Wills, Trusts and Probate Services
YVA Solicitor’s legal experts in wills, trusts and probate services will help you safeguard your financial assets and ensure your family is provided for.
The importance of making a Will is crucial in these days of financial uncertainty and the confusing legal environment we’re living in. Will writing is a tailor-made specialist skill to be administered by an expert in the field. We always take into consideration your personal financial circumstances, family commitments and the possible implications of taxation and in particular, inheritance tax.
After a death, it is important to those who are left behind that the estate is administered with sympathy and managed efficiently. It involves obtaining valuations of all the assets of the estate, agreeing the tax liability, applying for Grant of Probate (or letters of administration in the event that there is no Will), possible variation of the Will or the Intestacy and general administration of the estate.
In some cases a trust may arise under the provisions of the Will or intestacy and that trust could last for many years. We are here to assist you.
Our Wills, Trust and Probate services includes specialist knowledge and experience in all areas of wills, trusts, inheritance tax, estate planning, probate and estate administration, disputes and lasting powers of attorney, and business succession planning.
Below are details for the likely costs involved in Wills and Probate transactions:
WILLS
Basic will – £250 plus VAT
Mirror wills – £400 plus VAT
More complex wills – time recorded @ £250 plus VAT per hour – between £250-750 plus VAT
PROBATES
In general we charge 1% of the gross value of the estate plus VAT and disbursements. However 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 lower. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be nearer the 1% gross value of the estate.
We will handle the full process for you. This quote is for all types of estate whether there is a valid will or not. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs. Each case is assessed on it’s own merits and you will be provided with a detailed estimate after a consultation. You will also be kept advised of costs incurred throughout the transaction and at any point when the costs exceed the amount initially quoted to you.
Disbursements include:
- Probate application fee of £273.00 (if the value of the estate is over £5,000, nil if below)
- £1.50 per additional copy of the probate document
- £5-7.00 Swearing of the oath (per executor)
- £150-200 plus VAT in relation to a post in The London Gazette and in the Local Press – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
The quote does not deal with the actual sale of any property in the estate.
A full copy of our Terms & Conditions can be viewed here.
On average, we aim to deal with estates within 6-12 months.
Details of what our costs include and the services provided
Wills – providing Inheritance Tax advice, drafting the will, arranging for its signature and registering the existence of the will at a national wills bank called Certainty
Probate – securing details of assets and liabilities as at date of death, completing the relevant Inheritance Tax paperwork, drafting oath in support of Grant, apply for the Grant, winding down the estate and distributing the assets
