Pricing Policy
We would like to give you as much information as possible so that you can make an informed decision as to whether you wish to instruct Ardale Brown to act on your behalf, this includes:
- Typical costs/pricing for the services we provide;
- What services are included in those costs/pricings;
- An indication of timescales for typical matters and key stages of the transaction; and
- Details of the people who will be working on your matter, and information about their experience and relevant qualifications.
We are obliged to display prices and service information in a straightforward and simple manner in respect of the following services which we as a firm offer:
- Residential Conveyancing (sales and purchases) and
- Probate (uncontested).
The rules governing what information must be provided to prospective clients also requires us to provide the information in relation to Motoring Offences, Immigration Advice, Debt Recovery and Licensing Applications. For the avoidance of any doubt Ardale Brown does not provide legal services in these practice areas at this time and as such no information is provided in respect of these areas.
We offer various services in other matters such as:
- Commercial property
- Landlord and tenant matters
- All types of family matters – divorce, arrangements in relation to finances, arrangements in relation to children
- Litigation
- Company and Commercial
- Charity law
- Private Client matter – Wills, Power of Attorneys, Application for deputyship.
If you would like information about the likely costs for any of these matters, please contact us and we shall provide you with a bespoke quote.
Before we break down into specific areas in which we provide legal services we outline below some general guidance as to the costs/pricing information outlined below.
Charging Practices – It is tempting to say that certain ‘simple’ matters will always be the same and that accordingly it is possible to provide fixed fee quotes in all circumstances. This can be true in some circumstances; but as a rule, Ardale Brown generally work on a ‘time basis’.
We will always provide you with an indicative quote when you first contact us, and will confirm what is included within that quote and whether there are any other charges which you will need to pay in addition to legal fees. We will not commence work, or incur any charges payable by you, before being formally instructed by you.
VAT – all of the prices shown are exclusive of VAT, that means that unless specifically stated the price will be subject to VAT (typically at the rate of 20%) which needs to be added to the figure shown.
Disbursements – these are costs you will encounter which are not included in our fee for providing legal services to you.
- There may be certain other expenses, including payments we make on your behalf, such as court fees, fees for medical reports and barrister’s fees, which you will have to pay. VAT is payable on certain expenses. We will not incur any third-party fees without first obtaining your authority to do so.
- Typical disbursement costs (where it is possible to give a figure) are included in the information outlined below.
Fee Earner dealing with your matter – We will confirm the fee earner who will be responsible for your matter, and who will be dealing with the matter on a day to day basis, in each relevant practice area below. Details of their experience and qualifications can be found in the ‘our people’ section of this website. This is accessible from all pages by clicking on the relevant tab at the top of the page.
Residential Conveyancing
While many presume that all purchase or sale transactions are essentially the same, and as such it is possible to give a precise fixed fee for such work, this is rarely the case. Whilst some large bulk conveyancers will operate on this basis, we are a smaller and more bespoke firm which will provide a personal and ‘in-touch’ service where you will have direct access to the solicitor who will work on your matter.
Our typical charges for residential conveyancing matters are outlined below but please contact us for a personalised quotation as the nature and complexity of each transaction may vary.
Freehold Purchase/Sale
- Upto £950,000 = £750.00 (plus VAT)
- Over £950,000 – please contact us for a personalised quotation
Leasehold Purchase/Sale
- Upto £950,000 = £850.00 (plus VAT)
- Over £950,000 – please contact us for a personalised quotation
Additional costs on all Purchase transactions
- Acting for your lender (freehold property) = £250.00 (plus VAT)
- Acting for your lender (leasehold property) = £350.00 (plus VAT)
- Dealing with Stamp Duty Land Transaction return (SDLT) = £100.00 (plus VAT)
- Contribution towards our professional indemnity insurance = £100.00 (plus VAT)
- Costs for dealing with each bank telegraphic transfer = £30.00 (plus VAT)
Additional costs of all Sale transactions
- Contribution towards our professional indemnity insurance = £100.00 (plus VAT)
- Photocopying, printing, telephones = £50.00 (plus VAT)
- Costs for dealing with each bank telegraphic transfer = £30.00 (plus VAT)
Disbursements
Searches, land registry fees, stamp duty (if payable) vary from transaction to transaction. We will provide an estimate of disbursements once we have discussed the nature of your transaction with you.
Once again we must stress that each matter is specific to the circumstances of the precise transaction, and the figures given above are indicative of the likely level of our charges.
We strongly suggest you contact the firm directly so that we can understand the nature of your specific transaction, the number of parties, the desired timescales involved, the involvement of any lender etc. in order for us to provide you with a bespoke quote. We will also be able to answer any initial queries you may have in terms of the transaction.
Services included – Purchase
- Investigating the title of the Property;
- Agreeing the form of the Contract of Sale and drafting the Transfer documents;
- Reporting to you on the above and dealing with exchange and completion;
- Settling Stamp Duty Land Tax;
- Dealing with registration of the change of ownership at H.M Land Registry; and
- Acting for your lender (if applicable).
Services included - Sale
- Drafting the Contract of Sale and deducing title to the purchaser’s solicitors;
- Taking your instructions on and dealing with enquiries raised by the purchaser’s solicitors;
- Agreeing the form and content of the formal Transfer document;
- Reporting to you on the above;
- Dealing with completion of the sale; and
- Settling any charges registered against the property.
Fee Earners who deal with residential property transactions
- Kamaldeep Singh – Partner, Senior Solicitor
- Sumeet Shangari – Partner, Senior Solicitor
Details of the above fee earners qualifications and experience can be viewed in the ‘Our People’ tab of this website by clicking on the relevant person.
Probate (Uncontested)
This is where you, as the executor (if named in a Will) or personal representative/next of kin (if the deceased died without a Will), instruct Ardale Brown to deal with the administration of the deceased’s estate, settlement of any applicable Inheritance Tax, and to apply to the Court for a Grant of Probate (where there is a Will) or Grant of Letters of Administration (where there is no Will).
Charges – we typically charge on a time basis (as outlined in more specific detail above) for dealing with uncontested probate matters. As with all matters we will of course provide you with an indicative figure of what we think the likely overall cost of the matter will be and break down below our typical charges:
Simple Estate/Routine administration of an Estate
1.5% of the gross value of the Estate (plus VAT at the prevailing rate) plus a fixed fee of £500 plus VAT plus disbursements.
Our fees for dealing with any non-routine matters will be charged at the hourly rate of the relevant fee earner.
We understand that some Estates are of lower value and for these Estates, we are happy to reduce the charges to 0.75% to 1.25% of the gross value of the Estate (plus VAT at the prevailing rate) plus a fixed fee of £500 plus VAT plus disbursements. If you consider the Estate you will be dealing with is of a lower value, please discuss this with us.
If it is more cost-effective for you for your matter to be charged on an hourly rate, this can be agreed and the costs will be charged in accordance to the fee earner of the matter.
We, at Ardale Brown, like to be able to offer our Clients competitive charges for the work undertaken by us.
The work involved in a Simple Estate:
- Dealing with property owned/cash at bank/pension
- completion of short form Inheritance Tax Form(s) (IHT205) £2,000 - £4,000
Complex Estate – in addition to the above
- share portfolio/complex investments/overseas assets
- completion of long form Inheritance Tax Form(s) (IHT400) £3,000 - £5,000+
Once again we must stress that each matter is specific to the circumstances of the instruction, the figures given above are indicative of the likely level of our charges.
We strongly suggest you contact the firm directly so that we can understand the nature of your specific instructions and provide you with a detailed quote.
Services included:
- Investigating the extent of the deceased’s estate;
- Contacting relevant parties to advise of the death, close accounts, obtain final account statements and draw in funds (where possible in advance of Grant);
- Ascertaining the extent of the deceased’s estate;
- Completing relevant Inheritance Tax forms and filing with H.M Revenue & Customs (where applicable);
- Paying any Inheritance Tax Liability from available funds (if possible);
- Applying for the applicable Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration;
- Drawing in the balance of the Estate (where applicable);
- Settling any debts, executorship expenses, balance of any Inheritance Tax liability (where applicable);
- Preparing Estate Accounts;
- Distributing the residuary estate to the beneficiaries.
Typical Disbursements
It is difficult to confirm specific figures as this will depend greatly on the nature of the estate, but below are some typical disbursements which will/may be incurred in a probate matter and which would be payable (subject to any VAT also) in addition the legal fees:
- Probate Application fee £ 155 (no VAT)
- Additional copies of Grant £1.50p per copy (no VAT)
- Valuation costs (such as of Property, valuable possessions) £ - variable
- Placing the statutory notice in the Gazette and local newspaper – approx. £175 + VAT
- Office Copy in relation to Property - £3.00 per property
- Land registry fees – between £20 to £250 per property dependent on the value of the property.
Our fees for dealing with any non-routine matters will be charged at the hourly rate of the fee earner + VAT. This would be, for example with dealing with any Inheritance Act claims against the Estate. We will inform you in advance if we will need to do any such non-routine work.
Timescales and Key Stages
Please see above section ‘services included’ as a bullet point list of the key stages of an uncontested probate from start to finish. As to the likely timescale, this will depend on how quickly the parties advised of deal with the enquiries and closing of accounts but typically from start to finish an uncontested probate matter will take between 4 and 9 months, with the majority completing in approximately 6 months.
Fee Earners who deal with Probate matters:
- Jagjit Ahluwalia Partner, Senior Solicitor
- Kamaldeep Partner, Senior Solicitor
- Devika Shangari Partner, Senior Solicitor
Details of the above fee earners qualifications and experience can be viewed in the ‘Our People’ tab of this website by clicking on the relevant person.
If you would like a hard copy of this information, please let us know and we shall we happy to provide you with a copy. Please also let us know if you would like your copy in large print.