether you just need help with the inheritance tax return and Grant of Probate, or a full estate administration service, we tailor our approach to your needs.

Services can include:

• Probate valuations

• Inheritance Tax return preparation

• Obtaining the Grant of Probate

• Managing assets and liabilities

• Dealing with Income and Capital Gains Tax

• Preparing estate accounts

• Distributing to beneficiaries

We’ll discuss your requirements at the outset and throughout the process.

VAT (currently 20%) applies where specified.

Estimated Costs

• Inheritance Tax return + Probate Application only – Starting from £1,250
  Time: 3–5 hours
  Cost: £825 – £1,500 + VAT

• Full Estate Administration (straightforward matters) – Starting from £3,000

Final costs depend on the estate’s complexity.
For example:

• One beneficiary, no property: lower end

• Multiple beneficiaries, property, several bank accounts: higher end

You will receive a tailored quote once we’ve reviewed the estate details.

Factors That May Increase Cost

• No Will

• Multiple beneficiaries or complex trust terms

• More than one property

• Shareholdings/investments

• Inheritance Tax liability

• Disputes between beneficiaries

• No relative/friend available to register the death or handle logistics

Any Extras

Disbursements are third-party costs that we handle on your behalf.

Common Disbursements

• Probate application fee: £315 + VAT (includes 10 copies of the Grant)

• Bankruptcy search: £7.80 + VAT (per beneficiary)

• Newspaper advertisements (The Gazette and local paper): £170 – £210 + VAT

You'll be notified of any applicable disbursements as early as possible.

Exclusions

Please note that property sale is not included in the estimates above.
We can provide a separate quote if required.

How long does it take?

For straightforward estates, full administration typically takes 4–8 months:

• Grant of Probate: 2–3 months

• Asset collection: 1–2 months

• Estate accounts & distribution: 1–2 months

Delays may occur if:

• A property is being sold

• Assets are difficult to locate

• Disputes arise

"Straightforward" applies if:

• Valid Will is available

• One property

• No more than 5 bank/building society accounts

• No other intangible assets

• Few beneficiaries

• No disputes

• No inheritance tax payable

• No HMRC full account required

• No estate claims

Complex estates may take up to 6 months for the Grant alone, with total administration extending up to 12 months or more if complications arise.

Complaints Procedure

We’re committed to high standards of service. If you have concerns, please raise them with your solicitor or their supervising partner.

If We Can’t Resolve Your Complaint

You can contact the Legal Ombudsman for independent investigation.
They will only accept complaints if:

• You’ve first attempted resolution with us

• It’s within 6 months of our final response

• It’s within 1 year of the issue, or when you became aware of it

Visit the Legal Ombudsman website for more information.

Concerns About Behaviour?

If your concern relates to professional conduct—such as dishonesty, misuse of funds, or discrimination—contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Visit the SRA website to learn how to raise your concern.