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Probate / Wills / Private Client Services – Client Information Summary

Our Experience & Qualifications

This department is led by a Solicitor with over 32 years of post-qualification experience. They hold an honours degree in Law from The University of Leeds and completed postgraduate legal training at Chester College of Law. Having trained and qualified at a commercial practice in 1993, they have spent the last 20 years specialising in private client work, including probate, estate planning, and Court of Protection matters.

They are a member of the Law Society and its Private Client Section, regularly undertaking continuing professional development to stay updated on legal and regulatory developments. They are registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

We handle both simple and complex instructions with sensitivity and professionalism, ensuring clients receive clear, compliant, and compassionate guidance.

All work is carried out or supervised by a qualified solicitor.

What’s Included

We can assist with:

  • Drafting Wills and providing advice on estate planning
  • Preparing Lasting Power of Attorney documents and registering them with the Office of the Public Guardian
  • Preparing Court of Protection applications for appointment of deputies
  • Creating Trusts for Vulnerable Persons
  • Applying for Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
  • Preparing deeds of variation
  • Collecting and valuing estate assets
  • Settling liabilities and distributing the estate
  • Locating missing beneficiaries
  • Preparing estate returns for HMRC
  • Preparing estate accounts
  • Advising on inheritance tax in connection with probate services and HMRC Trust Registration Service

Key Stages & Indicative Timescales

Key Stages & Indicative Timescales

 

Stage

Typical Timescale

Initial instruction & fact-finding

1–2 weeks

Will drafting for approval

1–2 weeks from signed retainer

Finalising Will

2–3 weeks from draft approval

Grant application (non-taxable estate)

2–4 weeks from full asset/liability info

Grant application (taxable estate)

3–4 weeks after IHT payment and HMRC code

HMRC submission (if applicable)

3–4 weeks from retainer and full info

Grant issued by Probate Registry

8–10 weeks from submission

Asset collection

2–6 months from grant

Final estate accounts

3–4 weeks after liabilities settled

Final distribution

6–12 months from grant

LPA draft for approval

2–3 weeks from retainer

LPA finalisation & registration

3–4 weeks (subject to attorney availability)

Court of Protection application

3–4 weeks from retainer and full info

Court of Protection order

15–52 weeks from submission

Complex estates may take longer depending on asset types, tax issues, or disputes.

Costs

We offer:

Service

Fee (from)

Will drafting

£160 + VAT

Grant-only (non-taxable estate)

£900 + VAT

Full estate administration

£2,000–£6,000 + VAT (time-costed)

 We do not offer fixed fees for taxable Grant applications or full administration services.

Typical Disbursements

(External Fees Not Included in Our Quoted Price)

Identity verification fees

Anti-Money Laundering fees

Bankruptcy search fees

Office of Public Guardian registration fees

Court of Protection application fees

Probate application fee

Statutory advertisement fees

Fees for tracing missing beneficiaries

Fees to obtain capacity report