Price Guides

Our Charges

Our aim is to meet your legal needs over time and to give value for money.

We charge in one of four ways:

1.     A fixed quotation: We give you a fixed quotation at the outset which we have to stick to (usually in relation to wills, residential conveyancing or remortgages).

2.     An estimate: Where we cannot give you a fixed quotation because we don’t know how much work will be needed, we give an estimate based on our best forecast of the amount of work needed and then let you know if it becomes clear that the estimate will be exceeded.

3.     Fixed fee:  If you just need some advice, our fee for an appointment, including a letter confirming the key points of the advice after the appointment, is £300 plus VAT (20%), which is payable on the day of the appointment.  For existing clients who need advice on a minor matter over the telephone, including a letter confirming the key points, the charge is £200 plus VAT(20%). We offer a free initial appointment for family matters only.

4.     Running account: If you need to speak to us often, we use our computerised system to keep a running account and we will send you bills periodically based on an hourly rate (currently £300.00 plus VAT)

Residential Conveyancing

Our costs will take into account the value of the property being transferred, the complexity of the matter and the amount of work carried out at our usual hourly rates (currently not exceeding £300.00 plus VAT (20%) per hour). Generally speaking, you can expect costs to be within the range of £1000.00 to £3000.00 plus VAT (20%) although costs can sometimes exceed the upper limit in exceptional cases – for example where the property value is particularly high or the amount of work necessary is substantially more than is usually the case. Average costs per transaction are in the region of between £1000.00 and £1500.00 plus VAT (20%) (these average costs are for standard sales or purchases of relatively low values). Likely disbursements on a purchase will include search fees (in the region of £350.00-£400.00 including VAT (20%)), Land Registry fees (between £20.00 and £910.00 depending on the value of the property and whether or not we can register the transaction online) and bank transfer fees (up to £15.00 plus VAT (20%) per bank transfer). On a sale there will be no search fees, and Land Registry fees are usually £14.00, but can sometimes be more than this if it is necessary to obtain copy deeds as well as register entries and title plan. The services provided for the price quoted include investigating the title of the property, agreeing the forms of contract and transfer and dealing with any Land Registry or Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction Tax issues. For transactions involving leasehold property, costs are likely to be at least £500.00 plus VAT (20%) higher owing to the additional work  necessary. Similarly, for purchases involving a mortgage; or for sales involving sellers who have separated,  costs are likely to be £500.00 plus VAT(20%)  higher because of the additional work required.  Most transactions are concluded within three months but some transactions can take longer than this. It is unusual for any transaction to remain unconcluded after twelve months. Our residential conveyancing work is carried out or closely supervised by one of the partners, both of whom are solicitors with over thirty years’ post-qualification experience.

Probate/Administration of Estates

Our costs will take into account the value of the estate, the complexity of the matter and the amount of work carried out at our usual hourly rates (currently not exceeding £300.00 plus VAT (20%) per hour). Generally speaking, you can expect costs to be within the range of £1000.00 to £10,000.00 plus VAT (20%) although costs can sometimes exceed the upper limit in exceptional cases. Average costs per estate are in the region of £3000.00 plus VAT (20%). Likely disbursements will include court fees (currently £273.00 but subject to change). Our costs cover the obtaining of a Grant of Representation and all related matters such as ascertaining value of assets, liaising with HMRC including completion of necessary HMRC  forms, realisation and distribution of assets. Our costs do not include charges for conveyancing work necessary to sell property forming part of the estate. Most estates will be concluded after a period of nine months from the date of a Grant of Representation. However, where complex issues are involved, it may take two to three years to draw all matters to a conclusion. Our probate work is carried out or closely supervised by one of the partners who is a solicitor with over fifty years’ post-qualification experience, his assistant being a Chartered Legal Executive with over twenty years’ post-qualification experience.