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Fixed Price Probate Specialist

valueman1
Posts: 138 Forumite

Can anyone recommend a fixed price probate specialist? Ideally someone you have used personally? I’ve no idea if they would need to be solicitors or accountants?
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valueman1 said:Can anyone recommend a fixed price probate specialist? Ideally someone you have used personally? I’ve no idea if they would need to be solicitors or accountants?
What exactly do you need them to do? The fact you don't know if you need an accountant or a lawyer makes it a bit difficult to see what you are expecting, since probate is normally very much the province of lawyers. A STEP-qualified solicitor, or one who specialises in contentious probate, would normally be the recommendation, but I'm not sure that's what you are driving at here?Googling on your question might have been both quicker and easier, if you're only after simple facts rather than opinions!0 -
The estate value is high so I was trying to avoid a % based fee. Cordis Probate have a complex probate fixed fee of £1,080 for example. Co-op need more information before they quote so I suspect it will be linked to value of estates but I don’t know.0
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valueman1 said:The estate value is high so I was trying to avoid a % based fee. Cordis Probate have a complex probate fixed fee of £1,080 for example. Co-op need more information before they quote so I suspect it will be linked to value of estates but I don’t know.1
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naedanger said:valueman1 said:The estate value is high so I was trying to avoid a % based fee. Cordis Probate have a complex probate fixed fee of £1,080 for example. Co-op need more information before they quote so I suspect it will be linked to value of estates but I don’t know.
This is probably helpful reading: https://www.which.co.uk/money/wills-and-probate/probate/probate-solicitors-a4p4b0d2yu4gGoogling on your question might have been both quicker and easier, if you're only after simple facts rather than opinions!1 -
much of the probate application work is data gathering and if you decide to employ someone to do the application they will still expect you to do loads of the work ie running around finding everything that is needed. They will also take a lot longer than if you do it yourself. If it is very complex then certainly make sure you know what you want them to do - this mainly falls into 2 parts
1) applying for the probate and collecting the data
2) all of (1) + administering the estate ie acting as executor
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I remember fairwill doing fixed price probate application or a fixed full estate administration, and thought the charges were reasonable.
A quick look on their website, probate from 595, and full estate administration from 1500, as always depending on complexity0 -
@naedanger I would do the data gathering myself and appreciate there will be a lot of work.0
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You say the value of the estate is high, but is it complicated?
Have you downloaded and read through the IHT forms?
Is it the process you want to pass to someone, or the time, or both?How's it going, AKA, Nutwatch? - 12 month spends to date = 2.98% of current retirement "pot" (as at end April 2025)0 -
@crikaus @Flugelhorn @Marcon is it possible for a layman to administer the estate, the main issue will be the sale of the former flat, from which half proceeds to go to my step siblings. I assume I will need their approval of the estate agent and put their names on the contract and before I can accept an offer? Then there are the costs of the flat pending sale, £2,500 per quarter service charge, utilities etc. Probably easiest if I pay and get them to repay me from proceeds of sale?0
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It is perfectly possible for a layman to administer the estate.
If you are sole executor you have full responsibility for administering the estate. Only the executor(s) named on the Grant of Probate would be involved in the sale of the flat. Although you may choose to involve beneficiaries in the process, it's not necessary. You will need to obtain a valuation of the property before applying for probate. Then you will need to gather in any cash sitting in bank accounts - that will need to be placed in an executors account (or, an account opened solely for that purpose) and can pay any ongoing expenses as they arise. It's not over-complicated, just time consuming.#2 Saving for Christmas 2024 - £1 a day challenge. £325 of £3661
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