If you are an executor gathering quotes for probate, you will quickly discover that solicitors price the same job in very different ways. Some quote a fixed fee. Many charge an hourly rate. Some add a percentage of the estate's value on top. The gap between those models — on the very same estate — can run to thousands of pounds, and the cheapest-looking quote is not always the cheapest bill. This guide explains how each model works and exactly what to ask before you instruct anyone.
Key Takeaways
- Probate is commonly billed three ways: a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or hourly plus a percentage of the estate ("value element")
- Hourly quotes are estimates, not prices — the final bill depends on how many hours the work takes
- A percentage-based value element means a larger estate pays more for the same work
- A true fixed fee is agreed in writing before work begins and does not change with the estate's value
- Always ask: is this the total? what could increase it? and is VAT and the £300 court fee included?
The Three Ways Probate Is Priced
How the pricing models compare
Hourly (sometimes + a percentage)
- Quoted as a rate per hour — locally, published rates often sit around £200–£265 an hour plus VAT
- The quote is an estimate of hours; the bill grows if the work takes longer
- Some firms add a "value element" — a percentage of the estate on top of the hours
- Hard to compare quotes: two identical estates can produce very different bills
Fixed fee
- One figure, agreed in writing before any work begins
- The price does not change if the work takes longer than expected
- Never linked to the estate's value — a bigger house does not mean a bigger bill
- Easy to compare and easy to budget for as an executor
Why Hourly Estimates Drift
An hourly estimate is honest about its own uncertainty: published local estimates for full estate administration often span a wide range — figures such as "£3,800 to £6,000 including VAT, based on 18 to 45 hours" are typical of what firms publish. The span exists because nobody knows at the start how many letters, calls and complications an estate will produce. With an hourly model, that uncertainty is carried by you, the estate. With a fixed fee, it is carried by the firm.
Seven Questions to Ask Before Instructing Anyone
- “Is this a fixed fee or an estimate?” — If it is an estimate, ask what happens when the hours run over.
- “Is any part of the fee a percentage of the estate?” — Ask for the answer in writing.
- “Does the figure include VAT?” — A quote that is silent on VAT is 20% bigger than it looks.
- “Are disbursements included?” — The £300 probate court fee (estates over £5,000), £16 per extra copy of the grant, and any notices are usually on top — ask for the all-in total.
- “Who will actually do the work?” — A quoted senior rate sometimes buys supervised junior work. Ask who handles your file day to day.
- “Is the first meeting free?” — Some firms charge for the initial probate consultation; others, including us, do not.
- “What is your realistic timescale?” — Ask for their typical time to submit the application and to complete — and compare answers between firms.
What We Do — and Why
Safe Harbour Legal only works on fixed fees, agreed in writing before any work begins — for probate as much as for wills and LPAs — and the fee is never a percentage of the estate. The full fixed-fee menu is published openly on our pricing page, the first 30-minute call is free, and every matter is handled personally by Aaron Johnson, a solicitor and STEP-qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner, from first call to final distribution. We publish our prices because we think executors deserve to compare them.
Comparing probate quotes?
Send us the estate's basics and we will give you a written fixed fee to put alongside any other quote — no obligation, and the first call is free.
Book a Free CallLocal, Straight-Answer Probate Help
Aaron helps executors and families across Bridlington, Driffield, Filey, Hornsea, Beverley and the wider East Yorkshire area — by phone, by WhatsApp, or with a free home visit, evenings included. If you are weighing up quotes, bring them to the call: we are happy to explain what each one actually commits you to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Neither model is inherently dishonest, but they allocate risk differently. An hourly estimate means the final bill depends on how many hours the estate takes, so the uncertainty is carried by the estate; a genuine fixed fee, agreed in writing before work begins, means the firm carries that risk instead. For executors — who are personally responsible for keeping costs reasonable — a fixed fee is typically easier to justify, budget and compare.
Need Help with Probate?
If you're ready to take the next step, explore our related services:
Grant only Probate
Aaron secures the Grant of Probate so you can manage the estate yourself. Ideal for straightforward estates. Fixed fee £950 + VAT, no surprises.
Estate Administration
Aaron handles the entire probate process — valuations, tax, distribution. Fixed fees based on estate complexity, never hourly rates or a percentage.
Probate & Estate Administration solicitor near you
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