Inheritance Act Fees
The Inheritance Act 1975 protects spouses (including former spouses), cohabitants, children and other dependents where a person dies without leaving sufficient money for the dependent’s continued wellbeing.
Our barristers can provide you with written advice on whether you can make a claim under the Act. Our barristers can also provide you with written advice when a person dies and you are a beneficiary of the estate but someone else makes a claim under the Act.
Timescales
Timescales for your written advice may vary depending on factors such as the barrister’s availability, the value and complexity of the deceased person’s estate, the need for additional documents, your financial needs and those of any beneficiary of the estate. However, claims under the Act must be made within 6 months of the grant of probate, and as a guide your written advice should be available within 2 to 4 weeks of you instructing a barrister, where possible.
Fees
Our barristers may charge fixed fees, which means that the barrister will charge you a set amount of money for the written advice. Provided below are estimates based on the range of fixed fees for barristers at Magdalen Chambers where the deceased person’s estate is worth less than £300,000.
If a barrister charges fixed fees, these may vary depending on your needs. For example, your fees may be towards the higher end of the range if the deceased person’s estate is more complex and/or you need a more experienced barrister. If the deceased person’s estate is particularly complex, your fees may also be higher than the estimates below. There are also likely to be additional costs in the form of Court fees for making a claim or making applications to the Court. For more information on Court fees, follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fees-in-the-civil-and-family-courts-main-fees-ex50
Written Advice (Estimates)
A fixed fee for advisory and drafting work will usually be based on an hourly rate. The setting of hourly rates is not necessarily straightforward and a number of factors may determine the rate that is set, for example the seniority of barrister, the type of client, and the complexity and financial value of the case. Below we provide estimates based on the range of hourly rates for barristers at Magdalen Chambers where the deceased person’s estate is worth less than £300,000.
Our barristers charge hourly rates ranging between £150 to £350. A written advice on making or defending a claim could cost between £500 to £5,000. All fees are subject to VAT (where applicable).
Contact Us
The fees set out above are estimates only. For a quote, please contact the clerks by telephone on 01392 285200 or by email at clerks@magdalenchambers.co.uk.
Please also contact the clerks if you wish to obtain a quote for our services in respect of a claim where the deceased person’s estate is worth more than £300,000.
We will provide you with a quote as soon as possible. We always aim to set out quotes clearly, but if you receive your quote and there is something you do not understand, please contact us.
*These fees are applicable for Direct Access cases only