GUIDANCE ON FEES GENERALLY
We seek always to charge fair reasonable and transparent fees for all work done. At the start of all work you will either receive a fee quote or intimation of the basis on which you are being charged.
Listed below are our current charges for different types of work. Please note that these charges sometimes include outlays necessarily payable by us on your behalf to third parties during the work. Examples of such outlays would be the cost of registering a property title, or paying court dues. We have no control over the level of these outlays which can be changed by the third parties involved at any time.
Any “fixed fee” shown below is simply an example of such fees, not an actual quote. You will receive a quotation at the outset if your work is to be carried out on a fixed fee basis. The fixed fees mentioned below with relevant outlays will cover all tasks necessary to complete matters for our clients. Fixed fees are intended for work which can be completed in a “standard” fashion, without any unanticipated extra work or difficulty arising. In the event of extra work or extra difficulties arising we reserve the right to charge extra. This happens rarely – and all clients would be advised when such a situation arose.
Please note that all our fees are quoted exclusive of VAT.
If you have any concern about fees during your work please make them known to your solicitor.
CONVEYANCING ON PURCHASES AND SALES, REMORTGAGES AND ESTATE AGENCY
(THESE FEES ARE NOT INCLUSIVE OF VAT & OUTLAYS)
CONVEYANCING
| House price | Sale plus VAT | Purchase plus VAT |
| Price up to £80,000 | £ 500 plus £ 100 | £500 plus £100 Plus Outlays |
| £80,001 to £150,000 | £ 560 plus £112 | £560 plus £112 Plus Outlays |
| £150,001 to £250,000 | £ 660 plus £132 | £660 plus £132 Plus Outlays |
| £250,001 to £350,000 | £ 785 plus £157 | £785 plus £157 Plus Outlays |
| Over £350,000 | Min £950 plus £190 Min | £995 plus £199 or by negotiation Plus Outlays |
LBTT is exempt up to £145,000, then 2% to £250,000, then 5% to £325,000, then 10% to £750,000, then 12% above that. Outlays can be found at https://kb.ros.gov.uk/fees/registration-fees
ESTATE AGENCY
Fixed fee or percentage by negotiation.
LIFETIME MORTGAGES – £695 plus £139 VAT & outlays plus SHIP certificate at £75. (Lifetime Mortgage with basic Wills & POA included – single person £795 / £895 joint plus VAT & outlays – office apt)
Extra visits, hospital or home visits plus £75 per hour)
HOME REVERSION – £425 plus £85 VAT & outlays plus SHIP certificate if required
REMORTGAGE FEES – straight forward legal work only – £ 400 plus £80 VAT & Outlays
SCHEDULE OF DETAILED CHARGES WHERE WORK IS CHARGED ON A NON FIXED FEE
In calculating our “time and line” fees, we split the hourly rate into units of 6 minutes rounded up to the nearest unit. This hourly rate changes from time to time – usually on 1st January- and depends on the status of the person carrying out the work. At present the rates are as shown below.
We do not differentiate between a meeting and a telephone conversation except for brief telephone conversations as follows: 1 – 3 minutes – 0.6 units; 4 – 6 minutes – 1.2 units; 7 – 12 minutes – 2.2 units; 12 mins and over- charge as time: and whether we make or receive a telephone call.
Letters (including facsimiles, e-mails, intimations, certificates of execution and letters, etc) sent which provide information, advice or guidance are charged at 1.50 Units per 125 words or part or, if lengthy, according to time engaged.
Letters of acknowledgement or confirmation sent are charged at 0.5 Units.
Draft self-proving Documents and Deeds, Initial Writs, Accounts of Charge and Discharge and the like are charged on the time taken to prepare the drafts plus a printing charge of 0.75 units 250 words or part;
Inventories, court pleadings, motions and the like are charged at 6 Units per 250 words or part unless based on a style when they are charged by time engaged in revising plus a printing charge of 0.5 units per 250 words or part.
Transfers, Minutes of Meetings, interview statements, separation agreements, inventories of productions, transfers, routine procedural Motions and the like are charged at 4 Units per 250 words or part.
Time charge for interviews is hourly rate. From this a “framed statement” for use in your case is prepared with charge of 4 units per 250.
N.B. A worked example using £250 hourly rate where 1 unit = 6 minutes = £25: interview time = 1 hour mins = £250.00. From this interview a framed statement of 1,000 words is prepared. At 4 units per 250 words = 16 units which is £400.00 Total fee arising from this interview is £650.00.
Perusing (reading and considering the effect of) documents and productions received is charged by time engaged,
Preparation for court appearances and travel, whether to court or elsewhere, is charged as an attendance.
Retrieval of files wills and titles from archive: 2.5 Units at Paralegal rate. File Storage £15 per file including VAT.
Administration fee for underpaid postage on letters you send to us: 1 unit at Paralegal rate plus postal outlay.
Photocopies are charged at 13 pence per copy.
Mileage is charged at £0.60 per mile.
Funds Transfers by CHAPS are charged at £45 including VAT.
Funds Transfers by Faster Payment are charged at £25 including VAT.
If you have any questions on the hourly rate chargeable, or the way in which our fees are calculated, please contact us. If we have to take recovery action for our fees and outlays, we will charge not only judicial expenses but also all other expenses incurred, for example inhibitions and trace fees.
Rates per hour
STEP qualified Executry Partner £250
Partner/Associate £230
Solicitor £205
Executry Paralegal/Executry Trainee £205
Paralegal/Trainee £175
Consultant £240
Unqualified staff 50% of relevant fee earner rate
Our fees are exclusive of VAT (except where otherwise noted) and outlays.
ADDITIONAL FEE GUIDELINES FOR PARTICULAR TASKS
Family Care pack (will, power of attorney and advance directive all instructed together)
One person £299 plus vat and outlays Two people £450 plus vat and outlays. Fees below are for these individual documents if instructed but not as a family care pack.
| Advance Directive (Living Will) | – £95 plus VAT single or £125 plus VAT Joint | |
| Will Service for simple/basic | – £125 plus VAT single or £175 plus VAT Joint | |
| Will Service more complex (Trusts) | – quotation given at start of work | |
| Transfer of Title (relinquish share) | – £275 plus VAT & Outlays | |
| Transfer of Title (gaining share) | – £400 plus VAT & Outlays (with same lender) | |
| Transfer of Title (gaining share 1st registration | -£495 plus VAT & Outlays (with same lender) | |
| Transfer of Title (gaining share) | – £525 plus VAT & Outlays (with new lender) | |
| Transfer of Title (gaining share 1st registration | -£620 plus VAT & Outlays (with new lender) | |
| Power of Attorney (Mortgage only) | – £75 inclusive per person | |
| Power of Attorney (Single) | – £195 plus VAT £81 registration dues (office visit) | |
| Power of Attorney (per couple) | – £250 plus VAT & £162 registration dues (office visit) | |
| POA (hospital, home, extra visits) | – from £110 per hour (dependant on time involved) | |
| Family Care Package | – £450 plus VAT joint or £299 plus VAT single | |
| Property Protection Trust | – £2,500 approximately | |
| Evacuation of Special Destination e.g. survivorship destination | – £275 (registered title) or £360 (Sasine) plus VAT and registration dues | |
| Help to Buy ISA withdrawal | – £50 plus VAT | |
| Notarisations | – £65 inclusive | |
| SHIP certificates | – £75 inclusive | |
| Discharge of Mortgage | – £175 plus VAT & outlays | |
| Paying unsecured debts by agreement | – £160 plus VAT | |
| Removing Statutory Notices | – £50 plus VAT for each Notice | |
| Removing Inhibition | – £210 plus VAT & outlays or dependent on work | |
| Guarantors arrangements | – £150 plus VAT | |
| Title Insurance | – £25 plus VAT | |
| Additional securities | – £125 plus VAT and registration dues for each | |
| Ranking Agreement (if required) | – £110 plus VAT | |
| Minute of Agreement (if required) | – £110 plus VAT | |
| Septic Tank Registration | – £85 plus VAT and outlays or dependent on work | |
| New Build Searches | – £100 plus VAT | |
| Plans report queries | – dependent on circumstances (min. £80 + vat) | |
| Coal Authority report problems | – £25 plus VAT per report | |
| Additional lender offer clauses | – dependent on work involved | |
| Late Loan papers receipt | -£75 plus VAT | |
| Short dates of completion | – dependent on work involved | |
| Post missives claims | – dependent on work involved | |
| Trust Deed termination | – dependent on work involved | |
| Polish translation | – dependent on work involved | |
| Completion of LIFT application | – £95 plus VAT | |
| Assignation/retrocession of endowment policy- £80.00 plus posts at 5% plus VAT per policy Separation Agreement | – £750 plus VAT & outlays minimum – no limit | |
| Divorce (undefended) (see table) | – £550 plus VAT & outlays minimum | |
| Guardianship Order (G/ship) | – £2 to £4k approx plus VAT & outlays | |
| Intervention Order | – £2 to £4k approx plus VAT & outlays | |
| Bond of Caution for Financial Guardianships and Intervention Orders where required | – dependent on size | |
| Executries (over £30k only) | – dependent on size of estate | |
| Accident Claims | – dependent on work involved | |
| Digital Archiving & Storage | – £15 Other necessary work not detailed above will be dependent on circumstances |