Private client charging information

As each estate is different, we provide a personal fee estimate at the outset and keep you updated each month so you can stay in control of costs. To help reduce the fees involved, we can also suggest less complicated and time-consuming elements of the administration that you can safely handle yourself.

In order to gauge the level of support you will need and give you an accurate estimate of the overall costs, we first need to learn more about the estate and what the administration process will involve. To obtain a quotation on either an hourly or fixed fee basis, you can either complete our enquiry form or call one of our private client team for an informal discussion.

Where the deceased person:

• held up to three bank accounts with a balance of £300,000
• had no debts, other than utility bills
• left a valid will appointing executors
• left the estate to a single beneficiary where no inheritance tax is payable

Where the deceased person:

• held a property valued at £750,000 in their sole name
• held up to three bank accounts with a total balance of £200,000
• had no debts, other than utility bills
• left a valid will appointing executors
• left the estate to adult children
• incurred no inheritance tax on their estate after claiming Transferable Nil Rate and Residence Nil Rate bands

Where the deceased person:

• held a property valued at £1,500,000 in their sole name
• held up to five bank accounts with a total balance of £500,000
• held up to three managed investment portfolios worth £500,000 in total
• owned investment bonds worth £100,000
• owned certificated shares in five publicly-owned listed companies
• owned personal effects and paintings valued at £50,000
• made life time gifts to the value of £100,000
• had no debts, other than utility bills
• left a valid will appointing executors
• left the estate to adult children and grandchildren as residuary beneficiaries
• incurred inheritance tax on their estate

Where the deceased person:

• held a property valued at £3,000,000 in their sole name
• held up to five bank accounts with a total balance of £2,000,000
• held up to three managed investment portfolios worth £3,000,000
• owned personal effects and paintings valued at £400,000
• held a controlling share in family business valued at £5,000,000
• Owned a property and investments overseas valued at £1,500,000
• had no debts, other than utility bills
• left a valid will appointing executors
• left the estate to adult children and grandchildren on a discretionary trust.
• incurred inheritance tax on their estate

There are numerous factors that can increase the cost of administering an estate.

They include:

• not having all the paperwork available
• third parties not responding promptly to communications
• cases where the deceased has retained the benefit of an asset they purported to give away during their lifetime
• where significant gifts have been made or assets have been transferred into trusts that must be reported to HMRC
• HMRC compliance enquiries
• dealing with complex assets such as art, time-shares and shares in private companies
• cases where the deceased held interests in a business and claims for Business
• Property Relief for Inheritance Tax
• dealing with assets in foreign jurisdictions
• dealing with large portfolios of certificated shares