Charges for Probate

[smurfchops]

My father went to the solicitor as his father has just died, to deal with the probate. He asked what the charge would be for dealing with everything to do with my grandfather's death. The solicitor's fee is 1/2% of my grandfather's property value and 1% of his other assets. My father has now had a letter from the solicitor asking for a large amount, on top of this for 'probate'. Is this correct or should the probate be incorporated in the solicitor's quote?

[factor-fiction]

sounds correct- the probate fee is charged by the probate registry . It might be worth asking for a breakdown of other disbursements which the solicitor will initially pay on behalf of the estate

[Rosetta]

smurfchops, it is possible to do Probate without using a solicitor, particularly if it is fairly straight forward.

[factor-fiction]

Correct rosetta, for reasonably straightforward probate cases you can manage without a solicitor, but it can save a lot of hassle especially where the executor is not a major beneficiary. But I think in this case smurfchops has already engaged the solicitor

[brenda]

As mentioned previously you can do this yourself if the estate is a simple one.

The probate form is simple to fill in and there are guidance notes to help.
You send the completed form,original death certificate and original will to the probate office of your choice with a fee of �96 pounds. Plus �1 for each copy of the letters of probate that you will require to send to all banks which hold . the deceased 's cash.
You will then have to attend
the office you have chosen for an interview with a legal. representative of the office.
This is not scary, they will check your ID(the guidance notes tell you what to take), they will check the form with you and go trhough the will to make sure you understand about any bequests which need to be made and that's it.
About 10 days later you will get the copies you have paid for and you can begin to sort out the will.

You do not have to be brain of Britain to do this process if the will is straight forward.But if it complicated with shares and properties then stick with the solicitor.

Just remember to take copies of everything you send, you will not get the will back ,it becomes an item of public record.
For general enquiries there is a phone no.0845 3020900
this is the probate help line.
Good luck.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, but my understanding is smurfchops's father isn't doing it himself- he has engaged a solicitor and smurfchops is asking us about the the charges

[themas]

I assume your father engaged the solicitor on those terms. Personally I would not have done so. Solicitor's fees - in my opinion - should be related to the amount of work involved and not to the value of the estate.

However, if he has been engaged, it is going to be difficult to do anything about it. But the solicitor in his engagement letter should have made it quite clear that "disbursements" (i.e. costs incurred for things such as probate fees) were in addition to the quoted fee. If this was not stated, then the charge should be queried.

[Masis]

That it is why it is better to pay fixed fees http://www.kctrust.co.uk/probate-fees