Our Prices

Our Free Advice Policy

We offer an initial consultation free of charge. Usually that consultation will be limited to half an hour; however if the matter is complex we will spend longer to establish if we can help.

After the free consultation it is a matter for you to decide whether or not you wish to instruct us. If you do we will then open a file and advise you of the likely cost of the work you ask us to undertake. At that stage we will send you a letter setting out our terms of engagement including our costs or a cost estimate if the costs are not fixed.

If we give free advice we do not open a file nor do we consider ourselves to under a professional obligation with regard to that advice. We will not undertake any work such as writing letters, contacting a third party etc.until you instruct us.

Our Charging Policy

Minimum fee:

Due our high overheads we have a minimum fee policy and that fee is £80 plus VAT. When the minimum fee applies we always ask you to pay the fee before work commences.

Fixed Fees: 

For some types of work we offer a fixed fee:

• Lasting Power of Attorney – £300 plus VAT and the court fee (people on low incomes may be eligible for fee exemption or reduction. If appropriate we can assist with a certificate provider for an extra £50 + VAT
• Family Trust (Property/Asset Protection Trust) – £725 plus VAT and disbusements
• Residential Conveyancing – We have a scale of charges and agree the price with you when we accept your instuctions. Only very rarely do we have to raise an additional charge. If you would like to know how much we charge please do not hesitate to contact us.
• Assured Shorthold Tenancy – £100 plus VAT
• Estate administration/probate – starts at £400 plus VAT and disbursements.  We can offer a fixed fee or work on the basis of the cost of the time spent. This is your choice.
• Simple will £80 plus VAT. Simple wills for married couple £154 inclusive of VAT

This list is not exhaustive – please do not hesitate to call to find out if we offer a fixed fee for the work you require.

Negotiated fees:

When we cannot offer a fixed fee we will give you a cost estimate and review that cost estimate as the matter progresses. We do not incur costs without letting you know what is happening and securing your consent.

We always ask for costs on account when we start a new matter and raise interim bills. Once the costs paid on account have been spent we will ask you for further costs on account. Generally we do not continue to do work on your file when interim bills are unpaid.

Disbursements:

Except in a limited number of cases (for example personal injury claims), if we have to spend money on your behalf we will always ask you to place us in funds before we incurr that expense.

Public Funding (Legal Aid):

Clients eligible for Public Funding will be charged at the rates determined by the Legal Services Commission. In some cases, when clients recover money or property, those costs will have to be repaid to the Legal Services Commission.

We always keep clients informed about their costs and this applies equally to publicly funded clients as private clients

 

Personal Injury Claims

Accident Claims

We have a “no win no fee” policy

Criminal Injury Compensation Claims

We operate a “contingency fee arrangement” which means you are only charged if you are sucessful.

Motor Insurer Bureau Claims

We operate a “contingency fee arrangement” which means you are only charged if you are successful.

 

Wills

• For a simple single will we charge £96 including VAT
• For two simple mirror wills £154 including VAT.
• Many wills are more complex. Once we have found out what you require we may have to charge you more. We will tell you how much. Only if you find our price acceptable will we undertake the work.

Legal Help and Free Wills

You may qualify for free legal help under the Legal Services Commision Public Funding scheme (Legal Aid) if you meet the financial criteria, and:

If you are 70+.

If you have a disability.

If you have a child with a disability and wish to provide for them.

If you are a single parent and wish to appoint a guardian

Charitable gifts in wills

Sometimes we are able to offer free wills to those who wish to make a gift to a charity running a free will scheme.

 

Estate Administration / Probate

We can offer a fixed fee.

This fee will always be less than that charged by a national funeral provider.

Unlike banks and many internet based companies our fee will not be a percentage of the value of the estate.

If we agree a fixed fee at the outset we will not charge you more.

If you choose not to have a fixed fee we will charge you at our hourly rates but will give you a cost estimate at commencement. If the matter proves to be simpler than we expected you will be charged less than our estimate but if it proves to be more complex it may be necessary to revise our cost estimate. This will not be done without your agreement.

To obtain a Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration (for estates that are not complex and do not involve inheritance tax) our charge is usually £400 plus VAT and court fee.