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Probate services

Nagler Simmons has been handling probate for clients since 2016, and we were one of the first accountants to be accredited to provide this service – the application to the probate registry for a grant of representation.

Why Us?

People come to us because as accountants we are highly efficient at form filling (a significant part of the work involves the completion of inheritance tax forms) and this usually translates into lower costs, especially compared to solicitors who tend to charge higher rates.

For existing clients or their deceased, another advantage is that we often have a record and understand their financial and tax position right from the start. Similarly, there are usually tax liabilities to be calculated (income and capital gains tax), work we are well-placed to handle without fuss.

Services and Key Stages

These include:

Establishing the value of assets and liabilities in the estate
Inserting statutory notices in newspapers
Checking all necessary paperwork, such as the death certificate
Calculation of any inheritance tax due and preparing the relevant tax return
Appling for grant of probate
Providing advice on the use of trusts for tax and succession planning

Probate Timescales

The time it takes to apply for probate depends on the complexity of the estate and this can vary greatly. As a guide, the process usually takes between four and twelve months. It’s important that information required is collated as quickly as possible, though the overall timing depends on the speed that HMRC processes applications.

Probate Fees

Our fees for dealing with probate for a deceased person’s estate depend on the complexity of each individual’s affairs. This can vary greatly.

To give you an idea, our fees for assisting with probate are as follows:

Basic: £3,000 to £4,500 + VAT
Very simple: £2,000 to £3,000 + VAT
Complex: £4,500 to £10,000 + VAT
Very complex: in excess of £10,000 + VAT

Our probate team members’ hourly rates are as follows:

Probate Partner: £350 + VAT
Probate Director: £175 + VAT
Tax Assistant: £75 – £100 + VAT

Licensed/Authorised

Nagler Simmons is licensed for the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate. Details of our probate accreditation can be viewed at www.icaew.com/probate under reference number C003671938.

Probate Compensation Scheme

In the unlikely event that we cannot meet our liabilities to you, you may seek a grant from the ICAEW Probate Compensation Scheme. Generally, applications for a grant must be made to ICAEW within 12 months of the time you become aware, or reasonably ought to have been aware, of the loss.

Complaints Procedure

You will find details of our complaints procedure included in our client engagement letter.

If you would like to talk to us about how we can improve our service to you, or if you are unhappy with the service, please let us know by contacting Paul Simmons or Robert Harris. Any complaint about our probate services will be carefully considered as soon as we receive it. Every effort will be made to resolve the issue. You will receive acknowledgment of your complaint within five business days of its receipt and can expect us to deal with it within eight weeks. Any complaint should be submitted to us in writing.

If we do not deal with it in a timely manner or you are not satisfied with our response, you may take up the matter with our professional body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales https://www.icaew.com/regulation/complaints-process and the Legal Ombudsman.

Legal Ombudsman Contact Details
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Letter: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton WV1 9WJ
Telephone: 0300 555 033

For further information about our probate service please email Robert Harris, Partner.