Prices of Legal Services Survey: Wills, Trusts and Probate Scenarios

For the purposes of each of these scenarios, to keep things simple, please provide your estimate taking account of the following:

Please assume that all information necessary to provide an estimate of costs is included in the scenario. There will be no other complicating factors such as overseas properties, urgency or advice/assistance required over and above your standard service.
Please include any firm administrative charges (e.g. postage, photocopying and telephone calls).
But exclude any other disbursements (if there are any).
Please also exclude VAT.

Scenario 1: an individual standard will

I would like you to think about:

A new client who is married and has 2 adult children with her husband
This is her (and her husband’s) first marriage and she has no other children
The beneficiaries of the will would be her husband and if he predeceases then it would be her 2 children in equal shares
The executor of the will would be one of their children
She has a total estate valued at £310,000 (made up predominantly from a single property)
In terms of any specific gifts there are some but not complicated – just a car, technology, jewellery to be given to family members
The client will arrange for the execution and safekeeping of the will

Please also assume that:

There are no other complicating factors – for example no overseas property and no appointment of legal guardian
The client will arrange for witnessing of the will (although the solicitor should explain rules for witnessing)
No related tax advice is required
No probate services are required
The will is not required urgently
Brief and standard instructions are to be contained in the will for the funeral and funeral expenses

Please can you also:

Include any firm administrative charges (e.g. postage, photocopying and telephone calls)
But exclude any other disbursements (if there are any)
Please also exclude VAT

I would like you to think about:

A new client who is married with 2 dependent children from his current marriage
He has been married before, which ended in divorce
He has one adult child from his previous marriage
The beneficiaries of the will would be his wife and if she predeceases then it would be his 2 children from his current marriage and other child from his first marriage in equal shares.
The executor of the will would be a family friend
He has a total estate valued at £310,000 including 3 pension funds (from 3 different employers)
In terms of any specific gifts there are some but not complicated – just a car, technology, jewellery to be given to family members and a charity donation
The client would like to include arrangements for the legal guardian of his 2 dependent children, if his wife predeceases
The client will arrange for the execution and safekeeping of the will

Please also assume that:

There are no other complicating factors – for example no overseas property
The client will arrange for witnessing of the will (although the solicitor should explain rules for witnessing)
The client needs basic advice on how to instruct his pension providers but you will not need to contact his pension providers directly
No related tax advice is required
No probate services are required
The will is not required urgently
Brief and standard instructions are to be contained in the will for the funeral and funeral expenses

Please can you also:

Include any firm administrative charges (e.g. postage, photocopying and telephone calls)
But exclude any other disbursements (if there are any)
Please also exclude VAT

I would like you to think about:

A single man aged 67 who has recently retired
He wishes to appoint his younger brother who is aged 55 as attorney for his property and financial affairs only
He is confident and has a good idea of what he wants but he would like some basic advice from a legal professional to help assess his needs, explain his options and prepare the form
He requires you to register the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
He has no ongoing medical conditions
In terms of the client’s financial circumstances, he owns a property outright (valued at £285,000), has a modest income from a basic state pension and employer pension, some savings and no investments or shares
Please include in your cost your time for registering the form with the Office of the Public Guardian, but exclude the registration fee

Please assume that:

There are no other reasons why this has to be progressed urgently
The client has an up to date will
The client has never married and has no current relationship. He has one brother and there are no family disputes.
The client wishes to name his nephew as a replacement attorney
The attorney should make decisions upon registration of the LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian (the recommended standard option requiring the consent of the donor before decisions are taken)
Assume that the client is not eligible for means testing for funding of the LPA registration fee
There is no existing Power of Attorney arrangement
The client needs basic advice on how to instruct his pension providers but you will not need to contact his pension providers directly

Please can you also:

Include any firm administrative charges (e.g. postage, photocopying and telephone calls)
But exclude any other disbursements (if there are any)
Please also exclude VAT

I would like you to think about:

A new client
Her mother has recently died and she would like assistance to obtain a Grant of Probate
Her mother was a widow, so the last surviving parent
You will complete and register the probate form with the Probate Court
You will not need to administer the estate
There is a valid and non-contested will, and the daughter is named as the sole executor in the will
The total value of the estate is £310,000 and includes a residential property, cash and securities

Please also assume that:

There are no other complicating factors
Include any firm administrative charges (e.g. postage, photocopying and telephone calls)
But exclude any other disbursements (if there are any)
Please also exclude VAT

I would like you to think about:

A new client
Her mother has recently died. Her mother was a widow, so the last surviving parent
There is already a Grant of Probate
There is a valid and non-contested will and the daughter has been named sole executor in the will
The total value of the estate is £310,000 and includes a residential property, cash and securities
She would like assistance administering the estate. She is likely to require the following services:
Finalising income tax affairs and pensions
Collecting in the estate from banks & building societies
Selling assets
Paying money due to beneficiaries
Making any gifts of items to beneficiaries
Preparing accounts for the estate
Conveyancing services are not required to sell the property

Please also assume that:

The probate service was not pre-arranged i.e. not via a will
All beneficiaries are named and traceable
There are no other children
There is no inheritance tax due (as under the £325,000 threshold)
There is no family trust required and no younger beneficiaries (no children under 18)
There are no other complicating factors – such as owning a business, insufficient estate to meet all legacies, insolvent estate and the property is not agricultural

Please can you also:

Include any firm administrative charges (e.g. postage, photocopying and telephone calls)
But exclude any other disbursements (if there are any)
Please also exclude VAT