Pricing Guide
Pricing Guide
In accordance with Solicitors Regulation Authority requirements, we have produced pricing information about certain services we provide to consumers.
Purchase and sale of Residential Property (England & Wales) – pricing information (SRA Transparency Rules)
We have a dedicated team who can assist you in the sale and/or purchase of residential property in England and Wales. Our fees are based on the time spent on the residential conveyancing matter at hourly rates which we will set out in our Letter of Engagement. Our hourly rates range from £150 to £450 exclusive of VAT and disbursements. As a rule, the more experienced the solicitor, the higher the hourly rate. Where a matter involves a high value property or complex conveyancing issues, rates may be adjusted to reflect these circumstances.
Our typical fees for residential matters are set out below:
| Property Value | Freehold purchase | Leasehold purchase | Freehold sale | Leasehold sale |
| £0 – £250,000 | £3,000 | £3,250 | £3,000 | £3,000 |
| £250,001 to £500,00 | £3,500 | £3,750 | £3,500 | £3,500 |
| £500,001 to £700,000 | £4,000 | £4,250 | £4,000 | £4,000 |
| £700,001 to £1,000,000 | £5,000 | £5,250 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| £1,000,001 to £2,000,000 | £6,500 | £6,750 | £6,500 | £6,500 |
| £2,000,001 to £3,000,001 | £8,500 | £8,750 | £8,500 | £8,500 |
| £3,000,001 to £5,000,000 | £12,000 | £12,500 | £12,000 | £12,000 |
Where you are buying with a mortgage, an additional fee of £750 would be payable. If you are re-mortgaging, our typical fee would be agreed with you at the time.
VAT is charged on our fees at standard rates, currently 20%.
Typically, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is payable on purchases over £250,000. We will discuss your circumstances and calculate your liability.
Once we have scoped your transaction, we will give you a written fee estimate in the Letter of Engagement. If subsequently there are unexpected complications or the matter becomes protracted, we will inform you and agree any fee adjustment with you.
You may also be responsible for disbursements (also known as third party costs). These include:
- Land Registry documentation – £7 per document or plan.
- Pre-completion Land Registry Searches – £6 to £8.
- Land Registry registration fees – up to £1105 (for £1m purchase).
- Third Party Search fee – variable between local authorities.
- Leasehold Management Packs – up to £500.
- Estate Agency fees – as agreed by you.
- Title Indemnities – dependent on the circumstances. We will charge an additional £350 plus VAT to arrange this if required.
- Electronic bank transfer (same day) – £30.
Our advice will not routinely include tax, environmental law, or planning advice in relation to neighbouring properties. Again, an additional fee would be payable if these services are required.
Where a sale or purchase becomes abortive, we will charge our time up to that point subject to not exceeding the fee quoted in the Letter of Engagement.
Administration of Estates (England & Wales) – pricing information (SRA Transparency Rules)
Why choose Anderson Strathern LLP
Anderson Strathern is a leading law firm based in Scotland with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, East Lothian, Shetland, and Orkney. The firm provides a wide range of specialist legal services to commercial clients, public bodies, and private individuals, and has done so for over 250 years. Anderson Strathern is regulated to provide legal advice under Scots law and the law of England and Wales.
Estate administrations in England and Wales
Overview
When someone dies, there are certain formal steps that need to be taken to gain access to their estate. The process of administering a deceased person’s estate under the law of England and Wales is commonly referred to as ‘Probate’ – a term derived from the name of the legal document obtained from the Court, which is required to ingather most types of estates, especially where land or property are involved.
The estate administration process and laws of succession in England and Wales differ considerably when compared to an estate administered under Scots law. For instance, Scots law affords spouses and children of the deceased statutory protection against being completely disinherited (known as ‘legal rights’) whereas such rights do not apply in England and Wales. Specialist advice is required in this area.
What is involved?
No two estates are the same, but as a general guide, the process of administering an estate in England and Wales may be divided into the following key stages:
- Investigation stage
- Initial meeting with Executor/family
- Advising on terms of the Will or Intestacy
- Advising on any Inheritance Tax (IHT) implications
- Explaining procedures to deal with the estate
- Investigating the extent of the estate
- Dealing with utilities, insurance, council tax, and other household debts
- Preparing an Inventory of the assets and debts and having these approved by Executors
- Establishing if any lifetime gifts have been made by the deceased and the implications these gifts may have
- Confirming with Department for Work and Pensions if any monies due back to them
- Dealing with Income Tax to the date of death
- Probate and inheritance tax reporting stage
- Preparing the Probate application and (if required) the IHT400 inheritance tax account and having these approved and signed by Executor/s
- Arrange to settle any IHT due
- Lodge the Probate application with the Probate Registry
- Deal with any initial correspondence from HMRC relating to the estate
- Ingathering stage
- Exhibiting Grant of Probate to each institution where funds are held
- Ingather assets due to the estate
- Pay any outstanding IHT, debts and expenses
- Deal with income tax/capital gains tax issues
- Transfer/sell assets
- Distribution stage
- Corresponding with beneficiaries regarding the distribution of the estate
- Make payments to account, where possible
- Pay out legacies as per the Will
- Prepare Executry Account for approval by Executors
- Regulate income tax position in the administration period
- Arranging for the final distribution of the estate
There may also be additional aspects for us to deal with and will be assessed separately, such as a review of lifetime trusts and providing advice regarding these trusts, deeds of Variation, and estate Planning for beneficiaries.
Throughout the entire process, we will pay any debts and/or expenses as and when they may arise, provided we have sufficient funds. We will correspond with the Executor/s by email, phone, letters, and face to face meetings.
How long does it take?
The length of time a deceased’s estate will take to be administered depends on the size, complexity, and nature of the estate – there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach – but as a broad guide it may take between 9 to 24 months. Please note this is not an absolute rule. For instance, the initial investigation of assets may take around 6 months, a further 6 months to obtain the Grant of Probate and settle any tax due, and a final 3 months to distribute and wind up the estate.
Costs
Hourly rates
Anderson Strathern’s fees are charged on an hourly rate basis calculated for the time spent administering the estate.
At the beginning of each instruction, and before any work commences, we shall provide you with details of the members of the team who will work on your matter. Where appropriate, we shall be happy to provide an estimated fee range at the very outset, based on the information provided, and the anticipated scope of the work involved. In certain cases, including where matters are particularly complex or high value, we may adjust rates to take account of the work involved. You will be notified of all such rates in writing.
Our hourly rates will range from £200 per hour up to £550 per hour (depending on the experience and location of the relevant fee earner, the complexity of the matter in question and other pricing factors). All hourly rates are stated exclusive of VAT (charged at 20%) and associated outlays (see below). An estate administration will often need several team members, at various levels of seniority and experience, working in tandem upon it. The team shall seek to work on an estate administration in a cost-effective manner. In certain cases, including where matters are particularly complex or high value, we may adjust rates to take account of the work involved. You will be notified of all such rates in writing.
Outlays
In addition to legal fees, there may also be outlays which are payable during the estate administration process, including:
- Probate Registry application fee – £300 (plus £1.50 per additional sealed copy of the Grant);
- Bank transfer fees – Case-dependent;
- Statutory advertisements – Case-dependent
- Will search fees and insurance – Case-dependent
- Valuation fees – Case-dependent
Estimating our costs
As no two estates are the same, it can be difficult to give an estimate of the firm’s overall level of fee at the outset. Bearing this in mind, and by way of guidance only, we have divided estate administrations into broad two categories: (1) ‘standard estates’ and (2) ‘complex estates’.
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Standard estates
Definition of a ‘standard estate’:
To fall within the definition of a standard estate for the purpose of estimating fees, we have assumed that: –
- The deceased made a valid will leaving their estate to their surviving spouse and / or adult children;
- The executors register the death, arrange the funeral, and provide the initial paperwork of the deceased’s assets and liabilities;
- The estate comprises of one property, bank account(s), and quoted investment portfolio(s) located or registered within the United Kingdom;
- There is no inheritance tax to pay; and
- The estate excludes any of the complex factors noted below.
Included within scope:
The scope of work for a standard estate is therefore likely to involve: –
- Initial meeting with Executor/family
- Advising on terms of the Will
- Explaining procedures to deal with the estate
- Investigating the extent of the estate
- Dealing with utilities, insurance, council tax, and other household debts
- Preparing an Inventory of the assets and debts and having these approved by Executors
- Confirming with Department for Work and Pensions if any monies due back to them
- Dealing with Income Tax to the date of death
- Preparing the Probate application and having these approved and signed by Executor/s
- Lodge the Probate application with the Probate Registry
- Exhibiting Grant of Probate to each institution where funds are held
- Ingather assets due to the estate
- Pay any outstanding debts and expenses
- Deal with income tax to date of death
- Transfer/sell assets as instructed
- Corresponding with beneficiaries regarding the distribution of the estate
- Make payments to account, where possible
- Pay out legacies as per the Will
- Prepare Executry Account for approval by Executors
- Regulate income tax position in the administration period
- Arranging for the final distribution of the estate
Excluded from scope
The scope of a ‘standard estate’ falling within the above fee guide is therefore likely to exclude any complex matters such as (but not limited to): –
- Intestate Probate applications for Grants of Letters of Administration;
- Inheritance tax and capital gains tax returns;
- Calculating and advising on the tax implications of lifetime gifts;
- Dealing with trusts;
- Dealing with foreign assets;
- Dealing with multiple properties in addition to the deceased’s home;
- Dealing with business and / or agricultural assets;
- Dealing with share transfers.
Illustrative example of costs for administering a typical ‘standard estate’
No two estates are the same. Our fees will depend upon the work to be done which will vary depending upon the nature and value of the estate to be administered – with estates of a higher value generally resulting in proportionally higher fees charged. For illustrative purposes only, our charges for administrating a standard estate falling within the above assumptions with a gross value of £500,000, may typically start at £15,000 plus VAT and outlays.
Complex estates
Complex estates typically require more time to administer than standard estates and may also require additional input from senior team members at higher hourly charge out rates. Accordingly, our fees for administrating complex estates are likely to be higher than for administrating a standard estate, and we are not able to provide a guide.
The following factors are examples of, but not limited to, complexities which would increase the level of our charges:
- The deceased died ‘intestate’ without a will;
- The estate administration involves trusts;
- The deceased made gifts during the seven-year period prior to death;
- The will includes a large number of legacies and / or beneficiaries;
- There is a dispute about the will or distribution of the estate;
- Delays in executors providing instructions and/or unclear, complex, or frequent changes to executors’ instructions;
- The Probate application is complex – for instance due to a problem with the will or an executor;
- There is inheritance tax to pay;
- Estate tax returns are required for income and / or capital gains tax;
- There are other complex tax or domicile issues;
- The estate includes any of the following types of assets;
- Foreign assets
- Business assets
- Agricultural assets
- Shares in unquoted limited companies
- The beneficiaries request a deed of variation to vary the distribution of the estate;
- A sale or transfer of property is required; or
(Note: If a house or land is to be sold, this can be managed by our property team. Additional information in relation to our charges for estate agency and conveyancing work will be provided on request).
- Investment advice is required.
(Note: Anderson Strathern Asset Management Ltd, which is owned by Anderson Strathern LLP, may be instructed during the administration of the estate for investment or financial matters which are incidental to the legal services provided. This includes the valuation of shares, checking holdings with registrars, obtaining duplicates of lost certificates, the transfer or sale of shares and advice on general insurance and pensions. Details of their charges are shown on the Fee Rates and Commissions schedule)
It is not possible to provide any illustrative costs of administering a complex estate due to the scope of potential variables. An estimated fee range may be provided on a case by case for complex estates based on the anticipated work involved.
When are fees charged?
Our first interim fee will generally be submitted when the Grant of Probate has been obtained. However, in large or complex estates an interim fee may be submitted before Probate. It is our standard practice to issue fees at monthly intervals during the period of administration after Probate has been obtained. We will provide the executors with a quarterly update as to the time recorded and also a short note on the total fees which have been billed against that time. Our final fee will be presented on completion of the administration and winding up of the estate. For some cases there is also the possibility of having fees assessed by the Auditor of the Sheriff Court. In all Scottish estates you have the option of requesting such an independent assessment and in some larger and more complex cases we may suggest this approach to you at the point of being instructed.
Immigration Services (England & Wales) – pricing information (SRA Transparency Rules)
Information about our Team
Our Director and Head of Immigration, Mark Templeton, delivers all immigration services for individuals and families. Mark’s full bio is available here. Mark Templeton | Anderson Strathern
In line with the guidance provided by the Law Society of Scotland and the rules set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, we have outlined below additional information regarding our pricing structure.
Hourly rates
As a Director Mark Templeton’s hourly rate is £450 plus VAT per hour.
VAT
VAT is charged at the current applicable rate of 20% unless a VAT exemption applies to your individual circumstances.
Initial Consultation
As the prospects of successfully applying for any particular visa requires meeting mandatory eligibility criteria, our services often commence by way of an initial consultation. This can be to advise generally on potential visa options for you or to advise on the eligibility requirements for a specific visa you have already identified and the relevant steps to apply.
We can offer Fixed Fee consultations. Our consultation is usually for a maximum of one hour and depending on the complexity and issues to be considered prior to a consultation our estimated fee range is £400 to £1500.
Fee Estimates for visa applications
Application Type Fee Estimate
(exclusive of VAT)
Spouse/Partner visa application £3,500 – £15,000
Application for British citizenship £2,000 – £8,000
Long Residence visa application £2,000 – £8,000
Skilled Worker visa application £2000 – £5000
Visit Visa application £2000 – £5000
Visa applications under other routes £2,000 – £15,000
What is included in our fee:
- Meeting with you to obtain all relevant information about your circumstances and to advise of the eligibility requirements to apply for a specific visa
- Advising you in detail of the specific information and evidence you require to obtain to meet the eligibility requirements and complete the visa application
- When you have obtained all the relevant information and evidence we will review all information and evidence to ensure it is complete and meets the relevant eligibility requirements
- We will undertake legal research as necessary in respect of your application
- We will prepare the visa application through the Home Office online system and when you are satisfied it is complete and accurate we will meet with you to submit your application
- We will assist you in processing payment of the fees charged by the Home Office for the visa application and any additional fees, e.g. the Immigration Health Surcharge and fees to obtain a faster decision than the standard processing time
- We will book an appointment for you at a visa centre in the country where you live and make sure you have all the documents required for your appointment.
- We will prepare all the evidence to support the application and upload all evidence to your submitted application
- We will keep you updated in respect of the progress of the application, conduct all relevant correspondence with the Home Office and inform you immediately when we receive a decision.
What factors can increase the cost:
- the complexity of the visa application
- the complexity of your circumstances and eligibility for the visa
- the nature and volume of information and evidential material to be considered in preparing your application
- the volume of legal research, advice and communication required when preparing and submitting your application
We should be able to offer a Fixed Fee for all work to be undertaken. If this is not possible we can provide a fee estimate. If the fees incurred reach or exceed the fee estimate provided we can provide you with an updated estimate on request.
What is not included in our legal fees:
- Any Home Office fees related to your application including fees for a faster decision and fees charged by specific visa centres for appointments or additional appointment services.
All Home Office visa fees and fees to visa centres will be paid by you directly when we meet to submit your visa application. The Home Office visa application fees can be found at: Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 13 April 2023 – GOV.UK
- Any Third-party costs—known as disbursements, which may include services such as translation or independent expert reports. If such costs arise, we can arrange payment on your behalf but will need funds in advance to do so.
How long will the application take to prepare and submit?
We will discuss with you at the outset the timescales you wish to be met in respect of applying for your visa. When your application is actually submitted will depend on the application being fully prepared and ready for submission, which in large part depends on all the information and evidence that is required being provided to us by you or third parties who you require to provide information or evidence. We will be in regular contact when preparing your visa and to discuss the specific timing of submitting your application.
We are unable to guarantee by what date the Home Office will issue a decision on your application after it has been submitted. The Home Office publish their average processing times for decision for specific visas which can be found here Visa processing times: applications outside the UK – GOV.UK
For an additional fee, The Home Office offer faster decision times and depending on your visa this can include next day decision, within 5 or 30 working days. The faster decision times available depend on the type of visa application and if you are inside or outside the UK. When we identify the visa you wish to apply for we can advise which of the faster decision options is available to you.
Employment – Unfair / Wrongful dismissal (England & Wales) – pricing information (SRA Transparency Rules).
Introduction
Our Employment team is one of the largest and most experienced in Scotland and acts for clients across the United Kingdom.
Our team regularly represents employees and employers in cases before the Employment Tribunal including claims for unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal. A claim for unfair dismissal is a legal challenge an employee can bring when they believe their employer ended their employment without a lawful reason or without following a fair procedure. A claim for wrongful dismissal is a legal challenge an employee can bring when they believe the employer has breached the terms of the employment contract when ending their employment.
Employment Tribunal Process (Flowchart)
1. ACAS EARLY CONCILIATION (MANDATORY)
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2. EARLY CONCILIATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED
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3. SUBMIT ET1 CLAIM
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4. EMPLOYER ET3 DEFENCE
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5. CASE MANAGEMENT, EVIDENCE AND PREPARATION STAGE
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6. FINAL TRIBUNAL HEARING
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7. REMEDY HEARING (IF REQUIRED)
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If a case goes all the way to a Final Tribunal Hearing, it can often take between 6 to 12 months and sometimes longer for more complicated cases. Much will depend on the availability of resource at the Employment Tribunal office where the claim is lodged and also the availability of witnesses in the case.
Our Costs
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Fixed Fee Prospects Assessment – £950 to £1,500 plus VAT.
Should a client wish, we offer a fixed fee to assess the prospects of successfully pursuing / defending the claim. This fee includes: –
- Review of relevant paperwork related to the potential or actual legal claim.
- Follow-up discussion/meeting with the client.
- Advice notes that sets out:
- Explanation and assessment of prospects of successfully pursuing / defending the claim; and
- advice regarding next steps.
The level of fixed fee will be determined by the complexity of the case including the amount of paperwork that requires to be reviewed.
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Standard Hourly Rates
Unless we have agreed otherwise with a client, our work will be charged on a time basis (i.e. so much per hour). The amount charged depends on the experience and seniority of the person carrying out the work. Our current charging rates, which are exclusive of VAT, are as follows:
| Accredited Specialist/Solicitor Advocate | £475 or as appropriate |
| Partner | £450 |
| Consultant | £450 |
| Director | £450 |
| Senior Associate | £395 |
| Associate | £370 |
| Senior Solicitor | £345 |
| Solicitor | £310 |
| Paralegal | £185-£265 |
| Trainee/other | £210 |
| Billing arrangements/timing | Monthly in arrears plus VAT |
As with the prospects assessment, it is possible to agree a fixed fee with a client to assist them with a particular element of the tribunal process or to get to a particular stage in the process.
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Range of costs
There is a wide of factors that can influence the level of fee that may be incurred in pursuing or defending a claim which include the following: –
- The complexity of the claim
- The amount of contested evidence
- The volume of documentation
- The number of witnesses
- The need for expert evidence / reports
- The level of solicitor conducting or assisting with your case e.g. partner, associate, senior solicitor etc.
- The need for a Preliminary Hearing and/or case management applications and orders.
- The approach of the other party.
- The length of hearing(s).
- Additional preparation time due to hearings being postponed or going part heard.
Given these wide variety of factors, we have set out a range of costs based on a simple, standard, or complex case in the table below to cover the entire employment tribunal process.
| Type | Work involved | Range of fee (excluding VAT) |
| Simple | · Assisting with Acas Early conciliation
· Drafting ET1 / ET3 · Complying with ET directions · Review and disclosure of documents · Correspondence with ET and any other party · Assisting with any settlement discussions · Preparation of witness statements · Preparation for Hearing · Representation at Final Hearing
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£15,000 to £25,000 |
| Standard | · Assisting with Acas Early conciliation
· Drafting ET1 / ET3 · Complying with ET directions · Review and disclosure of documents · Correspondence with ET and any other party · Assisting with any settlement discussions · Preparation of witness statements · Preparation for Final Hearing · Representation at Final Hearing
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£25,000 to £50,000 |
| Complex | · Assisting with Acas Early conciliation
· Drafting ET1 / ET3 · Complying with ET directions · Review and disclosure of documents · Correspondence with ET and any other party · Assisting with any settlement discussions · Preparation of witness statements · Instructing expert report(s) / witness · Preparation for Preliminary Hearing · Representation at Preliminary Hearing · Preparation for Final Hearing · Representation at Final Hearing
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£50,000 to £75,000 |
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Disbursements
In addition to legal fees, there are a number of other costs which may arise during the process such as the cost of instructing expert reports or witnesses or the travel and accommodation costs for your solicitor when conducting the Hearing. Disbursements will normally be payable plus VAT at 20 per cent.