Private Client Costs Guide September 2026
[Updated 25.08.2026]
We believe in being straightforward about costs. Before you commit to anything, you'll always know what you're likely to pay and what's included. If your situation turns out to be more complex than expected, we'll tell you that before we go any further.
The fees below are intended to give you a clear starting point. Where we've given a range, we'll provide a more precise estimate once we've had a chance to understand your specific circumstances.
All fees are shown with the base cost, VAT at 20%, and the total you'll pay. Disbursements (costs we pay on your behalf to third parties) are listed separately where they apply.
| Work Done | Base | VAT | Disbs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPAs) | ||||
| Unregistered (To Register) | £450.00 | £90.00 | £92.00 | £632.00 |
| 1 x LPA | £395.00 | £79.00 | £92.00 | £566.00 |
| 2 x LPA | £750.00 | £150.00 | £184.00 | £1,084.00 |
| 4 x LPA | £1,200.00 | £240.00 | £368.00 | £1,808.00 |
| EPA Reg (Before 2007) | £1000 - £2000 | £200 - £400 | £92.00 | £1282 - £2482 |
| Deputyship (COP) - Price From | £3,000.00 | £600.00 | £421.00 | £4,021.00 |
| Wills (Additional Trusts Quoted by FE) | ||||
| Simple (Single Will) | £595.00 | £119.00 | £7.00 | £722.40 |
| Simple Mirror (Couple) | £750.00 | £150.00 | £7.00 | £908.40 |
| Life Interest Trust (Single) | £950.00 | £190.00 | £7.00 | £1,148.40 |
| Life Interest Trust (Couple) | £1,350.00 | £270.00 | £7.00 | £1,628.40 |
| Discretionary Trust (Single) - From | £1,800.00 | £360.00 | £7.00 | £2,168.40 |
| Discretionary Trust (Couple) - From | £2,750.00 | £550.00 | £7.00 | £3,308.40 |
| Letters of Wishes/Codicils | To be quoted by FE - Hourly rate | |||
| IPFDA (Non-Provision) Letter | To be quoted by FE - Hourly rate | |||
| Probate | ||||
| Grant Only - Price From. FE to quote during initial meeting charged hourly | £1850 to £2450 | £370 to £490 | £526 (1 OCE) | £2746 to £3466 |
| Full Administration | To be quoted by FE - Hourly Rate | |||
| General Advice (Misc) | ||||
| Eg Care fees, IHT advice, Trusts | FE Hourly rate. First appt 1hr + additional work at HR | |||
| Conveyancing Work (Estimate Only - Conveyancing Must Quote) | ||||
| Severance of JT to TIC | £250.00 | £50.00 | - | £300.00 |
| TIC to JT | £500.00 | £100.00 | - | £600.00 |
| Trusts or Deeds | ||||
| Declaration of Trust | To be quoted by FE - Hourly rate | |||
| Deed of Variation | To be quoted by FE - Hourly rate | |||
| Deed of Retirement and Appt (DORAT) | £750-£900 | £150-£180 | - | £900-£1080 |
| Admin - Disbursements | ||||
| TT Fee (From £50k or overseas) | £35.00 | £7.00 | - | £42.00 |
| Office Copies (OCEs) | £7.00 | £1.40 | - | £8.40 |
| Bankruptcy Search | £6.00 | £1.20 | - | £7.20 |
| Estatesearch | ||||
| Overseas Bankruptcy Searches | From £50 + VAT | |||
| s27 Notice (Both Types) | In the region of £220 including VAT | |||
| Vehicle Valuations | £10.00 | £2.00 | - | £12.00 |
| Share Valuations | £10.00 | £2.00 | - | £12.00 |
| Will Search Plus | £104.00 | £20.80 | - | £124.80 |
| Financial Profile Standard | £165.00 | £33.00 | - | £198.00 |
| Financial Profile Premium inc Digital | £210.00 | £42.00 | - | £252.00 |
| Hourly Rates - Role | Base | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partners: Susannah | £400.00 | £80.00 | £480.00 |
| Associate Solicitors: | £335.00 | £67.00 | £402.00 |
| CILEX: Cathy | £290.00 | £58.00 | £348.00 |
| Solicitor: Georgia | £270.00 | £54.00 | £324.00 |
| Trainee Solicitor, Paralegal: Luke | £200.00 | £40.00 | £240.00 |
| Assistants & App. PL: Debbie, Charlotte and Beatrix | £110.00 | £22.00 | £132.00 |
Wills
These fees cover an initial consultation, preparation of your will, and a final review appointment to sign. If your circumstances are more complex (for example, if your estate involves business assets, multiple properties or detailed inheritance tax planning), we'll discuss a tailored fee with you before any work begins.
Trust wills and more complex arrangements will be quoted individually by your fee earner. Discretionary trust fees shown are a starting point; the final figure will depend on the complexity of your instructions.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Our fees cover advising you on the process, preparing the documents and guiding you through the registration process with the Office of the Public Guardian. The disbursements shown include the OPG registration fee.
EPA registration costs vary depending on the complexity of the document and any difficulties that arise. Deputyship applications are priced from the figure shown; your fee earner will give you a more precise estimate once they understand the full picture.
Trusts and Deeds
The fees above cover the most commonly requested trust and deed work. Where a matter requires more detailed advice or drafting, your fee earner will provide a quote before any work begins.
Declarations of trust and deeds of variation can vary significantly in complexity. Your fee earner will discuss the scope of work with you and give you a written estimate before they proceed.
Probate and Estate Administration
We offer two levels of service depending on how much help you need. Some families prefer to handle the administration themselves and just need us to obtain the grant; others want us to take care of everything from start to finish. Either way, we'll be clear about costs before any work begins.
Grant of Representation only
If you need help obtaining a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration but wish to handle the administration of the estate yourself, we can take care of this stage for you.
Costs depend on the size and nature of the estate, whether inheritance tax is payable and the number of assets involved. The figures above include one sealed office copy of the grant, which you will typically need to deal with banks, institutions and property matters.
Full estate administration
If you'd like us to manage the full administration of the estate following the grant, our fees are calculated based on the time spent and the complexity of the work involved. We will provide you with a written estimate at the outset and keep you updated if anything changes the likely cost.
The following factors typically affect the overall cost:
- The total value of the estate
- The number and type of assets (for example, property, investments, business interests)
- Whether inheritance tax is payable and the complexity of any tax reporting required
- The number of beneficiaries and whether any are difficult to locate
- Whether any assets need to be sold
- Whether there are any disputes or complications
Full administration is charged at our standard hourly rates (see above). Your fee earner will give you a realistic estimate at your first meeting and will update you if the scope of the work changes.
General Advice
Advice for trustees, attorneys, executors and beneficiaries is charged at an hourly rate, as the nature and complexity of the work varies considerably. The first appointment is typically charged at one to two hours' time, with any further work charged at the applicable hourly rate.
We're happy to give you an estimate of likely costs once we understand what you need. Many queries can be dealt with in a single appointment; others may require ongoing support. We'll always be clear about where you stand before we proceed.
Our Hourly Rates
The rate that applies to your matter will depend on the fee earner handling your work. We'll let you know who is dealing with your matter from the outset, and you'll always have a direct way to contact them.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs we pay on your behalf to third parties. They are separate from our fees and are passed on to you at cost. We'll always give you a clear breakdown of likely disbursements before we begin any work.
Additional disbursements may apply depending on your circumstances, for example Land Registry fees for property transfers, specialist valuations, or property searches. We'll confirm all applicable disbursements in writing before we proceed.
Who will handle your matter?
Your work will be handled by a qualified solicitor or experienced member of our private client team. Where appropriate, work may be supervised by a senior solicitor or partner. We'll introduce you to the person handling your matter at the outset and you'll always have a direct way to contact them.
A note on VAT
All professional fees shown are inclusive of VAT at the current rate of 20% unless otherwise stated. Some disbursements (such as Probate Registry fees and office copy entries) are exempt from VAT. We'll make clear which disbursements attract VAT when we provide your estimate.