Charges
We believe that it is important for you to be clear about how much you are going to be charged before we start work for you. We will always give you a quote and if this has to change for any reason, for example if matters become more complicated part way through, we will let you know how much the increased cost will be before beginning the extra work.
A lot of our work can be charged at fixed amounts. This includes most Wills, Divorce, Powers of Attorney and Property work. Some work however, is less predictable and we will charge by reference to an hourly rate. In those circumstances, we try to give an estimate as to the total cost. This will include most Estates Administration work and Family Law matters. One way in which we often proceed for clients for this sort of work, is to say that we will work up to an agreed amount and then review what further work is needed and at what cost before carrying on.
Disbursements
These are costs that we have to pay out on your behalf – other people’s charges. They may include court fees, searches on property transactions or fees for experts such as barristers or medical practitioners. We will always include a list of the expected disbursements for each matter when providing the initial quote. We will also usually ask you to provide us with the money for these costs up front, so that we can pay them on your behalf.
We believe that the quality of the advice you receive is more important than the cost and so we do not try to be the cheapest. However, we believe that we are competitively priced because we keep our overheads low, whilst using state of the art technology to work as efficiently as possible.
Loyalty Scheme
For longstanding clients of the firm or for people who instruct us to do a number of jobs at the same time, we usually build a discount into our quotes. From time to time, we run reduced price schemes or promotions in certain areas of work and it is always worth checking with us what may be available.
Armed Forces Covenant
Onions & Davies Ltd have committed to honour the Armed Forces Covenant, and support the Armed Forces Community. This includes all those who serve or have served in our armed forces and their families. We recognise the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business.
We believe that members of the armed forces and their families should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public or commercial services. Therefore, amongst other support, we have pledged to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by offering a discount to members of the Armed Forces Community of 10% on fees for family law work (to include divorce, finances, children) and private client work (to include wills and lasting powers of attorneys).
We also offer the Armed Forces Community free pre-mediation appointments for both husband and wife, and one joint session of family mediation at 25% discount on fees. (NB. we cannot offer any reductions on VAT or disbursements).
Our Price Estimate
The information below provides cost estimates for the types of work that we do. Click below to scroll down to the right area.
Residential Conveyancing | Probate | Wills | Powers of Attorney
Residential Conveyancing
Sales, purchases and mortgages of freehold and leasehold properties. This type of work is dealt with by David Williams, a Director of the Company and the Head of our Property Department. Further details about David can be found here.
Cost (total excluding VAT)
Sales:
Between £895 and £1,200 plus VAT and disbursements depending on the value of the property and whether there are any complicating factors, such as the property being leasehold or not registered at the Land Registry.
Purchases:
Between £895 and £1,500 plus VAT and disbursements depending on the value of the property and whether there are any complicating factors, such as the property being leasehold or not registered at the Land Registry or what sort of mortgage is required.
Mortgages:
£595 plus VAT and disbursements for a remortgage or further advance and £900 plus VAT and disbursements for an equity release.
Payments to other people
There are usually Land Registry charges of around £6, estate agents’ fees and sometimes fees for leasehold management companies.
Purchases:
There are usually Search Fees ranging from about £300 to £600 depending on what searches are required, Land Registry charges ranging from about £20 to £910 depending on the value of the property and whether or not it has already been registered previously, and sometimes fees for leasehold management companies and Stamp Duty Land Tax.
Mortgages:
Similar to purchases above.
What this covers
Producing the contract paperwork for the buyer’s solicitor, answering any questions that they raise on the title to the property, completing the sale, redeeming any mortgage, paying the estate agents and any leasehold management company and paying the balance to you.
Purchases:
Assessing the title to the property, raising questions on the title and conducting any necessary searches, reporting on the title to you and any lender, completing the purchase and any mortgage, registering the title with the Land Registry and paying Stamp Duty.
Mortgages:
Similar to purchases above.
How long will this take?
The likely timescale for your sale will depend on whoever is buying your property and the length of the chain below them. Typically, it can be between 6-8 weeks but see the comments on Purchases below.
Purchases:
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6-8 weeks.
It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 4 months. In such, a situation, additional charges would apply.
Mortgages:
similar to purchases above
Probate
Help with the administration of estates. This type of work is dealt with by Chris Milne, a Director of the Company and the Head of our Private Client Department. Further details about Chris can be found here. He is assisted by Samantha Downes, an experienced Private Client Consultant, and Sarah McDermott, a trainee paralegal.
Cost (total excluding VAT)
Fixed fees:
Between £600 and £1,200 depending on whether a small or large HMRC Inheritance Tax Return is required
Hourly rates:
Between £170 and £220 per hour depending on whether it is our most junior paralegal or our most senior solicitor who is doing the work
We will always try to give an estimate of the total cost of the work, once the extent of the estate is known and we will always discuss with the personal representatives and beneficiaries what work can be shared in order to limit the cost
Payments to other people
There is usually a Probate Court fee of £155 (plus £1.50 for each official copy). There can also be fees for Will searches, property and shares valuations, advertisements for creditors or missing beneficiaries, indemnity insurance, etc., depending on what the estate consists of.
What this covers
Fixed fees:
Using the information that you provide from the Will, the death certificate and about the assets and liabilities of the estate to produce the HMRC Inheritance Tax Return and the Legal Statement of Truth, paying the initial tax, if any, and applying for the Grant of Representation
Hourly rates:
Obtaining all the information required about the deceased and the assets and liabilities of the estate to be able to prepare the HMRC Inheritance Tax Return and the Legal Statement of Truth, applying for the Grant of Representation, using the Grant to access all assets of the estate and pay all liabilities, including paying all taxes due, obtaining clearance from HMRC, paying legacies and distributing the rest of the estate to the beneficiaries.
How long will this take?
On average, where we are just obtaining a Grant and only a small HMRC Inheritance Tax Return is required, this takes between 3-6 weeks.
Where a large Inheritance Tax Return is required, the process usually takes between 2-4 months
Hourly rates:
Where we are helping administer the whole of the estate and not just obtaining the Grant, typically, obtaining the Grant of probate takes 1-6 months (depending on the size of the estate), collecting the assets and paying the liabilities then follows, which can take between 1-3 months. Once this has been done, we can pay legacies (which, ideally, should be paid within a year of someone dying), then obtain clearance from HMRC (which can take several weeks, depending on how busy HMRC are) and then distribute the assets, which normally takes about 4 weeks.
Wills
This type of work is dealt with by Chris Milne, a Director of the Company and the Head of our Private Client Department. Further details about him can be found here. He is assisted by Samantha Downes, an experienced Private Client Consultant, and Sarah McDermott, a trainee paralegal.
Cost (total excluding VAT)
£150 for a single simple Will.
£225 for joint simple Wills.
£220 to £1,000 for more complex Wills, depending on the complexity of a person’s estate and whether tax advice, property arrangements and trusts are to be included.
Payments to other people
What this covers
All work from taking instructions to providing draft documents, amending those drafts, producing neat copies for signing and then checking and storing the signed Wills, providing copies, and any related property arrangements, such as the severance of a joint tenancy. Registering the Wills on the Certainty National Wills Register.
How long will this take?
Powers of Attorney
This type of work is dealt with by Chris Milne, a Director of the Company and the Head of our Private Client Department. Further details about him can be found here. He is assisted by Samantha Downes, an experienced Private Client Consultant, and Sarah McDermott, a trainee paralegal.
Cost (total excluding VAT)
£150 for a single General Power of Attorney.
£225 for joint General Powers of Attorney.
£300 to register an Enduring Power of Attorney.
£400 to make and register a Lasting Power of Attorney.
£600 to make and register 2 Lasting Powers of Attorney.
£800 to make and register 4 Lasting Powers of Attorney.
£150 to revoke or partially revoke a Power of Attorney.
Payments to other people
What this covers
All work from taking instructions to providing draft documents, amending those drafts, producing neat copies for signing, registering the documents where necessary with the Office of the Public Guardian and then checking and storing the registered documents and providing properly certified copies.
How long will this take?
All of the above prices are subject to the rate of VAT that is charged, currently 20%