Our Costs

On the whole at Waterfords Solicitors we operate fixed fee prices for some cases. The costs vary according to the complexity of the case.

The time spent in the first consultation will form part of the fixed fee for the case. You will pay a deposit in order to have ‘a retainer’, sign a contract between us and you, and before we submit your application (in a straight forward application), or conclude your case, you will pay the balance due. If the case is ongoing you will be issued with interim bills to pay towards your fixed fee costs.

On some occasions you will be charged an hourly basis. All disbursements are in addition to the fixed fee. For postage, packaging, telecommunication charges, copying charges, stationary, sundries, and miscellaneous, there is a charge of 4% of our fees. If you are subject to VAT, this will be added to the costs.

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Fixed price Wills & Probate

Please note that our fixed or estimated fees for Wills and Probate work are based upon a matter having standard features. They give an indication of the likely range of prices in most instances. However if your matter has non-standard features such as complex property, family relationships, dispositions or risks, then we may not be able to assist you for the fees shown on our website. In that instance we may give you an alternative fee quote based on hourly rates or  further fixed or estimated fees.

All prices quoted relating to legal fees are subject to the addition of VAT

Making a Will – price guide

Waterfords Will writing solicitors have experience in preparing Wills to cover all circumstances. Whether you have a complex estate or you simply want to make sure certain belongings go to certain people, we can make a Will to suit you.

Level 1 Wills

£210 Single Will – £260 Mirror Wills

Instruction options available

Level 2 Wills – Multiple Legacies

£315 Single Will – £365 Mirror Wills

Suitable if the Will is more complicated, requires multiple legacies or you would like a draft to be sent to you to consider further. This option is also suitable if you would like to attend to provide instructions, we then draft the Will and go through it with you before signing all in one attendance.

Should you need to leave someone out of your Will an additional £90 including VAT will be payable to cover the cost of the advice we need to give you on the implications of this.

Level 3 Wills

£395 Single Will – £520 Mirror Wills

Wills to include a trust to protect against factors which could affect the surviving spouse/civil partner together with the relevant deed to ensure that the jointly owned property is owned in such a way to allow a half share to pass into a trust on the first death.

Level 4 Wills

£1,555

This is for people who wish to receive inheritance tax planning advice related to their Will so as to leave as much as possible to their chosen beneficiaries through minimising inheritance tax paid. These Wills can involve the use of trusts to plan to minimise the impact of inheritance tax and is more particularly aimed at married couples/civil partners due to the tax exemptions provided to them*.

*If you are not married or in a civil partnership we would be able to advise you on inheritance tax planning options which advice would be charged on the hourly rates of the person assisting you. 

How much does probate cost?

Please note that our fixed or estimated fees for Wills and Probate work are based upon a matter having standard features. They give an indication of the likely range of prices in most instances. However if your matter has non-standard features such as complex property, family relationships, dispositions or risks, then we may not be able to assist you for the fees shown on our website. In that instance we may give you an alternative fee quote based on hourly rates or further fixed or estimated fees.

Grant of probate/grant of letters of administration only where no Inheritance Tax is payable – £1,000 plus third party costs (disbursements)* and VAT

Executors/administrators can then deal with the administration of the estate after we have obtained the grant for them.

If Inheritance Tax is payable or there are other tax matters arising we will agree a fee with you based on the hourly rates of the person dealing with the matter. Complex estates involving tax matters tend to be handled by more senior solicitors and staff and our average hourly rate for them is £225.

Dealing with entire estate (obtaining grant, collecting in assets and distributing to beneficiaries)

For average estate values which are under £325,000 and with no inheritance tax payable, where this is the case our average prices are: 2% of the gross value of the estate plus third party costs and VAT.

This means, for example, that if the estate is worth £250,000 before deduction of debts and other expenses then our fees would be £5,000 plus third party costs and VAT.

We charge a minimum fee of £2,000 plus third party costs (disbursements)* and VAT.

If Inheritance Tax is payable or there are other tax matters arising we will agree a fee with you based on the hourly rates of the person dealing with the matter. Complex estates involving tax matters tend to be handled by more senior solicitors and staff and our average hourly rate for them is £225.

*Third party costs

• Probate Court fee of £155
• £1.50 plus VAT for each office copy of the grant required (1 per asset usually)
• £3 plus VAT HM Land Registry official copy entry
• £2 plus VAT bankruptcy search
• £5 plus VAT for electronic ID search
• HM Land Registry registration fees based on scales and the value and status of the property

Other third party costs will be advised as required, e.g. accountant’s fee for potential income tax return, statutory advertisement fee to advertise for unknown creditors, asset tracing fee

There may be additional third party costs for lost share certificates and share registrar and/or sale agent fees on transfer or sale of the shares

S27 Advertisements in the London Gazette and a local newspaper in from £150 – £300 depending on the local newspaper advertising costs

Stockbroker fees – £25 – £150 depending on the number of shareholdings to be dealt with

How long does probate take?

The probate procedure involves the personal representatives valuing the estate’s assets, taking from this any debt amounts and then notifying the probate registry what the value of the remaining estate is. The length of time involved largely depends on what is in the estate. If there is a house, then it will depend on the housing market and how quickly a sale can be agreed. If there are only bank accounts then you may be able to get the grant within about two months. If there are shares, it could take longer. The more wide-ranging the types of assets there are in an estate, the longer it could take. If inheritance tax has to be paid, the values of the assets in an estate may have to be agreed with the Inland Revenue and this could take time.

Key stages and what is included in our pricing

If you instruct us to obtain a grant only and you administer the estate then the key stages and what is included in our prices is:

1. Preparing the relevant HMRC forms and Statement of Truth from the probate valuations obtained by you
2. Placing statutory advertisements (if required)
3. Carrying out a Certainty Search if required
4. Helping you to ensure that the relevant HMRC forms and Statement of Truth are correct and suitable to be signed
5. Lodging your application for the Grant of Representation at the Probate Registry
6. Providing you with the Grant of Representation and sealed copies

If you instruct us to obtain a grant and administer the estate then the key stages and what is included in our prices is:

1. Valuing the estate assets
2. Obtaining details of outstanding debts
3. Arranging payment of the funeral from estate funds (if required)
4. Placing statutory advertisements (if required)
5. Carrying out a Certainty Search if required
6. Preparing the relevant HMRC forms and Statement of Truth
7. Arranging payment of Inheritance Tax where necessary
8. Helping you to ensure that the relevant HMRC forms and Statement of Truth are correct and suitable to be signed
9. Lodging your application for the Grant of Representation at the Probate Registry
10. Collecting in the assets
11. Paying the debts from estate funds
12. Liaising with HMRC in respect of income tax for the current tax year up to date of death
13. Instructing an accountant to complete additional tax returns (if required)
14. Preparing estate and distribution accounts
15. Distributing the estate to the beneficiaries

*Not included in the price are the sales fees on properties, estate agency, taxes and  HMLR fees.

What qualifications do the team hold?

All estate administration work is supervised by a qualified solicitor.

Motoring offences advice

Sometimes a motoring offence may be minor; other times it could be far more serious with potentially devastating consequences. If you have received a notice of intended prosecution or have been contacted by the police we can advise you on the best course of action to take. It is always best to contact us early as some options, such as driver awareness courses, are not available once a court date has been set. If you have been summonsed to court our solicitors can provide you with information on the likely outcome of your case and, if necessary, defend you in court, especially if you face a driving ban / disqualification.

We charge based on both fixed fees and hourly rates depending on the complexity of the matter. The range of fees for defence against motoring offences are:

Penalty points speeding (guilty plea)

Between £600 and £900 for written representations by post

Totting up 12 penalty points (guilty plea, exceptional hardship)

Between £1,620 and £2,040

Speeding offences where there is a risk of disqualification (guilty plea)

Between £1,440 and £2,040

Drink and drug driving (guilty plea)

Between £1,440 and £2,040

Failing to provide a specimen (guilty plea)

Between £1,440 and £2,040

Drink driving/drug driving (not guilty)

Between £4,200 and £7,800

Failure to provide a specimen (not guilty)

Between £4,200 and £7,800

All not guilty plea estimates are based on the matter concluding after representation at court where the hearing has been designated for a trial listed for one day. We offer fixed fees wherever possible but from time to time we may have to operate on the basis of an hourly rate ranging from £235 per hour to £345 per hour – the vast majority of cases can be dealt with on the basis of a fixed fee. A particularly complex matter or a matter that will need to be dealt with in the Crown Court would be dealt with by way of an hourly rate. Fixed fees include taking statements from, and examination of witnesses.

All prices quoted are inclusive of VAT. 

Third party costs, including barrister’s fees will be included within any fixed fee package unless stipulated otherwise.

Each case falls on its own facts and additional third party costs may be necessary dependant on the issues/length of proceedings. Where an expert witness is required, the costs associated with this are dependent on the issues in the case and may need to be added to any of the above estimates of fees – expert fees can be variable, from £300 plus VAT and in very rare cases around or in excess of £1,000 plus VAT. It may also be necessary to obtain more than one expert report depending on how the case progresses.

How long will it take? 

For guilty plea cases, this will depending on the court date for the final hearing. For not guilty pleas the average timespan is 3- 6 months.

What qualifications do the team hold?

All motoring offence work is supervised by a qualified solicitor.

Key stages when entering a guilty plea:

These are the key stages and they are included within our prices:

• Initial meeting to take detailed instructions to assist with drafting full statement
• Unlimited contact with your case handler throughout the case
• Corresponding with and reviewing information and evidence received from prosecution and courts where necessary
• Advice regarding the court process, what to expect and the sentencing options available to the court
• Taking statements from, and examination of witnesses if necessary
• We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow up queries you have
• Detailed guidance on what character references should address
• Representation at court
• Advice and assistance regarding result and what happens after the hearing/conclusion of the case