Wills & Probate

Private Client Department: Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney & Probate

Burrell Jenkins has a small highly experienced department to handle any matter involving Wills, Lasting powers of Attorney, Probate and other Private Client matters. We will provide all the help and support required.

Wills

Preparation of Wills for single people and those in a relationship

• Receiving instructions for Wills, advising on testators duty of care, taxation or property protection concerns, care fees and trust implications.
• Discussing appointment of suitable Executors, testamentary guardians and trustees for minors.
• Advising on effects of divorce, remarriage and first death of a couple.
• Ensuring an accurate will is prepared and signed that reflects the testator’s wishes, needs and concerns.

Probate

Advising after death as to the appropriate steps to be taken regarding the deceased’s Estate

• Meeting with the next of kin /Executors of the deceased and advising on the next steps to be taken to ensure the estate is properly dealt with.
• Discussion as to the requirement of a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration and the protection and preservation of the assets.
• Advising on taxation implications.
• Advising on the contents and validity of the deceased’s will, or the effect of intestacy, and how to call in and distribute properly the deceased’s estate.
• Preparation of HMRC s and Probate Registry Forms and their lodgement. Administration of the estate post Grant, and preparation of the Estate.

Testimonials

“We went to make our Wills. Very professional”

Helen, Burntwood

Costs

Probate

Dealing with the death of a loved one is emotionally draining and difficult.  Having to then deal with the financial consequences of the death is an added burden and complication whether the loved one left a Will and regardless of the value of their assets.  If there is a Will the Executors may have to apply for a Grant of Probate which will allow them to deal with the Estate, but if there is no valid Will in existence a Grant of Letters of Administration may need to be applied for.  Burrell Jenkins offer a range of services to assist, including a complete Estate Administration service, or a service which involves obtaining the Grant only so that the Executors or Administrators can then administer the Estate according to law.

Although the nature of every Estate differs, we appreciate that an estimate from the beginning about potential fees will ensure clarity for the client.  If anything should arise that requires more work than anticipated then you would be informed and consulted at that time about extra fees, to ensure fairness and transparency.

Depending on the circumstances of the case obviously fees will differ, for instance whether Inheritance Tax is payable, whether there is a Will and whether the beneficiaries are easily located.  The following is a summary of our costs:-

Costing

1) Obtaining a Grant of Probate in the simplest state - £750 plus VAT

· Where there is no Inheritance Tax to pay

· Time factor 3 - 6 months

Factors that may incur further costs might be a Caveat discovered after initial instructions or the value of the Estate being increased due to late information being received.

2) Obtaining a Grant of Probate when IHT400 required - £1200 plus VAT

· Where there is no Inheritance Tax to pay

· Time factor 3 -12 months

Factors that may incur further costs might be a Caveat discovered after initial instructions or the value of the Estate being increased due to late information being received.

3) Obtaining a Grant of Letters of Administration - £850 plus VAT

· Where there is no Inheritance Tax to pay

· Time factor 3-6 months

Factors that may incur further costs might be locating those missing persons entitled to a share of the Estate, locating assets and having to trace creditors.

4) Obtaining a Grant of Letters of Administration when IHT400 required- £1,500 plus VAT

· Where there is no Inheritance Tax to pay

· Time factor 3-12 months

Factors that may incur further costs might be locating those missing persons entitled to a share of the Estate, locating assets and having to trace creditors.

5) Administration of an Estate with a Will - £1,500 plus VAT to 2% of the gross Estate whichever is the greater

· Whether or not Inheritance tax is due

· Time factor 6 -18 months

Factors that may incur further costs might be searching for assets or beneficiaries, or creditors having to instruct an outside agency and sale of assets.

6)  Administration of an Estate without a Will - £1,500 to 2% of the Gross Estate whichever is the greater

· Whether or not Inheritance tax is due

· Time factor 6 -18 months

Factors that may incur further costs might be searching for assets or beneficiaries, or creditors having to instruct an outside agency and sale of assets.

  7) Burrell Jenkins are appointed Executors and administer the Estate – £2,500 to 2% of the Gross Estate whichever is the greater

· Time factor 6 -18  months but factors such as simplicity of the Estate, availability of evidence of next of kin, assets and debts may impact on the time estimate.

Please note that it can be difficult to fully ascertain the work required in administrating an estate and further complexities or disputes between Executors or beneficiaries inevitably risk increased costs, full notice of any increased costs would be provided in writing if and when such problems incur.

New:  Estate Planning Chat - £250 + VAT  x 1 hour 

This will involve a discussion with our team where we will discuss Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, your Estate and if necessary, a discussion around Inheritance Tax and whether it will be applicable to your estate. Following our meeting a letter of advice will be sent summarising our meeting and the advice we have given.

Disbursements

The following are usually incurred during the course of an application to the Court regarding an Estate:-

Application fee - £300 plus £16.00 per copy of the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration.

Bankruptcy Searches - £6.00 per search

Veriphy Identity Checks on Executors - £20 + VAT per person

Faster Payment or TT Fee of £35 + VAT

Lasting Powers of Attorney 

Lasting Powers of Attorney grant an individual the legal authority to represent or act on another’s behalf even in the case of the loss of mental capacity and must be set up before that occurs.  Once a person has lost capacity then it is too late to sign a Lasting Power of Attorney and only a Deputyship is possible.  Deputyship is expensive and far more complicated.  There are two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney, Health and Welfare or Property and Finance.  They are separate documents but the same Attorneys can act for the Donor of the Power.

Costing

Our costs for drawing up a single Lasting Power of Attorney including taking initial instructions from the Donor, drawing up the document for approval, supervising the proper execution of the same, acting as Certificate Provider following the capacity of the Donor, obtaining the signatures of the Attorneys and filing the same for registration - £500 plus VAT in total.

Please note if both types of Lasting Power of Attorney are requested then the costs are

£750 + VAT in total.

If a couple wish to have both types of lasting powers of attorney then our fee is £850 + VAT for four LPA’s.

Disbursements

A registration fee of £92 per application is payable.

Veriphy Identity fee - £20 + VAT

Please contact us for full details with regard to the registration fee, ability to obtain remission or exemption from paying that fee and the cost of visits at home if the donor’s ability is impaired.

Will Service

Simple Wills - £200 + VAT

Life Interest Wills - £300 + VAT

Codicil - £120 + VAT

In addition our firm are members of the Cancer Research Will Writing Service  and National Free Wills Scheme please call our office for further information on this.

 

NEW Offer - Wills and LPA's for a couple  

•  £1000 + VAT + Disbursements        Saving £250

New Offer - Life Interest Trust Wills and LPA's ffor a couple 

                   £1350 + VAT + Disbursements     Saving £200

Additional Types of Work

Change of Name Deed - Our costs for a Change of Name deed is £150 + VAT

Deed of Variation - Our costs for a simple Deed of Variation start from £400 + VAT. 

Certification of documents - Our cost to certify a documents as a true copy of an original is £25 per certification.

Statutory declaration - Our cost to certify a Statutory declaration is £5.00

Type 1 ID Verification – Our cost to verify identity is £50.00

Discounts

A 10% discount will be applied to Emergency Service Members and Members of the Armed Forces please produce a valid MOD90 or other form of ID at the initial appointment.