WHAT YOUR PROBATE QUOTE INCLUDES
 

We offer fixed fees for obtaining a Grant of Probate and winding up the Estate and these fixed fees vary depending upon the size of the Estate, the amount of work which needs to be done and the length of time it takes to complete all matters in relation to the Estate.

Disbursements are payable and these could include:

• Probate court fee  
• Swearing of the oath (per executor).
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches
• Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
• Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims. 

Our Probate Department covers all aspects of dealing with a person’s assets after they have died, as well as assistance with probate and inheritance tax matters.  At all times we seek to provide help after somebody dies.

Personal Representatives are the people named in the Will to act as the Executors, or the “next of kin” of somebody who has left no Will.  Being a personal representative has heavy responsibilities and can be legally difficult.  This is quite apart from the fact that after the loss of someone close to you, dealing with these matters may prove personally distressing.  With this in mind we can relieve you of the burden of “getting probate” to help you to ensure that the wishes of the deceased person are followed.  We can give advice on all aspects of winding up a deceased person’s estate including selling the house or transferring it to the persons entitled.

Dealing with a deceased person’s tax can be complicated and is often a specialist’s job.  We can advise on the payment of Inheritance Tax and deal with the Income Tax affairs of a person both before death and in the period of the administration of the Estate.

We can offer professional advice to Personal Representatives so that they can be sure that they comply with their duty to all the people mentioned in the Will.

It is sometimes possible to save a considerable amount of Inheritance Tax after a person has died by means of changing the effect of the Will or intestacy.  This needs specialised advice which we are happy to provide.

As part of our fixed fee we will:

• Provide you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor to work on your matter
• Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
• Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require
• Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
• Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms 
• Draft a legal oath for you to swear
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• Obtain the Probate and securely send two copies to you
• Collect and distribute all assets in the estate 

RESIDENTIAL CONVEYANCING FEES INFORMATION
 

Row and Scott have been providing conveyancing services to Clients throughout the North East for over 35 years.

We deal with a full range of conveyancing matters for Clients including:

• Selling
• Buying
• Re-mortgaging
• Transfers of Equity.
• Right to Buy.
• Buy to Let.
• Tyneside Leases.
• Shared Equity.
• New Build

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.
Conveyancer's fees and disbursements 

• Legal fee £500.00
• Search fees (these will depend upon what searches have to be made but usually these are Local, Water, Mining Searches, Bankruptcy Search and Official Search) 
• HM Land Registry fee (this will depend upon the price of the property)
• Electronic money transfer fee £24.00 
• VAT payable £100.00
• LMS fee £12.00

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase)

This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority's website here..

How long will my house purchase take?
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between four to six weeks. 
It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first-time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take ten weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between four and six months. In such a situation additional charges would apply. 

We do not charge extra for Tyneside flat.

We do not charge extra for right to buy purchases.

We do not charge extra for drawing down the bonus on your Help to Buy ISA.

We do not charge extra for Leasehold properties but you do need to be aware that these can be more expensive as additional costs are payable to third parties, they can include

• Notice of Transfer fee and Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged). This fee is chargeable and is set out in the Lease or by the Freehold and is commonly between £75.00 - £250.00.
• Deed of Covenant fee – many leases require that you enter into a direct agreement with the freeholder or management company who are then usually entitled to charge an additional fee which can be difficult to estimate but is often between £100.00 and £300.00.
• Management Pack – the management pack is required to show that all management fees and ground rent fees are up-to-date and gives an account of what the monies received from the management company are spent on.  It is difficult to estimate but is often between £200.00 - £300.00.
• Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as this can range between £100.00 - £200.00.

These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.

You should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.
Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include: 

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed
• Receive and advise on contract documents
• Carry out searches
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
• Complete purchase
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Our fee assumes that: 

a. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
b. this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease
c. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
d. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
e. no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

If additional features of your property dealings appear to be of a more complex nature then your case will be handled by our Mr Richard Scott who is the Head of our Conveyancing Department.  The work undertaken here is likely to attract an additional fee in the region of £150.00 to £200.00 plus VAT.

Row and Scott Limited are a multi-specialist property law firm and provide a complete service for all your property dealings.