Client terms of engagement

1. Who we are

Apply For Probate Online is a probate specialist service run by Ramani Gill. We are not a firm of solicitors and we do not give regulated legal advice.

2. What we will do

• Grant only: gather the information needed and arrange the application for the grant of probate (or letters of administration).
• Grant with inheritance tax: as above, plus preparing the inheritance tax forms for HMRC.
• Grant, inheritance tax and administration: as above, plus collecting in the assets, paying debts and distributing the estate to the beneficiaries.
• Lasting powers of attorney: preparing one or both LPAs (property and financial affairs, health and welfare) ready for signing and registration.
• Consultations: a paid session with a probate specialist to discuss a dispute or changes to an LPA.

3. Who prepares the probate application

Preparing and submitting a probate application for a fee is a reserved legal activity. We instruct an authorised probate practitioner to prepare and submit the application for the grant on your behalf. We remain your point of contact and manage the rest of your matter. We will tell you the name of the authorised practitioner before the application is submitted.

4. Our fees

• Grant of probate, no inheritance tax to pay: £1,500 plus 0.25% of the gross value of the estate.
• Grant of probate with inheritance tax: £2,850 plus 0.25% of the gross value of the estate.
• Grant, inheritance tax and full estate administration: £3,500 plus 0.25% of the gross value of the estate.
• Disputes: an initial 30-minute consultation for £150.
• One lasting power of attorney: £250. Both: £450.
• Changes to LPAs or an LPA consultation: £150 per hour, with the first £150 paid in advance.
• No VAT is charged on our fees.
• Fees paid to others, such as the Probate Registry application fee, Office of the Public Guardian registration fees, copies of the grant, valuations and Land Registry fees, are not included and are paid separately.

5. Your instant estimate

The estimate shown online is based on the information you give us, including the estate value. If the estate value or the work needed turns out to be different, we will tell you the revised fee in writing before doing any further work, and you can decide whether to continue.

6. Deposit and payment

To start probate work or a pair of LPAs we take a £250 deposit, which is deducted from your total fee. For one LPA, the £250 is the full fee. Consultations are paid in full in advance. We will agree with you in writing when the balance is due.

7. Your right to cancel

You can cancel within 14 days of paying, for any reason, and we will refund your payment within 14 days. By paying, you ask us to start work straight away; if you cancel within the 14 days after we have started, we may keep a fair amount for the work already done. Once a consultation has taken place, its fee is not refundable.

8. What we need from you

• Accurate, complete information about the person who died, the estate and the people involved.
• Original documents when asked, such as the will and death certificate.
• Prompt replies so we can keep your matter moving.

9. Money belonging to the estate

Any money belonging to the estate is held separately from our own business money and is only used for the estate.

10. Complaints and your data

If you are unhappy, please tell us and we will follow our complaints procedure. We use your personal information as described in our privacy notice.

11. Signing these terms

When you tick the box and type your name online, you are accepting these terms. We keep a record of your name, the date and time, and the version of these terms you accepted.