WILLS AND PROBATE
The flat rate for a simple Will is from £300 plus VAT @ 20% (plus Optional Certainty Registration with the National Wills Register fee of £30 plus VAT @ 20%).
Everyone should have a Will to tell what the Testator wanted done with his/her money and property. Without a Will, disputes are much more likely to arise and be costly to resolve.
If the Will to be drafted involves Trusts then the Flat Rate will not apply. We can give an estimate for Drafting Trusts, the cost of which will depend on the complexity of the Trust Deed involved and whether Specialist Taxation advice is considered useful or necessary.
Both A.M. Strachan and M.A. Strachan have considerable experience in drafting and advising on the structure of Wills and our offices hold hundreds of attested Wills on behalf of clients in a secure repository ready for implementation in due course. The Firm is a member of the National Will Register where the records of many of the Wills we have drafted are retained. We hold Wills we have drafted since 1982, over 40 years.
A.M Strachan and M.A. Strachan are currently engaged in litigation relating to the validity of Wills drafted by others, together with Court proceedings relating to the interpretation of Will clauses, conduct of Personal Representatives and recovery/realisation of Estate Assets. These proceedings are held in specialist Probate Registry Courts. We can provide advice to persons affected by a Testator’s wishes or the use of a Personal Representative’s discretion. This is specialist legal work and we will discuss the procedures and costs involved. This Firm has conducted successfully over 50 such actions in the UK Courts.

PROBATE
The costs of our Probate Services will vary according to the complexity of the Estate. For simple matters our fees begin at £2,500 plus VAT @ 20% and disbursements.
We will provide you with the advice of an experienced solicitor throughout the matter, including: providing initial advice; checking the validity of the Will: contacting the appointed Executor(s); obtaining the necessary information required to complete probate application forms; drafting the Statement of Truth of Executor; applying for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration; collecting in all Estate Assets; paying Inheritance Tax and other Estate debts and expenses and distributing the assets to the Beneficiaries.
For a Straightforward Estate, with an Estate value of up to £150,000 where there is a valid Will and which involves: one freehold or leasehold property; up to two bank accounts; no National Savings or Shares held; no liabilities to be discharged and up to four beneficiaries, our fees start at £2,500 plus VAT @ 20% and disbursements.
For a High Value, with a value up to £1.5 million involving: freehold or leasehold properties; bank accounts; National Savings investments, shares and/or insurance policies to be realised; Inheritance Tax to be paid and up to 6 beneficiaries our fees will be based upon hourly rates for the work done but 2% of the estate value would be a fair estimate.
We regularly deal with Estates where the value exceeds one million pounds but please note that it can be just as time consuming to deal with an Estate of one hundred thousand pounds. It all depends on the terms of the Testator’s Will or if the number of potential beneficiaries or if there is no Will and a Grant of Administration needs to be obtained.

Disbursements
Disbursements payable by an Estate are likely to include:-
- Probate Court Fees (currently) £300 for an Estate valued at over £5,000
- Oath Fees £5.00 to £7.00 per Executor
- National Will Register Search (if necessary) from £105 plus VAT @ 20%
- Legal Notices (if necessary) from £200 plus VAT @ 20% if appropriate
- Bankruptcy Searches £2.00 per person searched
- Land Registry Search Fees £3.00
- Probate Administration Certificate £150 each

EXCLUSIONS
Costs indicated do not include:-
- Clearing Personal Items or Property
- Valuations of Estate Assets which may involve 3rd Party Expert Appraisals
- Dealing with the Transfer to Beneficiaries or Sale of any Estate Freehold or Leasehold Property
- Tracing and Genealogical Enquiries
- Tax Advice
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Tel: 02077290003
Email: [email protected]
AM Strachan & Co, Hourly Rates
Please see individual Legal Service Pages for further explanation and cost details. However, for your reference our hourly are set out below:-
- Principal £400.00 to £475.00 per hour plus VAT @ 20%
- Senior Solicitor £300.00 to £375.00 per hour plus VAT @ 20%
- Consultant Solicitor/Solicitor £275.00 to £325.00 per hour plus VAT @ 20%
- Litigation Executives £250.00 to £300.00 per hour plus VAT @ 20%
- Trainee Solicitor/Paralegal £170.00 to £250.00 per hour plus VAT @ 20%
These rates accord with the Guidance of The Senior Courts Office
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