All Costs and third party costs/disbursements include VAT, unless otherwise stated

Lasting Power of Attorney

Documentation of one Lasting Power of Attorney is £250.00 plus VAT for each Power of Attorney.  If documenting both types of Lasting Power of Attorney at the same time, the charge is reduced to £400.00 plus VAT for the two.

For registering each completed Lasting Power of Attorney at the Office of the Public Guardian we charge £100.00 plus VAT per Lasting Power of Attorney

The Office of the Public Guardian also charge a registration fee which is currently £82.00 per Lasting Power of Attorney*

Lasting Powers of Attorney are dealt with by David Ward, Managing Partner and Solicitor, Maria Boehm, Partner and Solicitor, Ella Reed, a Trainee Solicitor or Rosie Titmuss, a Trainee Solicitor.

Timescale for the preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney

We look to document Lasting Powers of Attorney within 2 weeks of receiving the instructions.  That timeline may vary depending upon any delays in the procurement of instructions and also any delays suffered with, in the case of LPAs, any of the Attorneys needing to sign and return documents to us.

Once the Lasting Power(s) of Attorney are submitted for registration to the Office of Public Guardians it does take in the region of 3 months to conclude the registration.

Wills

For documentation of a Will without complicated Trust Provisions we charge £300.00 plus VAT per Will.

For documentation of two Mirror Wills we charge £450.00 plus VAT if both are done at the same time.

Documentation of straightforward Wills/Mirror Wills without complicated Trust Provisions are dealt with by either Ella Reed or David Ward.

If the Will contains complicated Trust provisions, the costs would be charged at an hourly rate.  The matter would be dealt with by David Ward, whose hourly rate is £250.00 plus VAT per hour.  Typically, the costs for documenting a Will with complicated Trust provisions would be in the region of £1,000.00 to £1,500.00 plus VAT.

Most Wills that we prepare on behalf of clients do fall within the criteria of being Wills without complicated Trust provisions.

 Timescale for the preparation of Wills

 We look to document Wills within 2 weeks of receiving the instructions.  That timeline may vary depending upon any delays in the procurement of instructions and also any delays suffered in the signing process.

Obtaining Probate/Grant of Letters of Administration

Costs for obtaining Probate do depend upon how much time is spent on the matter.  The matter will be charged at an hourly rate, depending upon which fee earners deals with the matter.

Generally, the costs for taking instructions and procuring Probate for a small uncomplicated Estate is fixed at £2,000.00 plus VAT.

If the Estate is large and/or complicated or particularly involved and time consuming, typically the costs are in the region of £5,000.00 to £10,000.00 plus VAT.

It does need to be appreciated that apart from where fixed fees are agreed, all of the costs estimated may be higher or lower depending upon how much time is spent on the matter. 

We will provide bespoke quotes or estimates at the time of agreeing to take your instruction.  Where matters are proceeding on the basis of an estimate, that estimate will be regularly reviewed.

Third party costs – the third party costs are the costs incurred in procuring the Probate.  These may include:-

Probate Court Fees, including fees payable for office copy entries – these currently cost £273.00 plus £1.50p for each additional copy the Probate required;

Land Registry fees. These are generally £7.80 for obtaining a copy of the Title and file plan of the property.  For any changes in the Land Registry Register of Title, fees are payable to the Land Registry of Title, fees are payable to the Land Registry in accordance with the Land Registry scale fees.  They do depend upon the value of the transaction.  Where possible, we do endeavour to submit the Application online, which does often have the affect of reducing the Land Registry fee by 50%.

Occasionally, fees are payable for statutory advertisements if required.

If a property was involved, you would need to obtain a property valuation. The costs for obtaining a property valuation are in the region of £400.00 plus VAT.  Those costs are payable to the surveying practice you decide to instruct.

The timescale for Probate and procuring Letters of Administration

The Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is prepared and submitted within 4 to 6 weeks of us having all relevant information.  It can sometimes take several months to obtain all of the relevant information.  When the Application to the Probate Registry is submitted, the Probate Registry are generally taking in the region of 3 months plus to process the application.

For those Estates where inheritance tax is payable, delays can be suffered in procuring clarity of liability from HMRC as to the Estate’s liability.

Probates and Letters of Administration are dealt with by either David Ward and Maria Boehm.  They may be assisted by Ella Reed, a Trainee Solicitor with the Practice.

Conveyancing

Conveyancing transactions in the Practice are dealt with by either David Ward, Ryan Freeman or Rosie Titmuss in the Practice.

If the transaction falls through before completion, then we will charge a proportion of our fee plus VAT and any disbursements which we have paid out on your behalf.

At DW Solicitors we pride ourselves on being transparent and informing you of our costs from the on-set.  We offer conveyancing services on a fixed fee basis, as follows:-

 

 Residential Purchase

 

Property purchase Price of	£0 – £200,000	£200,001 – £350,000	£350,001 – £500,000	Over £501,000
Our Fees VAT	£850.00 £170.00	£950.00 £190.00	£1,050 £210.00	0.25% of purchase price
AML compliance (including Risk Assessment) VAT per person	£60.00 £12.00	£60.00 £12.00	£60.00 £12.00	£60.00 £12.00
SDLT Fee VAT	£125.00 £25.00	£125.00 £25.00	£125.00 £25.00	£125.00 £25.00
This equates for 2 Buyers without additional costs to:-	£1,095.00 + VAT	£1,195.00 + VAT	£1,295.00 +VAT

 Other fees payable in addition (if applicable):-

 

	Additional Fee
1.                  Where you are purchasing a property with the aid of a mortgage some Lenders charge an administration fee which you will be liable for.
2.                 If partially funded by Help to Buy Loan	£300.00 plus VAT
3.                  If you are purchasing a Lease	£500.00 plus VAT
4.                  If the property being acquired is a New Build	£400.00 plus VAT
5.                  If we have to deal with a gifted deposit	£75.00 plus VAT
6.                  If we have to deal with Statutory Declarations and procuring insurance cover for either defective insurance cover for either defective Title and/or transaction at an undervalue.  This does not include any (if any) insurance premium that may be payable.	£125.00 plus VAT
7.                  If required to liaise with a potential occupier in respect of that person entering into a Deed of Postponement.  This does not include any costs the occupier may incur with his/her own lawyers	£50.00 plus VAT
8.                  Registering a Charge at Companies House	£225.00 plus VAT plus fee payable to Companies House of £23.00
9.                  Effecting telegraphic transfers.  This fee includes the bank charges.	£40.00 plus VAT for each transfer.
10.              Third-Party costs and/or disbursements we have to pay on your behalf.  See Possible Third-Party Costs and Disbursements detailed in the following Schedule

 Possible Third-Party Costs and Disbursements  

	Additional Fee inclusive of (if any) VAT
Search Pack comprising of Local Authority Search, Water Search, Environmental Search and Shared Indemnity Policy	£214.30
Land Registry Search Fee	£3.90 for each Search
Bankruptcy Search	£2.90 (per name searched)
AML Search	£6.30 (per name searched)
Land Registry Fee	The fee will be in accordance with the Land Registry Scale of Fees which is calculated on value.  Often we are able to submit the application on-line which attracts a 50% discounted fee.
Stamp Duty/Land Transation Tax	This is calculated in accordance with HM Revenue Stamp Calculator which is based on value.

 

Transfers of Equity or Re-Mortgages

1. We charge a set fee of £700.00 plus VAT for Transfers of Equity or Re-Mortgages for transactions up to a value of £400,000. 

2. If the value of the Transfer of Equity or Re-Mortgage exceeds £400,000 an additional fee of 0.1% plus VAT of the value of the transaction exceeding £400,000 would be payable.

3.You would in addition be liable for any (if any) Third-Party costs and disbursements. Please refer to our Schedule of Possible Third-Party Costs and Disbursements.  Most Transfers of Equity or Re-Mortgages would attract Land Registry Search Fees, Bankruptcy Search Fees, Land Registry registration fees.

4. Transfers of Equity would also, depending upon the value of the transaction, attract a Stamp Duty/Land Transaction Tax liability (as referred to in the Schedule of Possible Third Party Costs/Disbursements. 

5. For Re-Mortgages, some Lenders would require a Search Pack (as referred to in the Schedule of Possible Third-Party Costs/Disbursements) to be obtained. If that is required you would be liable for the Search Pack costs as referred to in the Schedule of Possible Third-Party Costs and Disbursements in addition.  We do not raise any charges for the time spent in obtaining the searches and considering and reporting on those searches.

6. If we have to telegraphic transfer any monies, each transfer attracts a fee (which does include bank charges) of £40.00 plus VAT (a total of £48.00).

Residential Sales 

Property Sale Price £	£0 – £200,000	£200,001 – £350,000	£350,001 – £500,000	Over £501,000
Our Fees VAT	£725.00 £145.00	£825.00 £165.00	£925.00 £185.00	0.2% of sale price + VAT
Fee for dealing with mortgage redemption VAT	£125.00 £25.00	£125.00 £25.00	£125.00 £25.00	£125.00 £25.00
AML compliance (including Risk Assessment) VAT per person	£60.00 £12.00	£60.00 £12.00	£60.00 £12.00	£60.00 £12.00
These equate for 2 Sellers without additional costs to: –	£970.00 + VAT	£1,070 + VAT	£1,170 + VAT

You will also normally be required to pay for up-to-date copies of the Title Deeds.  Typically, the charge will be £6.00, and this includes a copy of the Register of Title and Filed Plan.  Where additional documents are required, HM Land Registry charges £3.00 per document (for example a copy of a Lease or Supplemental Conveyance or Transfer Deed). 

On Leasehold properties, there may be additional charges required under the Lease.  These are usually payable to the Landlord and/or a Management Company. As soon as we know what these are we will let you know.

If the sale involves a Lease an additional fee of £300 plus VAT of £60.00 (a total of £360) would be payable.

If the Freehold sale requires us to liaise with Managing Agents or a third party to ascertain the position in respect of any service charge and/or to document a Deed of Covenant we charge an additional fee of £300 plus VAT of £60 (a total of £360).

If the property is being acquired subject to and with the benefit of residential tenancies, an additional £225.00 plus VAT of £45.00 (a total of £270.00) is payable for the time spent and considering each tenancy.

We charge a fee of £40.00 plus VAT for each telegraphic transfer.  This includes the bank charges.

We do need to verify the identity of each instructing client.  That does require us to carry out an AML Search, which costs £6.30 (inclusive of VAT) per person.

 We do also need to carry out a bankruptcy search against each client.  The cost of that Search is £2.90 per name Search.

 When doing your calculations you should take into account your Estate Agents’ charges (if any).

Timeline

In conveyancing transactions, the matter can only be progressed as quickly as the slowest person in the chain of transactions, if there is a chain of transactions.  Generally, most conveyancing transactions will be progressed to a completion within 2 to 3 months of the initial instruction.  This does vary, depending upon the time taken in procuring responses from other parties involved in the transaction and is also dependant upon receipt of a satisfactory Mortgage Offer, if an acquisition is being funded by finance.

Business Leases

For documenting a Business Lease the costs are either charged on a time basis or an agreed fixed fee.  The costs typically for documenting a Lease are £2,500.00 plus VAT plus £500.00 plus VAT for each ancillary document such as Rent Deposit Deeds and Licences for Alterations.

We do need to verify the identity of each instructing client.  That does require us to carry out an AML Search, which costs £6.30 (inclusive of VAT) per person.

Depending upon the length of the Lease granted, the documented Lease may need to be registered at HM Land Registry.  The Land Registry fee will be payable, in accordance with the Land Registry Scale of Costs https://fee-calculator.landregistry.gov.uk/ 

These matters are generally dealt with by David Ward with assistance of Ryan Freeman or Rosie Titmuss.

Business Sales/Purchases

Business Sales and Purchases can be particularly complicated and can be dealt with either by way of an Asset Sale or a Share Sale.  Often, the sale/purchase involves a Property and that aspect of the matter would normally be quoted for separately.

The costs for dealing with a Business Sale Agreement and documenting that Business Sale Agreement and the ancillary documents are charged on a time basis.  Costs are typically in the region of £2,000.00 – £10,000.00 plus VAT.

These matters are dealt with by David Ward who would be assisted by either Ryan Freeman or Rosie Titmuss.

Employment

The Practice is not currently doing general employment matters.  It does however advise on Settlement Agreements.  Generally the costs are payable by the Employers.  These matters are either dealt with by David Ward or Maria Boehm and we would normally agree to proceed on a fixed fee basis.  The fixed fee is generally determined, having regard to the documentation and the various issues and complexities of the matter.  Generally costs are fixed at a fee of £300.00 plus VAT to £1,000.00 plus VAT.

Independent Legal Advice

Independent Legal Advice is usually done on an agreed fixed fee.  That fixed fee does depend upon what the Independent Legal Advice involves and how many documents are involved and need to be considered in conjunction with giving that advice.

Most Independent Legal Advice involves the giving of advice in respect of a Guarantee on a residential transaction or an occupier, or the postponement/waiver of rights in a Property.

The Practice’s fees for those matters is usually fixed at £300.00 plus VAT for the advice given on one set of documents for one client.

If there is more than one client and the advice is being given to two clients at the same time, the fee would be reduced to £225.00 plus VAT per client.  Even if advice is given jointly, we would need to see each of those clients separately to ensure that they are not in any way being unduly influenced, duressed or coerced.

The only disbursement that is generally incurred in providing this advice is an Anti Money Laundering (AML) search which costs £6.30* inclusive of VAT per person.

If any other searches were required they would be detailed prior to them being incurred.  They may include the cost of getting a copy of the Title Register from the Land Registry which costs £3.00 and/or a bankruptcy search which costs £2.90 per name searched

For other types of Independent Legal Advice details of what the matter involves would need to be given prior to the Practice being able to commit to a fixed price.  Normally the costs would be fixed at a cost of £500.00 – £1,000.00 plus VAT.  Alternatively, the matter can merely be progressed on an hourly rate time basis at the appropriate fee earners hourly rate.

Independent legal advice is generally dealt with by David Ward.