Residential Property

We have over 50 years’ experience of residential property matters in Northumberland and the North East and throughout the country including high value country properties and high value London residential properties. We are an accredited member of the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme for those firms offering a high standard in the residential conveyancing field and we offer a personal service tailored to our clients’ individual needs.

We are obliged on our website to let clients know an average or range of costs in conveyancing matters and costs for acting in connection with the sale or purchase of residential property are fundamentally governed by the value of the property, the amount of time taken and work involved in dealing with the matter and the nature and complexity of the transactions. An average range of costs is set out below and our current hourly rates are set out on our Standard Terms and Conditions of Business which are published on this website.

Disbursements include search fees initially due to the local authority and other bodies providing search information and those costs are in the region of £450 inclusive of VAT. Bank transfers are charged at £20 plus VAT.

Stamp duty land tax for an individual purchase transaction can be easily obtained from HM Revenue and Customs website which has an online SDLT calculator.

Average costs are set out below based upon the purchase/sale price of a property and on the assumption that there are no exceptional factors to be taken into account.

In cases of rural properties where there may be such issues as rights of access, easements for services, septic tank or treatment plant drainage and issues regarding planning or development, or in the case of some leasehold properties, our fees may be greater due to the nature and complexity of the transaction.

Our service is tailored to our clients needs. Please contact us on the telephone to discuss your individual matter and the related costs.

Land Registry fees on registration of title are on a sliding scale according to the value of the property transaction.

In our initial Memorandum to Purchasers we stress the importance of structural survey and we are always happy to recommend a structural surveyor to you.

All conveyancing work within our office is carried out by our partners and qualified solicitors and we always aim to have meetings with our clients in person and many clients are personal friends and longstanding clients of this firm.

Probate and Administration of Estates

All work in connection with application for Grant of Probate, administration of estates and inheritance tax planning matters are carried out by our partners and qualified solicitors. A basic summary of the work involved is as follows:

Ascertainment of the assets and liabilities of the estate, preparation of the Oath for Executors and Inheritance Tax Accounts, payment of inheritance tax and application for Probate, registration of Probate and collection in and distribution of assets and advising executors and beneficiaries in relation to further family tax planning matters such as Deeds of Variation. The likely timescale involved to obtain a Grant of Probate in an estate of average complexity is in the region of 8 to 10 weeks and we endeavour to complete the administration of the estate as quickly as possible thereafter.

We have members of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners and the firm has over 50 years’ experience in dealing with high value and complex estates and inheritance tax planning matters.

In the case of a taxable estate the presentation of the information to HMRC and clarity of documentation is essential and enables important matters to be dealt with quickly at a difficult time for the clients with the minimum of stress and anxiety.

Our fees are based upon the value of an estate, the amount of time taken and work involved in dealing with the matter and its nature and complexity. Our current hourly rates are set out in our Standard Terms and Conditions of Business which are published on this website.

We are obliged to provide an average range of costs in connection with Probate matters and in dealing with an estate of average complexity our fees would usually be in the region of 2% of the gross value of the estate whilst in more complex matters involving inheritance tax payments or claims for substantial IHT relief such as agricultural property relief or business property relief then our fees may exceed this guideline.

Our service is tailored to our clients needs. Please contact us on the telephone to discuss this further.