Costs and Charges


Your Protection
From 6 December 2018, the SRA regulator requires all Solicitors practices to publish the basis of their costs, the prices and certain services information across some of the areas of work in which we accept instructions. That extends to the basis of their costs. Most work undertaken for clients involves additional disbursement costs payable to others depending on the nature of the tasks being achieved (disbursements). We will usually ask for those disbursements payable in advance.

Regulatory Regime
Rightly and for your protection, like all law firms, we operate willingly in a fully regulated, policed and audited environment. Our regulator is the Solicitors Regulatory Authority the “SRA”.

Under that regulation we must:

  1. Operate within the SRA Code of Conduct
  2. Hold all client funds within a “client account”. It is not our money. Nor can we use another client’s money in that account while another client’s funds are cleared
  3. Only operate holding valid specialist indemnity policy insurance approved by the SRA from one of the few authorized providers
  4. Ensure all our staff are supervised and have appropriate training for their tasks and level of experience
  5. Hold sufficient reserves to preserve the integrity of the profession and protect each client
  6. Have our accounts and our files audited at least once a year
  7. Comply with the expectations of the Legal Services Ombudsman
  8. Maintain computer defenses from Cyber attack within our systems
  9. In addition, we maintain an approved control and management standard approved by the Law Society called Lexcel.

These regulatory costs are all part of our ultimate charging rate. They are not individually listed in our charges.

Compliance Checks and Charges
We are required by law with each transaction or matter from the start to undertake “Compliance”. From Money Laundering and beyond.  As a gesture of intent, we make in each case a Compliance Charge of £100 plus vat. For the corporate client £150 plus vat. This covers electronic identification and verification.

Payments to other “Disbursements”
For most of the work we undertake for clients there are fees and charges payable to others. They include Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) calculated according to the transaction. You can check the amount likely for your matter through https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calulate-stamp-duty-land

For the Land Registry fees the link is https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees

The Courts Service requires payments on issue and gradually through a case. These are determined by the level of court and application costs. We will help you with finding these, but a start is at “Court and Tribunal fees” www.gov.uk

Probate Fees can be explained at www.gov.uk “Applying for probate”

Inheritance Tax see “How inheritance tax works” www.gov.uk

Companies House Fees are explained and the links found through “Guidance Companies House fees” www.gov.uk

For those needing the use of an independent expert or a Barrister incurring those costs, we will ask for payment in advance so that we can deliver payment to them for you.

If we are asked to provide for the client an undertaking to pay, then we ask for funds from the client to enable us to honour that undertaking when the time arrives.

Additional and Abortive
We charge a fee of £320 plus VAT if a preliminary consultation is required or a preliminary meeting. We do not participate in beauty contests. That fee is taken into account if it develops into a retainer.

Our standard terms all contain our hourly rates and basis of charge based on fractions of a working hour or hours. Our estimate is based upon the information we have obtained from the client at the outset. With some work or circumstances, the work or our tasks change. When this happens, we may have to increase our charges.  If a court case falls short, we will charge the time spent not the estimated fee. If a transaction aborts, then we will charge on a time basis up to the point we are informed to stop.

Personal Information
We operate as a bespoke practice operating within three areas of exceptional experience. Utilising external assistance is explained before to the client.  Currently through:

David Hasall LLM, MSc, Qualified Arbitrator Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association. Qualified as a solicitor in 1980. Transferring to the Bar in 2011. His hourly rate is £350 plus VAT which he discounts when supervising Wills and Probate to £315 plus VAT.

Karen Harrison Paralegal with over 10 years’ experience £150 plus VAT.

Kate Lee Probate and Estate Manager £150 plus VAT.

If circumstances leave us with no other safe course of proceedings, for example, there is a time date which cannot be broken or a court date where we have to place you in a priority or after-hours list, we have the discretion to charge a higher rate.

Our rates are reviewed on the 1 April each year.  Last review 2025.

Average Charging Policy
Our charges and the seniority of the person undertaking the work for the individual tasks is internally calculated, so the estimate is based on an average rate for the tasks being undertaken. Not a senior rate all through.

Your Personal Information
Remains yours and cannot be released without your express consent. We operate applying the SRA Data Protection Policy. We are kept protected as far as we can using Cyber Defences within our systems.  Increasingly updated defences.

Land Law Domestic Conveyancing
Can be divided between (a) residential conveyancing (b) commercial conveyancing (c) for each either freehold or leasehold (d) contentious business.

Leasehold conveyancing takes more time whatever the sale price or value being paid. This is because the usual and fair expectation is to go back behind the leasehold to look at the freehold from which it was derived. There is then often a Management Company which will make charges and often requires separate paperwork.

There is a difference in the use of forms and procedures between residential and commercial conveyancing. Commercial forms being the longest and most time consuming.

Some might require the need for a mortgage with additional levels of care and cost.

We operate our charging structure based upon a willingness to help the starter investor. Though our base line based upon our time and care needed is £1.5% of value plus VAT and disbursements.

Residential Property
Minimum fee £1,250 plus VAT and disbursements with a Minimum fee charge of £1,750 plus VAT for leaseholds

£0 to £250,000 : £1,250 – £1,750 plus VAT

£250,001 to £500,000 : from £1,750 plus VAT and disbursements to £2,000 – £2,500 plus VAT and disbursements

£500,001 to £750,000 : £2,500 plus VAT and disbursement to £3,000 plus VAT and disbursements

£750,001 to £1,000,000 : £3,000 plus VAT and disbursements to £3,500 plus VAT and disbursements

£1,000,000 to £1,500,000 : a minimum of £3,500 – £4,000 plus VAT to be negotiated

Leaseholds: Please add to the above £500 plus VAT

Disbursements
Please add for:

Leasehold : £400 plus VAT and disbursements

Leasehold Notices of Assignment : £350 plus VAT

CHAPS : £47 plus VAT

Management Companies : Each are different, but each will have separate enquiries and management packs. Charged to the seller but often passed on to the buyer.

Stamp Duty : Payable to HMRC. We charge £70 plus VAT for the SDLT forms and submission

Land Registry Fees : The cost of registration is covered as above but the fee is payable as a disbursement.  Amounts set out on the Land Registry website (details above)

Land Registry OS1 : £7.  OS2 : £7. SIM if unregistered : £8 and Official Copies : £7 per document

Bankruptcy Search : £6 each

Lawyer Checker : £21.60 plus VAT

Search Fees (Local, Environmental and Water & Drainage) – an average of £350

Please Note That:
We provide costs estimates based upon the information received on original instructions. On the assumptions:

  • It is a standard residential conveyancing transaction with no unforeseen matters
  • If leasehold, there is to be an assignment of an existing lease and is not a new grant
  • The transaction is concluded by both sides in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise
  • All parties co operate and there is no unreasonable delay from one party or a third party
  • There are no discovered potential defects in the title or contract
  • No mortgage

Services Include
Opening a file. Money Laundering and Law Checker. All attendances and correspondence with you. Dealing with the Estate Agent. If selling, obtaining your official copies, sending for your approval Fixtures and Fittings, Pre-Contract enquiries and draft Contracts to send out. For a purchaser, we start on receiving instructions when we start the money laundering and lawyer checker. Searching against the seller, the legal title and undertaking all expected searches against the property. That does not include, as we are not qualified to do this, the physical condition of the property. Raising additional enquiries and undertaking Due Diligence. Reporting to you on the title. Exchange if agreed, final searches. Preparing the Transfer and obtaining your approval of it. Completing. We will, as an additional charge, prepare the SDLT form. Included in the charge is your Land Registry application. Reporting on completion.

Time Frames
We will be one side of at least a two sided transaction and will be dependant on the time frames provided by the Local Authority for searches etc. As a rule, it is safe with a favourable wind to exchange in four weeks and complete within a further four weeks. Though some can be achieved much sooner.

Commercial Conveyancing
Takes more time and this is reflected in our charges. Please call us. But as a general rule our fee will be from £4K plus vat and the additional disbursements as incurred. Rising.

Wills and Probate

Preliminaries
Many of our clients are searching for ideas or clarification of their legal needs before proceeding with instructions. We have a duty of care to listen and record our preliminary advice. We practice within an area where home prices are relatively high. Many clients will have complex investment holdings and so need a preliminary appointment. We charge a consultation fee for first meeting of £300 plus VAT payable in the reception, if not before. If we go further, then that fee will be considered in our final bill.

Simple Short Wills: We do offer that service though often a preliminary consultation makes it clear a more detailed Will is advisable. You get the same degree of care and skill.

Single Simple : £360 plus VAT

Double Mirror Wills : £600 plus VAT

Beyond Simple; With a wide client range there can be many deviations and routes to take, starting with Succession and ending with considerations of IHT and calculations. This might and probably will consider:

  1. The appropriate will platform for you and/or you for your family
  2. A review of your existing LPA’s and their effectiveness
  3. Your land holdings and whether as tenancy in common, joint tenant, as part of a shareholding, or partnership in a SIPP or not
  4. The availability of BPR and APR
  5. Making use of the 7-year rule if wanted
  6. Succession planning and other lifetime gifts
  7. Lifetime Trusts or Trusts operating from death
  8. Differing executors or trustees for differing assets
  9. Assets beyond UK jurisdiction
  10. The corporate shareholder

Our initial discussion will act as a trigger event in many cases. The true and fair likely fee only possible to agree after that meeting. For the slightly more complex Will with a death Will Trust : £550 plus VAT and mirror £750 plus VAT.

For the businessman or farmer with allowance from £2,500 plus VAT to £5,000 plus VAT.

Family Arrangements/Post Death Will Variations

When considering the need for a Variation, we need to consider the affected beneficiaries. It is their right to vary, not the Executors usually. £3,000 plus VAT. £1,500 plus VAT and court costs for any necessary application to the Court for a court approval to £3,000 plus VAT if a court attendance is required.

Creating a Trust or Family Investment Company/LLP

Clients have differing needs and wishes with differing preferences. For the Company we need to incorporate the Company Formation Firm we use as you cannot just use an off the peg.

£1,500 plus VAT for a simple Trust

£1,500 to £3,500 plus VAT for the more complex

£2,500 to £3,500 plus VAT and the formation fees usually around £500 plus VAT.

For the Family Investment Company, we will have the initial company formation and companies act charges to pay for you. It is rare for a standard company to work as intended for the individual clients wishes. We, therefore, often make changes in the Articles to accommodate the clients wishes. A Trust within a Company, perhaps with a number of different share categories with different rights, so they start at £5,000 plus VAT and the company agents charges.

Flexible Life Interest Trust/ Revocable Interest in Possession Trusts: £4,500 plus VAT for one, for the couple, excluding any Land Registry applications and Land Registry Fees, £6,500 plus VAT.

The Discretionary Trust: From £2,500 plus VAT including registration of the Trust.

Writing Life Policy in Trust: £1,800 plus VAT.

The Estate, Probate and Administration
In practice no family is the same. No estate is the same. Many time periods are dependent on the time required by HMRC and/or the Probate Registry.

We offer a three-stage costing solution along the way.

Simple Probate; One Will. Identified Executors and Beneficiaries. No IHT and so simple IHT 400 or no form at all. A maximum of five named beneficiaries. No more than five bank or savings accounts. No expected challenge against the Will or inter beneficiary dispute.  House sale calculated separately. No registerable trust to register : £2,500 plus VAT to £3,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

Additions: There can be complications which those instructing us never anticipated which requires more time and attention. These can range from the private investments no one was aware of. The considerable shareholding or trust. The holdings outside the jurisdiction and the need for a Deed of Family Arrangement. These and similar events are not included within our estimate and will be charged separately.

Obtaining Grant with IHT 400; So, contract ends on Grant £4,500 plus VAT. For the businessman or farmer requiring full IHT400 : £5,000 plus VAT and disbursements. Stopping on Grant.

Full Service: Anticipates we will also act on the sale of any property after Grant and so have control of monies in and how to pay any deceased debts, IHT and legacies. The conveyancing charged separately. Our Full Service anticipates that we will be instructed to sell the property under our separate retainer. This enables us to ensure we can prepare the final Estate Account after paying all IHT correctly. If not instructed on the sale, then we will charge the Gross Pre-Tax Value.  The same charge as Obtaining Grant with IHT plus time to call in assets, distribute under the Will terms and obtain a clearance from HMRC at the end.

Directors time charge at £315 an hour plus VAT = £4,725 to £7,000 plus VAT

Assistants at £150 plus VAT x 25 hours = £3,750 plus VAT.

Gross Pre-Tax Value: In addition to the above and like many solicitors practices, we can charge by reference to the gross pre-tax value of the estate and such law as may be involved but to a maximum of 1.5%. That is because in many cases it is difficult with the more complicated estate how much time will be required to wind up an estate as this depends on complexity, range of assets, amount of assistance beneficiaries request dealing with changes in the believed value of assets and a probable amended tax return, but we will provide

NB: The deceased dying in harness, whether corporate or farmer, will in view of the IHT calculations and additional matters usually result on a time basis of a time charge of £2,000 plus VAT.

Tasks under the Fuller Service

  • Contacting the banks and all investment holders
  • Leasing and considering all valuations as these will be needed for the IHT 400 forms
  • Contacting the named beneficiaries in the will
  • Identifying any PET’s under 7 years free transfers, trusts created, shareholding and recent CGT attracting disposals
  • Carrying out all bankruptcy and other charges
  • Contacting all creditors and the Undertakers
  • Preparing the IHT 205 and/or the IHT400 and schedules of assets and liabilities
  • Liaising with HMRC
  • On clearance applying for Probate
  • On receipt of the Grant starting negotiations and payments out
  • After sale or transfers of property on gift (charged separately as per conveyancing estimates above)
  • Preparing draft estate accounts for approval
  • Discharge IHT or deferred tax due by the deceased or his estate
  • On obtaining approval of the accounts making the Will payments out and calling in of assets
  • Statutory Advertisements (costs of advert a disbursement)
  • Obtaining clearance from HMRC.

NB : The disbursements will include any Surveyors and valuation fees. The probate fee currently based at £300 plus £1.50 for each copy requested. Advertisement for potential creditors £200. The Stock Agents charges for the transfer of share ownership or sale.

Cost Changes: Many executors and trustees simply will not be sure of the true estate when instructing us and it is on that we base our original fee. There will be necessary cost changes where the large unknown investment portfolio is discovered. The simple old house is not the declared £500,000 but in fact worth £1,000,000. There are multiple shareholdings. Gifts made within 7 years. Unrecognised debts. Outstanding tax liabilities. A company owned by a sole director to administer. Each will need additional attention and will be in addition to our original estimate.

Time Periods
The IHT office website publishes time periods as does the Probate Registry. Each vary and within the initial period we cannot chase. On average, depending upon the time of year in the government departments, it should be around 16-24 weeks from submission of the HMRC to obtain clearance from HMRC and a Grant.  For our time we hope to get out the IHT 400 or short form within 6 weeks of instruction. The Probate application within 4 weeks of clearance from HMRC.

Lasting Powers of Attorney
There are two (a) the Property and Financial Affairs LPA and (b) Health and Welfare LPA.

Both can be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian and when instructed we advise you have both and register them immediately.

There is a fee payable to the OPG for each LPA registered. Currently £82 for one so £164 for the two in addition to our costs. For the married couple a total fee of £328 all payable to the OPG. You can either pay us where we place the money into our client account, or you pay the OPG.

We charge

£750 plus VAT to register with the £82 OPG fee

£950 plus VAT for the married couple plus the OPG of £328.

Court Work and Dispute Resolution
Over the last ten years we have undertaken successfully some of the largest criminal and civil cases within the range of work we undertake. From total loss of vessel and breaches of the Merchant Shipping Act, to truly serious criminal and civil fraud, Minority Shareholders disputes in the Higher Court, with countless sea fisheries offences in England and Wales.

If we take on a case, it is only within the defined areas in which we practice and must clear and allocate sufficient time. We prepare a team drawing in chosen support specialists in the field to assist.

Think of a hospital operating surgery, it is rare, whatever his skill, for one surgeon to undertake an operation on his own and without support.

Within civil costs, there are costs payable to the court. UsUally at 1.5% of the estimated value of the case. Then legal costs.

There are two basis of charge (a) the standard basis. There is a standard charge in each case for each task in each case allowed and (b) an indemnity or client basis which is often between 20% to 30% more payable by the client to the lawyer. Remembering that in civil cases a loser will usually be expected to pay the winners costs as well as their own.

Often cases require many more hours than even a reasonable or truthful client anticipates. In this way it is not unusual to face bills of £120,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

The basis of our charges, if we take on a case as we must set exclusive allocated time, is £350 an hour plus VAT and disbursements payable by way of prepayment as the stages of the case progress. The High Court often allows a higher figure of £450 plus VAT and we charge that amount when the circumstances require us to move immediately if in your interests or for your protection, for example, for an injunction or just before a trial.

We do not undertake every type of work. Nor take on any case if we have a full book. When we agree to act you will receive personal care with allocated time. In cases where we have punched well over our weight, we are unable to accept most magistrates, county court and any divorce cases though are happy to refer.

Commercial and Marine
Is often the biggest part of our practice and requires skills with expenses.  Each result in different charges.

With sea fisheries we operate within the entire United Kingdom as with Company work, but we cannot work for both parties on a boat sale or purchase or for both a lender and borrower.

A typical commercial boat purchase cost will start at £8,000 plus VAT and the companies house and shipping registry disbursements.

Our usual purchase is likely to involve:

  • Money Laundering and solicitor validity checking
  • Searches at Companies House and Shipping Registry
  • Due Diligence
  • Preparing/amending contract/Memorandum of Agreement
  • Company Board Meetings
  • Ships Covenant
  • MCA Bill of Sale
  • Debenture
  • Subordination Agreements
  • Registrations.

With the possible additional cost of Transfer of Licence, Dealing with HP or Retention of Title Contracts, Landing Agreements, FQA purchase, sale and lease.

For the Share purchase Agreement based upon recent transactions it is fair to start on an estimate of £10,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

The basis of our charge is £350 plus VAT and disbursements. The usual being charges at Companies House and/or the Shipping Registry the amounts for each charge clear from their websites and online.

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