The administration of an estate can feel overwhelming, particularly at a time of personal loss. For estates with any degree of complexity - substantial value, international assets, business interests, trust structures, or disputes - the right solicitor makes a material difference both to the outcome and to the experience of the executors through what can be a demanding process.
NSS Legal advises executors, administrators and trustees on the full range of UK and multi-jurisdictional estate administration. We work regularly with accountants, independent financial advisors, family offices and overseas counsel as part of the wider administration team, and our work is recognised by the Chambers UK guide. Both of our private client directors are full members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Association of Lifetime Lawyers.
The estates we advise on
Our clients' estates routinely include:
- substantial UK investment portfolios, residential property, and pension assets;
- business and agricultural interests qualifying for Business Property Relief or Agricultural Property Relief;
- non-UK assets such as bank accounts, real property, business interests requiring coordination with overseas counsel;
- will trusts and life interest trusts arising on death;
- estates where the deceased was non-UK domiciled or where the "long-term UK resident" rules introduced in April 2025 need careful analysis;
- estates requiring the resealing of a foreign grant of probate under the Colonial Probates Act;
- deeds of variation and post-death tax planning.
We also advise on uncontested estates of more modest complexity and publish indicative pricing for these matters below in accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules.
How we can help
NSS Legal can assist executors, administrators and trustees with:
- identifying and establishing the extent of the estate for probate and inheritance tax purposes;
- arranging valuations of all assets and liabilities, including business and non-UK assets where relevant;
- preparing the inheritance tax account and other legal documents required to obtain the grant of probate or letters of administration;
- making the application for the grant of probate or letters of administration to the Probate Registry;
- filing the inheritance tax account with HMRC and liaising with them through the course of their enquiries;
- obtaining tax clearance from HMRC for inheritance tax and, where relevant, income tax and capital gains tax for the administration period;
- collecting in assets and settling the liabilities of the estate;
- preparing estate accounts and advising on interim distributions;
- distribution of the estate in accordance with the terms of the Will or, where there is no Will, the rules of intestacy;
- advising on the inheritance tax efficiency of the estate, including the use of deeds of variation;
- coordination with overseas counsel and foreign executors in multi-jurisdictional estates; and
- resealing of Commonwealth grants of probate where appropriate (as an alternative to a fresh English grant).
Complex and multi-jurisdictional estates
Estates with any of the following features fall outside the scope of the indicative pricing published below, and are typically administered on an hourly basis following an initial scoping conversation:
International assets
Where assets or beneficiaries are located in more than one jurisdiction, additional work is required to coordinate with overseas counsel, deal with foreign probate processes, address any interaction with the succession laws of the foreign jurisdiction, and handle the tax treatment in both the UK and the overseas country. We work regularly with counsel across the Commonwealth, the United States and the European Union.
Inheritance tax complexity
Where a full inheritance tax account is required because the estate is chargeable, because reliefs are being claimed, or because of the deceased's domicile or residence position, the administration is materially more involved. This includes negotiating valuations with £2 million, claiming BPR or APR on qualifying assets, addressing the residence nil-rate band and its taper for estates over £2 million, and coordinating with the Will's trust structure.
Business and agricultural interests
Where the estate includes private company shares, partnership or LLP interests, or agricultural land, the administration needs to be coordinated with the company or partnership documentation, with any co-owners or fellow shareholders, and with the relief claims that apply. Timing decisions can have material consequences for both the estate's tax position and the ongoing operation of the business.
Trust structures
Where a will trust arises under the terms of the Will - whether a life interest trust for a surviving spouse, a discretionary trust, or a contingent trust for minor beneficiaries - the administration involves the establishment of the trust, the appointment and registration of trustees, the production of the initial trust accounts, and (depending on the trust type) ongoing trustee services. We act as professional trustees where appropriate.
Claims and disputes
Where there are claims against the estate - under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, or in relation to the validity of the Will, or between executors and beneficiaries - the administration pauses pending resolution.
Deeds of variation and post-death planning
Where beneficiaries wish to vary their entitlement under the Will - often for tax reasons but sometimes for family or practical reasons - a deed of variation executed within two years of the date of death can be very effective. We advise on and prepare deeds of variation and disclaimers, and integrate these into the wider administration.
For any of the above, we will provide a tailored estimate at the outset of the instruction and update that estimate as the matter progresses.
Our process
A typical probate instruction involves:
- Initial scoping conversation - usually 45–60 minutes with the director handling the matter, to understand the estate, review the Will (or confirm the intestacy position), and agree the scope of the instruction.
- Formal instruction and gathering information - we confirm the scope of work, obtain the documentation needed to progress the matter, and write to the executors and beneficiaries as appropriate.
- Valuations and inheritance tax preparation - we can assist with arranging valuations of all assets and liabilities and prepare the relevant inheritance tax account.
- Application for the grant - we lodge the application with the Probate Registry, together with the inheritance tax account where required.
- Issue of the grant - once issued, we collect the certified copies and send them to asset holders.
- Collection and administration - we collect in the assets, settle the liabilities, deal with tax matters during the administration period, and keep the executors and beneficiaries updated throughout.
- Estate accounts and distribution - we prepare final estate accounts and arrange the distribution of the estate in accordance with the Will or the intestacy rules.
Pricing for uncontested estates (SRA Transparency)
In accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules, we publish indicative pricing below for uncontested estates where all the assets are in the UK. More complex matters - those falling within the categories set out above - are quoted bespoke following an initial scoping conversation.
Hourly rates
We charge probate matters on a time-spent basis at the hourly rate of the solicitor dealing with the matter:
- Oliver Sloam, Solicitor and Director: £450 + VAT per hour
- Shamima Begum, Solicitor and Director: £425 + VAT per hour
Rates are reviewed annually.
Indicative fees for a straightforward UK estate
Where a matter falls within the scope of our "straightforward UK estate" example (described below), we anticipate between 20 and 30 hours of work:
- Total costs with Oliver Sloam: £9,000 – £13,500 + VAT and disbursements
- Total costs with Shamima Begum: £8,500 – £12,750 + VAT and disbursements
The exact cost depends on the individual circumstances of the matter. With a single beneficiary and no property, costs fall at the lower end. With multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs fall at the higher end.
What a "straightforward UK estate" means
The indicative pricing above applies where:
- there is a valid Will with no complex clauses or trusts;
- all assets are in the UK;
- there is no more than one property;
- there are no more than five bank or building society accounts;
- there are no other intangible assets;
- there are no more than five beneficiaries;
- the estate is uncontested - there are no disputes between beneficiaries and no claims against the estate;
- no inheritance tax is payable;
- the executors are not required to submit a full inheritance tax account to HMRC.
Matters outside these parameters - including those involving the complexity factors set out earlier on this page — are quoted on an hourly or bespoke basis.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs payable to third parties which we handle on your behalf. Common disbursements include:
- Probate Registry fee: £300, plus £16 per sealed copy of the grant requested at the same time as the application;
- Bankruptcy searches: £7 per UK-based beneficiary;
- London Gazette statutory notice to unknown creditors: approximately £110 + any applicable VAT;
Local newspaper statutory notice to unknown creditors: typically £150 to £200 + any applicable VAT, depending on locality.
Matter-specific disbursements may also include valuations, executor's insurance, and third-party professional fees (accountants, surveyors, foreign counsel). We will obtain quotes and advise on cost before instructing any third-party professional.
Potential additional costs
Costs falling outside the above indicative pricing include:
intestate estates (where there is no Will);
estates containing share holdings (stocks and bonds), particularly where these are not managed by a single investment manager;
conveyancing of any UK property in the estate;
matters moving outside the "straightforward" parameters set out above.
We can provide a more accurate estimate once we have information about the estate.
How long a probate matter takes
For a straightforward UK estate matching the parameters above, the administration typically completes in four to six months. Typical timings within that range:
- Obtaining the grant: Probate Registry timings have been volatile - currently closer to 12–16 weeks for most applications. We will update the executors on realistic timings at the start of the matter.
- Collection of assets: 2 to 3 months from issue of the grant.
- Distribution: 2 to 3 weeks from completion of collection.
For more complex matters - estates requiring a full inheritance tax account, international assets, business interests, or trust structures - timescales typically extend to 12 to 24 months. Estates with material HMRC negotiations or contested elements can take considerably longer; a period of two years or more is not unusual for high-complexity matters.
Our private client team
Our probate and estate administration work is led by Oliver Sloam and Shamima Begum. Both are full members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, and the firm's private client work is recognised by the Chambers UK guide.
The team has extensive experience of complex UK and multi-jurisdictional estates and is regularly instructed by professional referrers including accountants, IFAs and family offices.
To discuss a probate matter, please contact Oli or Shamima directly on +44 208 209 1222 or at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to apply for probate if the deceased was resident overseas?
If the deceased left assets in England and Wales, a personal representative will usually need an English grant of representation before asset holders will release funds. Depending on the jurisdiction in which the deceased died, either a full English grant of probate or a reseal of the foreign grant may be available. We advise on the right route at the outset of the instruction.
Is inheritance tax payable on an estate left to a spouse?
Assets left outright to a surviving spouse or civil partner are generally exempt from inheritance tax under the spouse exemption. However, this exemption is restricted where the survivor is non-UK domiciled or the estate structure is complex. We review the position as part of the instruction.
What is a deed of variation?
A deed of variation is a legal document executed after death by which a beneficiary redirects some or all of their entitlement to another person. Deeds of variation executed within two years of death can be treated, for inheritance tax purposes, as though they were provisions of the original Will. They are a powerful post-death planning tool and we advise on their use as part of our wider administration work.
Can you act as executor or administrator?
Yes. For complex, contested or international estates, or where a family would benefit from the independence and continuity of a professional executor, a director of the firm can be appointed as executor or administrator. This is typically agreed as part of the original Will drafting instruction but can also be arranged where the existing executors are unable or unwilling to act.
For related reading, see our article on Pensions and inheritance tax from April 2027: rethinking how you leave your pension.
Contact us
To discuss a probate or estate administration matter - whether a straightforward UK estate or a complex international instruction - please contact our private client team.