Solicitor’s Probate & Conveyancing Fees – Are these reasonable?

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newinvest

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My father recently passed away, and we're using a solicitor to handle probate. My dad’s will is very straightforward—it's a single-page document stating that his estate is to be divided equally between his four children. The estate is also simple, comprising just the family home valued at €500,000, with no mortgage, debts, insurance policies, or other complexities.

I plan to buy out my siblings' share of the family home during the probate process.

The solicitor has quoted the following fees:

  • Probate: 2%
  • Conveyancing: 0.5%
    (Both percentages are exclusive of VAT.)

This amounts to €15,375 including VAT.

This feels quite expensive to me, particularly given how straightforward the case appears. I've noticed some solicitors offering fixed-price probate services online, and I'm wondering if the quote I've received is typical or excessive.

Has anyone here had experience with similar probate and conveyancing scenarios? I'd really appreciate any insight or advice regarding typical costs for this type of straightforward estate.

Thanks very much in advance!
 
newinvest said:
My dad’s will is very straightforward
Click to expand...
Who is the executor?
newinvest said:
I plan to buy out my siblings' share of the family home during the probate process.
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If this is happening as part of the probate rather than the property passing into your joint names and you buying them out after probate (which would involve additional legal fees) then perhaps it's a simple will but potentially a not so simple probate and thus reflected in the quote/estimate of charges that's been issued?

If you're the executor then why not sound out another solicitor for comparison?

You might find some useful information in previous threads on this issue...

 
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newinvest said:
This amounts to €15,375 including VAT.
Click to expand...
Outrageous charges on the face of it.

Do probate yourself and save thousands immediately. Charging a percentage of the value of the estate is a complete and total rip-off. DIY probate will save you at least €11,000.00 immediately. There is no need to further, needlessly enrich the cowboy you're dealing with
 
That's very expensive for what should be a relatively straightforward probate.

You should ask for a more detailed breakdown of costs. For example. you probably will need to get the property valued, is he including that or will it be extra.?
 
Thank you for the replies. There's nothing else really included, valuation, court fees, etc. are all detailed seperately.

I feel like probate is something that I could possibly do myself, but I would expect conveyancing to be handled by a solicitor. I know conveyancing can be expensive and can mean a significant body of work, but am I missing something if we are all in agreement in the family re: probate, there are no skeletons in the closet, and essentially we are submitting a statement of affairs to revenue, and then the death cert and probate form.
 
I'm in a similar situation to you and I'd say you absolutely don't need a solicitor to do that for you. You can apply for probate when you are ready and in the unlikely event the Probate Office thinks you need a solicitor then they will ask you to re-apply.

Your situation is simpler than ours and you probably only need to talk to a valuer first to determine how much you need to pay your siblings so they can file their IT38s and take their money. Looks like nobody will have to pay any tax either which makes the whole thing so straightforward. Enjoy saving your 15k.
 
> 'You would be advised to use a Solicitor for the sale.'

Why does one *have* to use a solicitor in this case?
It's a transfer of title from the deceased to the executor. There'll be the will, grant of probate and, I presume, affidavits from the other beneficiaries to support the application.
What is essential and 'beyond question' about this? What happens if you do this yourself? I plan to do it soon like I applied for, and was granted, probate in a more complicated case.
 
>I'm pretty sure that @mf1 was specifically referring to the conveyancing of the property.

So was I. I asked why they said it was essential and 'beyond question' to use a solicitor for conveyancing. What happens if you don't?
It's already clear that OP doesn't need a solicitor for probate but they are being unreservedly advised to use one for conveyancing without any explanation.

I've done probate without a solicitor (and there could have been reason to require one) and I plan to transfer property titles without one too if I can.
 
It might be money very well spent just going ahead.

It's not a straightforward conveyancing as three parties have to sign agreements etc that they are happy with price of the house.

One of your siblings could turn around and say they want to add on 10kto your bill because house prices went up since last month.

Those individual relationships are managed by the solicitor and each sibling. There's a lot of emotion and trust issues bubbling about at these times.

You can't put a price on maintaining harmonious family relationships between adult siblings. Just another viewpoint.

You could ring three solicitors yourself and explain the situation fully in terms of the work needed, and get three quotes.

Often times the executor has a tougher job than siblings might know.
And it's easy to throw stones and kick off from a safe distance with the 'you are doing it all wrong and wasting money, we are getting ripped off etc etc'.

If you are getting the house at a decent price with no infighting and a job done properly by a trusted solicitor there's a lot to be said for that.
 
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